It has been said that no other word in the NT has suffered more due to ignorance than this word saint. This is also evident in the dictionary’s definition of the word, which says that a saint as a ‘person officially recognized for holiness of life.’”
“To stand in awe of or be devoted to the gods,” is how the secular Greek the word hagios (G40) is defined in pagan Greek religion which it came right out of. So, originally the word was used to describe a person as a “holy one” or a “holy man” because he was devoted to a god. For lack of a better word, Paul had to use it in his writings.
Roman Catholicism teaches that one first has to die to become a “saint.” The dead person is then nominated for the position of sainthood followed by one or more “judicial inquiries” where the nominating sponsor pleads the virtues of the nominee and provides proof of his or her worthiness to become a saint. One proof is that the nominee had to have performed at least two or in some cases, as many as four miracles. Once this is done, his life is then examined to see if it was holy enough to be officially recognized by canonization. But all that is contrary to the teachings of Scripture and denies a fundamental principal of being a Christian.
By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul raised the word hagios to a new level of meaning: “to set apart or be separate.” The same word is also translated holy and sanctification(G38 hagiasmos). While Roman Catholicism and others say a saint is dead, God says a saint is alive. Why? Because being a saint is not a matter of achievement or performance, but rather a matter of position. Instead of being based on what one has done, its based on who we are in Christ. It’s totally dependent on His grace, not upon our works.
Since Paul used it some forty-two times in his epistles we can safely assume that the description saint was Paul’s favorite term for the Christian. It appeared that he really loved that word!
Review and Meditation: After reading the following verses, what are the saints receiving in each case?
Acts 26:10 "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.
Rom. 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
Rom. 8:27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom. 15:25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.
Rom. 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
1 Cor. 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?
Eph. 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph. 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
“To stand in awe of or be devoted to the gods,” is how the secular Greek the word hagios (G40) is defined in pagan Greek religion which it came right out of. So, originally the word was used to describe a person as a “holy one” or a “holy man” because he was devoted to a god. For lack of a better word, Paul had to use it in his writings.
Roman Catholicism teaches that one first has to die to become a “saint.” The dead person is then nominated for the position of sainthood followed by one or more “judicial inquiries” where the nominating sponsor pleads the virtues of the nominee and provides proof of his or her worthiness to become a saint. One proof is that the nominee had to have performed at least two or in some cases, as many as four miracles. Once this is done, his life is then examined to see if it was holy enough to be officially recognized by canonization. But all that is contrary to the teachings of Scripture and denies a fundamental principal of being a Christian.
By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul raised the word hagios to a new level of meaning: “to set apart or be separate.” The same word is also translated holy and sanctification(G38 hagiasmos). While Roman Catholicism and others say a saint is dead, God says a saint is alive. Why? Because being a saint is not a matter of achievement or performance, but rather a matter of position. Instead of being based on what one has done, its based on who we are in Christ. It’s totally dependent on His grace, not upon our works.
Since Paul used it some forty-two times in his epistles we can safely assume that the description saint was Paul’s favorite term for the Christian. It appeared that he really loved that word!
Review and Meditation: After reading the following verses, what are the saints receiving in each case?
Acts 26:10 "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.
Rom. 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
Rom. 8:27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom. 15:25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.
Rom. 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
1 Cor. 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?
Eph. 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph. 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Saint - (Greek Hagios)
Pronounced hag’-ee-os
Pronounced hag’-ee-os
ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΞΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨΩ
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