Haggai and the Temple
Is it accurate to say that Haggai describes the second temple as a treasury rather than a site of sacrifice, a house of prayer, a location of God's presence, a key component of Judah's economic system, a focus of ethnic identity, etc.? It must be restored because it is an embarrassment (not a "glory") for Yahweh not to have a "house" where he may store and display his silver and gold treasures (2, 7-9). And because of the impending political and military turmoil ("shaking") of the world, which will bring massive amounts of loot to Jerusalem, this temple needs to be erected as soon as possible.
Comments
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That is for you to decide. The way I would determine the answer would be to build a chart with the possible images of the temple across the top and Haggai's references to the Temple along the left side. I would then go through the references to the temple placing a check mark in the box for the images clearly referenced, a question mark for images that might be referenced and blanks in images clearly excluded by the reference. The density of check marks and question marks by column should then show me primary and secondary images of the temple in Haggai.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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