Jesus, the Eschatological Temple: An Exegetical Study of Jn 2,13-22 in the Light of the Pre 70 C.E. Eschatological Temple Hopes and the Synoptic Temple Action

The ‘temple action’ of Jesus, popularly known as ‘temple cleansing,’ has been subjected to meticulous studies. Nevertheless, studies focussing on the Johannine version of the ‘temple action’ are surprisingly very few. The present work concentrates on the Johannine ‘temple action’ (Jn 2,13-22). The unique contribution of this book is that it has ventured to situate the ‘temple action’ of Jesus in contexts which have hitherto not been adequately considered in this respect. These significant contexts include the Pre-70 C. E. Jewish hopes concerning the eschatological temple and the Post-70 C.E. private, apocalyptic, rabbinic and political responses to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. By placing the ‘temple action’ in the aforesaid contexts, and also in the context of the synoptic versions of the ‘temple action,’ this study clarifies why John presents Jesus as the temple, and what it means to say that Jesus’ body is the temple. These contexts, besides throwing light to the ‘temple action’ of Jesus, also turn to be a powerful key to unravel the subtle nuances of much of the Johannine material.