The Significance of Temples in Creation

The creation narrative in Genesis is portrayed as a temple inauguration ceremony where God establishes the cosmos as His temple. This seven-day structure mirrors ancient Near Eastern practices where temples were inaugurated; the climax of such ceremonies involved placing an idol within the temple to embody the deity. In Genesis 1, humanity is described as made in God's image, indicating that humans are essentially God's idols. This establishes humanity's responsibility to care for one another, paralleling the ancient understanding that communities must protect and honor the image of their deity.