Post by lovelace on Feb 2, 2006 22:16:14 GMT -5
Question: "What are Christian saints according to the Bible?"
Answer: The word saint comes from the Greek word "hagios" which means consecrated to God, Holy, Scared, Pious". It is almost always used in the plural saints. "But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem;" (Acts 9:13). "Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda" (Acts 9:32). "And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them (Acts 26:10). There is only one instance of the singular use and that is "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you" (Philippians 4:21). There were 67 uses of the plural saints compared to one use of the word saint.
The idea of the word Saint is that referring to a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. There are only three references referring to godly character; "that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well" (Romans 16:2). "or the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;" (Ephesians 4:12). "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;" (Ephesians 5:3).
Therefore it is acceptable to say that the majority of the references belong to the group of people that are called the body of Christ. Therefore all Christians are considered saints. To use the example of Saint John is acceptable as long as you understand that it simply means one who is godly, set apart for God, Pure, Holy, Pious. If you are going to use the same designation as some of the other denominations to set them apart above other people no that would not be proper. No one is greater than the other in the Kingdom of God and therefore the term saint should never denote anyone as greater than anyone else especially if that person should be the object of prayer then you are taking it way out of proportion.
Answer: The word saint comes from the Greek word "hagios" which means consecrated to God, Holy, Scared, Pious". It is almost always used in the plural saints. "But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem;" (Acts 9:13). "Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda" (Acts 9:32). "And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them (Acts 26:10). There is only one instance of the singular use and that is "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you" (Philippians 4:21). There were 67 uses of the plural saints compared to one use of the word saint.
The idea of the word Saint is that referring to a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. There are only three references referring to godly character; "that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well" (Romans 16:2). "or the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;" (Ephesians 4:12). "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;" (Ephesians 5:3).
Therefore it is acceptable to say that the majority of the references belong to the group of people that are called the body of Christ. Therefore all Christians are considered saints. To use the example of Saint John is acceptable as long as you understand that it simply means one who is godly, set apart for God, Pure, Holy, Pious. If you are going to use the same designation as some of the other denominations to set them apart above other people no that would not be proper. No one is greater than the other in the Kingdom of God and therefore the term saint should never denote anyone as greater than anyone else especially if that person should be the object of prayer then you are taking it way out of proportion.
