Epistle of Barnabas 16

1Moreover, I will also tell you about the temple: how these wretched men were led astray and placed their hope in the building, rather than in their God who made them, as though it were a house of God. For, almost like the Gentiles, they consecrated him in the temple. But what does the Lord say when abolishing the temple? Learn: “Who has measured heaven with a span, or measured the earth with his hand? Have not I?” says the Lord. “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is the footstool of my feet. What kind of house will you build for me? Or what will be my resting place?” You perceive that their hope is vain. Furthermore, he says again, “Behold, those who pulled down this temple will themselves build it.” And so it happens. Because they went to war, it was pulled down by their enemies. Now even the servants of their enemies will build it up. Again, it was revealed how the city, the temple, and the people of Israel would be betrayed. For Scripture says, “And it shall be in the last days that the Lord will deliver the sheep of the pasture, and the fold and its tower, over to destruction.” And it happened as the Lord had spoken. But let us inquire whether there is any temple of God. There is, in the place where he himself undertakes to make and complete it. For it is written, “And it shall come to pass, when the week is being completed, that the temple of God will be built gloriously in the name of the Lord.” I find, then, that there is a temple. How, then, will it be built in the name of the Lord? Understand. Before we believed in God, the dwelling place of our heart was corrupt and weak, truly a temple built by hands. For it was full of idolatry and was a house of demons, because we did everything that was contrary to God. But it will be built in the name of the Lord. Pay attention, then, so that the temple of the Lord may be built gloriously. How? Understand. By receiving the forgiveness of our sins and hoping in the Name, we became new, created afresh from the beginning. Therefore God truly dwells in our habitation, within us. How? The word of his faith, the calling of his promise, the wisdom of the ordinances, the commandments of the teaching—he himself prophesying in us, he himself dwelling in us, opening for us who had been enslaved to death the door of the temple, which is the mouth, and giving us repentance—leads us to the incorruptible temple. For the one who desires to be saved does not look to the person, but to him who dwells and speaks within that person, being amazed that he has never before heard these words from the speaker’s mouth, nor ever desired to hear them. This is the spiritual temple built for the Lord.