Eden, Temple & Sacred Space

Focused reading path

Biblical Theology / Eden, Temple & Sacred Space

Eden, Temple & Sacred Space

The garden sanctuary, royal priesthood, divine dwelling, cosmic mountain, and renewed creation.

From the garden sanctuary to renewed creation

Eden, the tabernacle, the temple, and the New Jerusalem form a recurring line of inquiry across these studies. This path explores the proposal that sacred space and humanity’s royal-priestly vocation help explain the shape of the biblical story. It brings sanctuary imagery into conversation with creation, divine presence, human identity, exile, and restoration. Comparative ancient Near Eastern material supplies context; the biblical texts remain the primary witnesses under discussion.

Start Here

Reading 1

Start with the Edenic temple

Enter the main argument about garden, sanctuary, and human vocation.

The Complete Guide to the Edenic Temple: Cosmic Conflict, Priest-Kings, and the Divine Council

Reading 2

Read creation through the temple discussion

Examine the cosmic-temple interpretation of Genesis 1.

The Cosmic Temple and the Pattern of Creation: A Biblical Theology of Genesis 1

Reading 3

Follow the canonical trajectory

Trace the movement from Eden toward the New Jerusalem.

From Eden to the New Jerusalem

Questions to Explore

  • How does sanctuary imagery shape readings of Eden and creation?
  • What does image-bearing have to do with humanity’s priestly vocation?
  • How do biblical accounts of divine dwelling develop toward renewed creation?

Browse the Readings

Choose a question or follow the suggested sequence above. Each link opens an article guide with a route to the complete study on Substack. Watch and Listen resources are available there where provided.

Creation, garden, and sanctuary

Humanity’s royal-priestly vocation

Divine dwelling and restoration

Selected Commentary: Exodus