John 2:19

Destroy this temple It is S. Matthew (Matthew 26:61) and S. Mark (Mark 14:58, see notes) who tell us that this saying was twisted into a charge against Christ, but they do not record the saying. S. John, who does record the saying, does not mention the charge. Such coincidence can scarcely be designed, and is therefore evidence of the truth of both statements. See on John 18:11. The word used in these three verses for -temple" means the central sacred building (naos), whereas that used in John 2:14 means the whole sacred enclosure (hieron). The latter is never used figuratively.

raise it up In the charge His accusers turn this into build, a word not appropriate to raising a dead body. There is no contradiction between Christ's declaration and the ordinary N.T. theology, that the Son was raised by the Father. The expression is figurative throughout; and -I and My Father are one." Comp. John 10:18. This throwing out seeds of thought for the future, which could not bear fruit at the time, is one of the characteristics of Christ's teaching.