Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "builder" refers to individuals or groups involved in the construction of physical structures, as well as those who metaphorically build up communities, faith, or the kingdom of God. The concept of building is deeply embedded in the Scriptures, symbolizing both physical and spiritual growth and development.
Old Testament ReferencesThe Old Testament provides numerous examples of builders and their work. One of the earliest mentions is in
Genesis 11:3-4, where the people said, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens." This passage describes the construction of the Tower of Babel, highlighting human ambition and the desire to make a name for themselves apart from God.
King Solomon is perhaps the most renowned builder in the Old Testament. He was responsible for the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, a monumental task that required vast resources and labor.
1 Kings 6:14 states, "So Solomon built the temple and finished it." This temple became the central place of worship for the Israelites and a symbol of God's presence among His people.
Nehemiah is another significant figure associated with building. He led the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
Nehemiah 4:6 records, "So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." Nehemiah's leadership and dedication to God's purposes exemplify the spiritual aspect of building, emphasizing community and faithfulness.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the concept of building takes on a more spiritual dimension. Jesus Christ is often referred to as a builder, not of physical structures, but of the Church. In
Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." Here, Jesus speaks of establishing a spiritual community that will endure through time.
The Apostle Paul also uses the metaphor of building to describe the growth and edification of the Church. In
1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Paul writes, "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." Paul emphasizes the importance of building on the foundation of Christ with care and integrity.
Spiritual ImplicationsThe role of a builder in the Bible extends beyond physical construction to include the building up of faith, character, and community. Believers are called to be builders in their own right, contributing to the growth of the Church and the spread of the Gospel.
Ephesians 4:12-13 speaks to this calling: "to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ."
In summary, the biblical concept of a builder encompasses both the tangible and intangible, reflecting God's desire for His people to construct lives and communities that honor Him. Whether through physical structures or spiritual edification, the act of building is a divine calling that requires wisdom, dedication, and faithfulness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) One who builds; one whose occupation is to build, as a carpenter, a shipwright, or a mason.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BUILDERbild'-er (banah; oikodomeo, technites): "To build," "builder," ete, are in the Old Testament commonly the translation of banah, "to build," occurring very frequently; see BUILD, BUILDING. The literal significance leads also to several figurative applications, especially to God as Divine Builder:
(1) as establishing, e.g. the nation (Psalm 69:35;Psalm 102:16Jeremiah 12:16), the throne of David (Psalm 89:4), Jerusalem (Psalm 147:2);
(2) in restoration-rebuilding (Isaiah 58:12;Isaiah 61:4;Isaiah 65:21Jeremiah 31:4, 28;Jeremiah 42:10Ezekiel 36:36Amos 9:11; compareActs 15:16);
(3) as establishing in prosperity (Job 22:231 Samuel 2:35Jeremiah 24:6; compareGenesis 16:2 the Revised Version, margin, Hebrew, "be builded by her");
(4) the firm establishment of the Divine attributes (Psalm 89:2);
(5) Divine opposition (Lamentations 3:5, "He hath builded against me"); compareJob 19:8;
(6) the choosing of a corner-stone which the builders rejected (Psalm 118:22, 23; quoted by Christ (Matthew 21:42Mark 12:10Luke 20:17); by Peter (Acts 4:111 Peter 2:7)).
In the New Testament Christians are represented as being:
(1) built by God (1 Corinthians 3:9, 16) on Christ as the one foundation (Matthew 16:18, on Jesus as the Christ;1 Peter 2:5Acts 9:31 the Revised Version, margin;Romans 15:201 Corinthians 3:10, 12, 14 (epoikodomo);Ephesians 2:20);
(2) as being continuously and progressively built up in their faith and life (Acts 20:321 Corinthians 8:1 the Revised Version, margin, "buildeth up";Acts 10:23 margin, Greek "build up";Acts 14:4, 17 m;1 Thessalonians 5:11; compareJude 1:20);
(3) they are "builded togethe r" (sunoikodomeo) in Christ (Ephesians 2:22Colossians 2:7 (epoikodomeo); compare1 Corinthians 3:9);
(4) "builded up" is used in a bad sense (1 Corinthians 8:10 the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), "emboldened," the Revised Version, margin "be builded up");
(6) inHebrews 3:4 God is represented as the Builder (establisher) of all things, the Revised Version, margin "established," and in 11:10 as the Builder (technites), of the New Jerusalem; inHebrews 9:11 for "building" the Revised Version (British and American) has "creation" (ktisis);
(7) in1 Corinthians 3:10-14Galatians 2:18, building represents constructing a system of teaching; Paul speaks of himself as "a wise master-builder" (sophos architekton).
W. L. Walker
Greek
753. architekton -- a masterbuilder... a master
builder. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: architekton Phonetic
Spelling: (ar-khee-tek'-tone) Short Definition: master-
builder Definition
...1217. demiourgos --builder, maker, creator
...builder, maker, creator. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: demiourgos
Phonetic Spelling: (day-me-oor-gos') Short Definition: an artisan,builder...
3620b. oikodomos -- abuilder
... abuilder. Transliteration: oikodomos Short Definition: builders. Word Origin from
oikos and the same as doma Definition abuilder NASB Word Usage builders (1)....
5079. technites -- a craftsman, artificer
... Transliteration: technites Phonetic Spelling: (tekh-nee'-tace) Short Definition:
a craftsman, artisan Definition: a craftsman, artisan, architect,builder....
2680. kataskeuazo -- to prepare
... Word Origin from kata and skeuazo (to prepare, make ready) Definition to prepare
NASB Word Usagebuilder (2), built (1), construction (1), prepare (3...
3618. oikodomeo -- to build a house
... From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, ie Construct or (figuratively)
confirm -- (be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden. see GREEK oikodome....
Strong's Hebrew
3036. Yadon -- abuilder of the Jer. wall... 3035, 3036. Yadon. 3037 . a
builder of the Jer.
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation
Definition a
builder of the Jer. wall NASB Word Usage Jadon (1). Jadon.
...6420. Palal -- abuilder of the Jer. wall
... 6419, 6420. Palal. 6421 . abuilder of the Jer.... Word Origin from palal Definition
abuilder of the Jer. wall NASB Word Usage Palal (1). Palal....
1129. banah -- to build
... 1), set (1), surely built (1). begin tobuilder, obtain children, make, repair,
set up, surely. A primitive root; to build (literally...
1121. ben -- son
... From banah; a son (as abuilder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal
and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality...
Library
The RashBuilder
... XIII to XXIV THE RASHBUILDER.... And then He illustrates the law by these two expanded
similes or condensed parables, of the rashbuilder and the rash soldier....
The Promised King and Temple-Builder
... THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL THE PROMISED KING AND TEMPLE-BUILDER. 'And it came
to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto...
Nehemiah, the PrayingBuilder
... NEHEMIAH, THE PRAYINGBUILDER.... In enumerating the praying saints of the Old Testament,
we must not leave out of that sacred catalogue Nehemiah, thebuilder....
Christ Glorified as theBuilder of his Church
... Christ Glorified as theBuilder of His Church. A Sermon (No.191).... Well, now, this
church is called the temple of God, and Christ is said to be itsbuilder....
Hugh theBuilder
... CHAPTER VIII HUGH THEBUILDER.... "Also fifteen days before he died Geoffrey de Noiers
(or Nowers) the constructor orbuilder of the noble fabric, came to see him....
Whether Creatures Need to be Kept in Being by God?
... But a created agent, even after ceasing to act, can cause its effect to be preserved
in being; thus the house continues to stand after thebuilder has ceased...
As his Fellow-Workers
... Himself. Of his own work, Paul speaks as of that of a masterbuilder, to
whom a part of the great building has been given in charge....
The Work of the Holy Spirit Distinguished.
... The king furnishes the materials and plans, thebuilder constructs the palace.
Who, then, built it? Neither the king nor thebuilder...
Third Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
... It also bore the name Philippi because of the name of itsbuilder, and to distinguish
it from C??sarea Palestin?? or C??sarea Strotonis, a city on the...
The Divine Way of Wisdom, and Greatness, and Might God's Hiding of...
... St. Paul, as a Wise Master-Builder, Associated with Prophecy. Sundry Injunctions
of the Apostle Parallel with the Teaching of the Old Testament....
Thesaurus
Builder (33 Occurrences)... (n.) One who builds; one whose occupation is to build, as a carpenter, a shipwright,
or a mason. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BUILDER.
...Master-builder (1 Occurrence)
Master-builder. Masterbuilder, Master-builder. Mastered .
Multi-Version Concordance Master-builder (1 Occurrence). 1...
Pattern (28 Occurrences)
... A man who wants a house calls thebuilder and says he wants to build so many rooms
of such and such dimensions with, for example, a court 10 drahs (arm's...
Building (249 Occurrences)
... called "a building of God" (2 Corinthians 5:1). Christ is the only foundation of
his church (1 Corinthians 3:10-12), of which he also is thebuilder (Matthew 16...
Architecture
... 1. Plans, Estimates and Measuring: Although in the smaller buildings there is very
little evidence of thebuilder having been governed by a previously drawn...
Cain (18 Occurrences)
... of whom Cain stood in fear (Genesis 4:14); who inhabited the city he built (Genesis
4:17); how the wanderer and fugitive could become the city-builder; and why...
Code (6 Occurrences)
... Thebuilder is responsible for the stability of the house built by him; if it falls
down and kills the master of the house, thebuilder is killed; if it kills...
Recorded (141 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 15:23 Now the rest of the acts of Asa, and his power, and all he did, and
the towns of which he was thebuilder, are they not recorded in the book of...
Maker (55 Occurrences)
... BBE). Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations,
whosebuilder and maker is God. (WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS RSV)....
Builders (24 Occurrences)
Resources
What does it mean that the wise man built his house upon a rock? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the key to bearing fruit as a Christian? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Christian view of Pilates? | GotQuestions.orgBuilder: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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