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DOWNLOAD THIS STUDY GUIDEAND THE VIDEO ATJOINTHEBIBLEPROJECT.COMHOLINESSINTRODUCTIONThis study guide will be most helpful ifyou work through it slowly with an openBible, looking up all the references.Grab some friends and do it together!STUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESS1
1Holiness is a biblical word that means “unique, setapart.” קדֹוש ἅγιοςHOLINESSHEBREW QADOSHGREEK HAGIOSThe first two things called “holy” in the Bible are:1STTHE SABBATH DAYGod “sanctifies” it(makes it holy by settingit apart) as a day ofrest from all work toenjoy the goodness ofcreation.2NDTHE “HOLY GROUND”AROUND THEBURNING BUSH OFGOD’S PRESENCEGod’s presence is sopowerful and uniquethat it makes thearea surrounding hispresence set apart aswell.IN BOTH CASES THEHOLINESS OF THESETHINGS IS HONOREDBY TREATING THEMWITH SPECIALCARE, NOT DOINGACTIVITIES ON THEMTHAT ARE DONEELSEWHERE.GENESIS 2:3EXODUS 3:1-6In the rest of the Bible all kinds ofthings can be holy:PEOPLEPLACESTHINGSTIMELEVITICUS 8:1-10EZEKIEL 42:13EXODUS 40:1-10LEVITICUS 23:1-2STUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESS2
People, places, and things are considered “holy”because they have a close relationship to God, whois the source and definition of holiness.2God’s holiness is a way of talking about God’scharacter and nature as the most unique, powerful,beautiful, and good being in all the universe:“There is no one holy like the Lord;there is no one besides you.”1 SAMUEL 2:2:123God is called “holy” for the first time inExodus 15:11READ THE ENTIREPOEM TO GET THEBIG IDEAGod’s holiness is connected to his uniquerole as the creator and author of all life andbeauty.ISAIAH 6:3; 17:7;43:15; 54:5; 55:5God’s holiness is also connected to hischaracter as the source of all moral goodnessand purityLEVITICUS 11:44ISRAEL’S SIN IS OFTEN CONTRASTED WITHGOD’S HOLINESS: SEE JEREMIAH 51:5; PSALM78:41STUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESS3
3God’s holiness is so pure and good that it poses aparadox for humans living in a world ruined by sin.His power and purity is the source of all life andsustains our existence.AISAIAH 6:3But his power and purity can become dangerousto mortal humans corrupted by sin: This paradoxis seen most clearly in the dangerous goodnessof God’s presence living in Israel’s midst in thetabernacle and templeB12STUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESSThe temple had to be kept separate from alltypes of “impurity” that would defile God’sholy presenceOnly holy priests were allowed into God’sdirect presence in the temple, and eventhey were in danger if they didn’t honorGod’s holiness.LEVITICUS 11-15LEVITICUS 9-104
However, Isaiah the prophet had a strange visionwhere he was in the temple (where he didn’tbelong!) and in the direct presence of God.4ISAIAH 6ABCHe is terrified for his life because of his moralimpurity (“unclean lips”)Instead of being destroyed, God has a burning,holy coal taken from his presence and applied toIsaiah’s lips (ouch!)Instead of the temple becoming contaminatedby Isaiah’s impurity, the opposite happens: God’sholiness transfers to Isaiah and erases his sin andimpurity.ISAIAH 6:5ISAIAH 6:6ISAIAH 6:7THIS IS UNEXPECTED TO SAY THE LEAST! THE IMPLICATIONS OFISAIAH’S VISION ARE HUGE. PERHAPS GOD DOESN’T NEED TO BEPROTECTED BY THE IMPURITY OUR SIN, MAYBE IT’S THE OTHERWAY AROUND. MAYBE IT’S OUR SIN THAT IS ENDANGERED BYGOD’S HOLINESS.STUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESS5
45Ezekiel’s vision contains another importantcontribution to this theme.ISAIAH 47ABCSTUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESSEzekiel’s vision of a new temple is part of his largervision of how God will restore his covenant peopleafter their sin and covenant failure: In Ezekiel 8-11God’s presence leaves the temple after it’s defiledby Israel’s idolatry and sin.EZEKIEL 8-11Ezekiel envisions a new temple (chs. 40-47) ina new land (ch. 48) with a new covenant people(chs.36-37).This temple needs to be honored as holy space,but at the same time, Ezekiel’s vision about theriver flowing out of the temple makes it clear thatGod’s life-giving holiness will one day flow out ofthe temple into the world creating all kinds of newlifeEZEKIEL 47:7-12.6
When Jesus arrives on the scene announcing thearrival of God’s kingdom, he seems to identifyand move towards people who were considered‘unclean’ and unfit to enter God’s presence in thetemple.6ABCSTUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESSJesus’ contact with the leper (Matthew 8:1-4), thebleeding woman (Matthew 9:20-23), the dead boy(Luke 7:11-17) should have made him “unclean,”but instead his holiness and purity transfers tothem, healing and restoring their bodies.Jesus declared that people are not made impureby anything that touches or enters their bodies,but rather by the moral corruption and selfishnessthat comes out of their minds and hearts.Jesus claimed that he was the new temple, theplace where God’s holiness meets people in theirsin and uncleanness: He offered forgiveness ofsins apart from the temple and said his death wasa sacrifice that covered for the sin of others.MARK 7:14-23MATTHEW 9:1-8MATTHEW 26:26-297
Jesus established the community of his followers asa new temple, where God’s holiness meets with hispeople and changes them forever.7AAfter his resurrection, the coming of the HolySpirit in Acts 2 resembles the entrance of God’sholy presence into the temple.ACTS 2:1-4COMPARE THE IMAGES OF CLOUD, FIRE AND GLORY INEXODUS 40:34, LEVITICUS 9:23-24, AND 2 CHRONICLES 7:1WITH THE IMAGE OF FIRE IN ACTS 2:1-4BCDSTUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESSThe apostles argued that the community of Jesus’people are a new temple, and so are called to beholy like priests, set apart from showing the worldthe grace and mercy of God.Jesus also used the image of Ezekiel’s temple-riverto describe any person who trusts in him: theSpirit will make that person a holy source of God’sown life that spreads to others:The story of the Bible concludes with John’svision of the new creation, where Ezekiel’s riveris flowing out of God’s presence creating a newgarden of Eden-city where his people are with himforever.1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17;EPHESIANS 2:19-22;1 PETER 2:4-5, 9-10JOHN 7:37-39REVELATION 21-228
DISCUSSIONQUESTIONS1What comes to your mind when you hear the word“holy”? How does its biblical meaning differ fromour cultural meaning?2How is holiness rooted in an understanding ofGod’s character? How is God’s holiness both goodand dangerous at the same time?3What is the significance of Isaiah’s vision incomparison to the tabernacle/temple systemestablished by Leviticus? How does his visionreveals God’s heart for people who are unclean?4How does this help you understand theimportance of the kind of people that Jesus wouldheal? What kind of impact would these healingshave had in the Jewish culture of Jesus’ time?5Read 1 Peter 2:1-10: How do all the images oftemple, holiness, priests, and the church cometogether? What does this reveal about God’sholiness? How does this raise the bar of holinessfor a follower of Jesus?STUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESS1 PETER 2:1-109
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life-giving holiness will one day flow out of the tem-ple into the world creating all kinds of new life: see 47:7-12. STUDY GUIDE FOR HOLINESS 7 When Jesus arrives on the scene announcing the arrival of God’s kingdom, he seems to identify and move towards people who were considered ‘unclean’ and unfit to enter God’s presence in the temple. 6 MARK 7:14-23 MATTHEW 9:1-8 MATTHEW 26:26-29 .
