The Great High Priest: The Temple Roots of Christian Liturgy

by Margaret Barker

Margaret Barker has been researching and writing about the Jerusalem temple for over twenty years. Many of her studies have remained unpublished. Here for the first time her work on the roots of Christian liturgy has been brought together.Whereas most scholarship has concentrated upon the synagogue, Margaret Barker's work on the Jerusalem temple contributes significantly to our understanding of the meaning and importance of many elements of Christian liturgy which have hitherto remained obscure. This book opens up a new field of research.The many subjects addressed include the roots of the Eucharist in various temple rituals and offerings other than Passover, the meaning of the holy of holies and the Christian sanctuary, the cosmology of temple and church, the significance of the Veil of the Temple for understanding priesthood and Incarnation, the Holy Wisdom and the Mother of God, angels and priesthood, the concept of unity, the high priestly tradition in the early church and evidence that Christianity was a conscious continuation of the temple.All scholars and students whose interest encompasses the origins of Christian (and Orthodox) liturgy, the Old Testament, early Christianity, Jewish Christian relations, Platonism and the origins of Islam will find this book a hugely rewarding source of information and new ideas.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, History, Theology, New Testament, Nonfiction

423 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Margaret Barker is a British Methodist preacher and biblical scholar recognized for her pioneering contributions to the study of early Christianity. Educated in theology at the University of Cambridge, she devoted her career to exploring the roots of Christian thought through what she terms Temple Theology, an approach tracing many aspects of early Christian liturgy and doctrine back to the worship of Solomon’s Temple.
In 1998 she served as president of the Society for Old Testament Study, and in 2008 she was awarded the Lambeth Doctor of Divinity by the Archbishop of Canterbury in recognition of her scholarly achievements. Her influential works, including The Great High Priest (2003) and Temple Theology (2004), emphasize the enduring legacy of Temple worship, arguing that it shaped Christianity as deeply as Hellenistic and synagogue traditions.
Drawing on sources ranging from the Hebrew Bible and Septuagint to the Dead Sea Scrolls, Gnostic writings, and early Christian texts, Barker’s research highlights the mystical dimensions of ancient worship and their relevance for understanding early Christian belief. Her work has been both praised for originality and critiqued within mainstream scholarship, yet remains highly influential across diverse theological traditions.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblical scholar and minister, Margaret Barker makes a powerful case that the Original Faith of ancient Israel, was far more temple-centric than Second Temple Judaism. This older religion knew two Gods: Elohim, God most high, and his son, Jehovah, the Great High Priest. They also were familiar with Jehovah's mother in heaven. In fact, she demonstrates that the Old Testament adopted by Christianity, was in fact a reworked version of the scriptures altered by the Jews as a response to Christianity! All of this comes as no surprise to Latter-day Saints (which is why she has now made multiple trips to BYU and Utah State University (and to our Institute!). This is a scholarly work, and not easy reading (and I noticed now very pricey!), but well worth the effort. If you'd like a simpler Margaret Barker for dummies, try her "Temple Theology, an Introduction" or just go to her website: http://www.margaretbarker.com/ where she has lots of free papers, etc.

[Alexander Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!! This book is fantastic. Barker delves into some very tough topics and generates some fascinating ideas. She tries to recreate the religion of the first temple. This book has great analysis on the architecture of the temple and the role of feminine Wisdom in the original religion of the Hebrews. She shows of the book of Genesis was a second temple political version of the original creation story. Baker then goes through the days of creation and tries to reconstruct the original creation story. The Day of Atonement ritual is explained in great detail. Anyone who is a serious student of the historical context of Christianity needs to read this book.

[Sharman Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like what Margaret Barker has to say, even if I'm a bit over my head. I wonder if her work is having an impact on other Biblical/extra-Biblical scholars. It's cool to see so much in the "first temple" era that I can relate to as a Mormon (restoration Christian)and also appreciate how so many of these practices came down via mainstream Christian liturgy. The ancient texts certainly show a diverse Judaism and Christianity, and that the Greeks may have been influenced by them, rather than the other way around. Fascinating!

[Oakley C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultimately Barker makes some rather brilliant AND alarming points. The issue becomes this--does she rely far too much on works outside the canon of scripture? What is the legitimacy of such a tactic? It can be somewhat deflating (in my mind) when recourse must be made CONSTANTLY towards the books of Enoch or awkwardly titled Pseudepigrapha like "The Apocalypse of Abraham." True, much of this is found in the Qumran community so perhaps it SHOULD be seen as reasonable in light of the fact that it was among the Dead Sea Scrolls (i.e., in use by an active community of Jewish believers that probably DID preserve Temple practices which had been discarded by the Kingdoms of Israel/Judah). However, therein in lies the next issue--how much CAN one speculate on that community and their beliefs? Or where those beliefs came from? Her primary thesis is that Christian Liturgy (especially as preserved by the Eastern Orthodox Church) is an expression of Temple Mysticism and Temple Theology (that is, what rituals and practices were performed behind the Veil of the Holy of Holies). Unfortunately Barker almost ALWAYS undergirds her arguments solely by speculating as to what this or that arcane/obscure image MUST mean when it is by no means clear. Additionally, the so-called "Gnostic Gospels" are used with just as much authority as that which is canon in the New Testament (despite the fact that it IS the canonical New Testament which informs Eastern Orthodox liturgy and NOT Gnostic texts).

Still, four stars due to the sheer effort involved!

[Kevin Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of insightful essays on the theme of temple symbolism related to Christian origins. It also includes an essay relating Plato's Timaeus to the First temple, and a study showing how the Christians ended up adopting an Old Testament originally defined and edited in response to Christianity.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good Premise, good collection of info, but not for the lay reader.