Temper
What Does 'Temper' Mean in the Bible?
The English word 'temper' in the King James Version translates several Hebrew and Greek words conveying the idea of mixing or blending. Unlike the modern association with anger management, the biblical concept focuses on intentional combination. For example, in Exodus 29:2, unleavened cakes were 'tempered with oil' (Hebrew balal), meaning they were mixed with oil in preparation. Similarly, the sacred incense recipe required ingredients to be 'tempered together' (Exodus 30:35), using the Hebrew word malach, which specifically means 'salted' or 'seasoned.' These uses point to practical, ritual preparation through combination.
The Physical Act of Mixing
Several Old Testament passages use 'temper' in the context of preparing materials. Ezekiel 46:14 describes a grain offering that must be 'tempered' (Hebrew racac) with oil, which the Revised Version clarifies as 'moistened.' This indicates a process of making something pliable or workable through the addition of liquid. The imagery extends to the apocryphal book of Wisdom, where clay is 'tempered' or kneaded by a potter (Wisdom of Solomon 15:7). These physical acts of blending raw ingredients served as tangible, everyday processes that would later inform spiritual metaphors.
A Powerful Metaphor for the Church
The most theologically significant use of 'temper' appears in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 12:24, the Apostle Paul writes that God has 'tempered' (Greek sugkerannymi) the body of Christ, referring to the church. This Greek word means to mix together, blend, or compound. Paul's argument is profound: just as a human body is a unified whole made of diverse, interdependent parts, so God has intentionally blended together people with different spiritual gifts, backgrounds, and functions into one cohesive spiritual body. The diversity within the church is not an accident but a divine design where each member contributes to the health of the whole.
The Essential Mix of Faith and Hearing
Another critical New Testament usage is found in Hebrews 4:2. The author states that the gospel message preached to the ancient Israelites 'did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.' Here, the same Greek word (sugkerannymi) describes the necessary combination of hearing God's word and responding with active trust. The message alone is insufficient; it must be 'tempered' with personal faith to become effective and life-giving. This presents faith not as a passive state but as an active ingredient that must be blended with the truth received.
From Ritual to Relationship
The progression of the 'temper' concept moves from the physical to the spiritual. It begins with the blending of physical ingredients for worship (oil, flour, incense) under the Old Covenant, which required precise obedience. It culminates in the New Testament with the blending of people into community and the blending of faith with God's promise. This shift mirrors the broader biblical movement from external ritual to internal transformation and relational unity through Christ.
Biblical Context
The concept appears in various forms across both Testaments. In the Old Testament, it is primarily found in the Pentateuch's ritual instructions (Exodus 29:2, 30:35) and in Ezekiel's temple visions (Ezekiel 46:14). In the New Testament, it serves as a key theological metaphor in Paul's ecclesiology (1 Corinthians 12:24) and in the Hebrews sermon's discussion of faith (Hebrews 4:2). It plays a descriptive role in physical preparations and a prescriptive role in teaching about spiritual unity and response.
Theological Significance
Theologically, 'temper' teaches about God's intentional design. It reveals a God who is a masterful blender, creating unity from diversity within the Body of Christ. It underscores that community and faith are not monolithic but beautifully composite. The term highlights that spiritual effectiveness—whether in corporate worship or individual salvation—often depends on the proper 'mixing' of divine provision with human response. It affirms that diversity within unity is not merely practical but is a reflection of God's creative and redemptive work.
Historical Background
The practices of mixing oil with flour or seasoning incense with salt were common in ancient Near Eastern ritual contexts. Extra-biblical sources from cultures like Egypt and Mesopotamia show similar meticulous recipes for ritual offerings. The Greek word sugkerannymi was used in various Hellenistic texts to describe blending wines, compounding medicines, and unifying groups. This cultural backdrop shows that biblical authors used a familiar, everyday concept—the combining of elements to create something new and functional—to communicate profound spiritual truths about community and faith to their original audiences.