NAOS in Revelation 7:15

From: GregStffrd@aol.com
Date: Fri Jan 07 2000 - 00:41:44 EST


John Hibberd recently posted a question about the possible meanings of NAOS
in Revelation 7:15, but unfortunately the issue erupted into a discussion
about the use of the divine name in the NT.

His first question, about NAOS, was:

Subj: Temple and New world translation of holy scriptures?
Date: 01/04/2000 3:36:06 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: john@jhibberd.freeserve.co.uk (john hibberd)
Reply-to: john@jhibberd.freeserve.co.uk (john hibberd)
To: b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu (Biblical Greek)

Hello all
I am new to the list. I have been doing some research on Rev 7:15 and am a
bit confused about the word naos (temple). In this sense does naos mean a
literal temple or can it mean a spiritual state as in 1 cor3:16. >>

Dear John:

I believe Carl supplied some useful information about the "spiritual state"
side of the question, and also commented on the difficulties associated with
attaching certainty to any interpretation of the imagery used in the book of
Revelation.

In any event, NAOS is often used of the inner sanctuary, the "Most Holy."
However, it is also used of the entire temple, or at least more than the
inner sanctuary, possibly including the outer courts and buildings.

For example, in Matthew 27:5 we read that Judas threw the silver money EIS
TON NAON ("into the temple"). I find it unlikely that this means he actually
threw the money into the inner sanctuary, so this appears to be an instance
where NAOS is used in a much broader sense.

Another use that might interest you is found in John 2:20. Here the Jews
speak of the "temple" (NAOS) that "was built in forty-six years." Certainly
this involved more than the inner sanctuary itself.

Best Regards,

Greg Stafford

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