The Temple & Church Unity

Many of Paul’s letters were written to churches facing various challenges. Some were external, the persecution that came from outsiders, but most of the problems were internal. The followers of Jesus located in different Roman cities were marked by immaturity, immorality, and divisions. Paul’s letters were written to correct and guide them “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1). But Paul’s ethical instructions are not arbitrary. They are rooted in his understanding of the gospel and his vision of the church as the new temple of God.