Bible Dictionary
BUILDER
A builder constructs or establishes a structure, and Scripture also uses the image figuratively. God builds and restores His people and city; believers are built up in faith on Christ as the foundation.
Definition
A builder constructs or establishes a structure. In biblical usage, building may be literal or figurative: God establishes nations, Jerusalem, David’s throne, and His people; believers are built upon Christ and progressively strengthened in faith and life.
Biblical Usage
Christ is presented as the cornerstone rejected by the builders. Christians are built by God on Christ the foundation, built together in Him, and built up in faith. Paul describes himself as a wise master-builder, while God is the Builder of all things and of the New Jerusalem.
Historical Background
The biblical vocabulary includes Hebrew and Greek terms for building, establishing, restoring, nourishing, and constructing. Building can also represent the formation of a system of teaching.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bild'-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:</p><p>(1) as establishing, e.g. the nation (Ps 69:35; 102:16; Jer 12:16), the throne of David (Ps 89:4), Jerusalem (Ps 147:2);</p><p>(2) in restoration--rebuilding (Isa 58:12; 61:4; 65:21; Jer 31:4,28; 42:10; Eze 36:36; Am 9:11; compare Ac 15:16);</p><p>(3) as establishing in prosperity (Job 22:23; 1Sa 2:35; Jer 24:6; compare Ge 16:2 the Revised Version, margin, Hebrew, "be builded by her");</p><p>(4) the firm establishment of the Divine attributes (Ps 89:2);</p><p>(5) Divine opposition (La 3:5, "He hath builded against me"); compare Job 19:8;</p><p>(6) the choosing of a corner-stone which the builders rejected (Ps 118:22,23; quoted by Christ (Mt 21:42; Mr 12:10; Lu 20:17); by Peter (Ac 4:11; 1Pe 2:7)).</p><p>In the New Testament Christians are represented as being:</p><p>(1) built by God (1Co 3:9,16) on Christ as the one foundation (Mt 16:18, on Jesus as the Christ; 1Pe 2:5 f; Ac 9:31 the Revised Version, margin; Ro 15:20; 1Co 3:10,12,14 (epoikodomo); Eph 2:20);</p><p>(2) as being continuously and progressively built up in their faith and life (Ac 20:32; 1Co 8:1 the Revised Version, margin, "buildeth up"; Ac 10:23 margin, Greek "build up"; Ac 14:4,17 m; 1Th 5:11; compare Jude 1:20);</p><p>(3) they are "builded togethe r" (sunoikodomeo) in Christ (Eph 2:22; Col 2:7 (epoikodomeo); compare 1Co 3:9);</p><p>(4) "builded up" is used in a bad sense (1Co 8:10 the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), "emboldened," the Revised Version, margin "be builded up");</p><p>(6) in Heb 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; in Heb 9:11 for "building" the Revised Version (British and American) has "creation" (ktisis);</p><p>(7) in 1Co 3:10-14; Ga 2:18, building represents constructing a system of teaching; Paul speaks of himself as "a wise master-builder" (sophos architekton).</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>