The Architectural Design of the Jesus the Apostle.

The Interior Design of an Apostolic Community Part 1

“Most artists I’ve heard about like lots of light in their studios…Yet God creates His masterpieces in the dark, on the night shift. You are the canvas. The paint and brushes are your trials and pains. The portrait is His Son”.

Ron Mehl, God Works the Night Shift.

In the beginning of creation, the earth was formless and void.  The Hebrew phrase for “formless and void” as Dr. Len Sweet describes it, doesn’t mean empty or vacant. Formless and void conveys a disorder in chaos and darkness. 

It was out of this disorder that God spoke and said let there be light or divine order. When John is his gospel declares that God the Word in the beginning of creation spoke light into the disorder and darkness, the Word on the Cross speaks that same light life into the disorder and chaos of humanity.

The work of God is creative as God is not just creator but an artist and architect. As Len Sweet would drill this concept into our doctoral class was Jesus the carpenter means more than one just working with wood.   “A tekton was an artist who created wonders out of raw materials and who crafted useful artifacts out of stone, wood, and metal”.

Jesus is the ultimate tekton.

The Greek word for carpenter “tekton” refers to a builder, craftsman. The Greek word “tektomai” which derives from “tekton” means to build or “to construct”.  Jesus is not just a carpenter but an architect and builder; a skilled craftsman. 

Jesus the Word of God is the master builder and architect of new creation. He is not just the architect but he is the blueprint. The Greek word equivalent to blueprint or pattern used by the tekton was kanon.  The “kanon’ provided the tekton with a framework for creating harmonius designs.  The kanon was a rule of standard that governed the design and construction. 

The kanon of truth the early fathers used was the Creeds therefore, the harmony of the one Father who made himself known through the Son. The Son making the Father known by way of the incarnation and the Cross. The Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, spoke through the prophets that is, through the Scriptures.

For the early church this was the rule and blueprint (Kanon) of building the Ekklesia; His Body.

The kanon of truth is the apostolic preaching that reveals the Crucified Christ who reveals the Father, and bears the Spirit for us and as us….as the kanon and blueprint himself.  He is also the tekton and builder designing the building; His body creating through his death. 

The kanon or blueprint is the pattern of His prints.

 “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern (tupos prints) that was shown you on the mountain.”

Hebrews 8:5

Paul describes himself as a master builder:

“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled “master builder” I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ”.

II Corinthians 3:10-11

Sweet says the highest level of “tekton” was the “architektōn,” the architect. Paul referred to himself as an “architekton,”which can translated as “master-builder”  as well as “chief architect.”

It is clear through the writings of Paul that his narrative theology is seeing the Crucified Christ as the kanon and measure of how he builds as an apostolic architect.

Apostolic building therefore is creative and architectural in its design using the blueprint (kanon) of The Triune God whose form is Cruciform.

The pattern of architectural and creative design of the apostle is the kanon of His “prints”.

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

16 And as for all who walk by this rule (kanon) peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Galatians 6:14-17

We must be mindful how we build. May the Lord give us wisdom in how to partner and co labor with Jesus the builder and the kanon of Truth.