To me, the verse turns on the expression "temple of God". It can be understood either metaphorically or literally. For example, Matthew Henry and Calvin regard it metaphorically, taking it to mean the church, while Jamiesson, Fausset and Brown take it to be a literal temple at Jerusalem (they may be historic premillenialists).
It can also be understood metaphorically, loosely to mean something similar to the intellectual seat of religion in general secular usage—which is how post-Westminster positions would interpret it. I am not convinced by this because it seems distant from the natural use of "temple" in the Bible.


In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.