BUILDER

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:

(1) as establishing, e.g. the nation (Psalm 69:35; Psalm 102:16 Jeremiah 12:16), the throne of David (Psalm 89:4), Jerusalem (Psalm 147:2);

(2) in restoration-rebuilding (Isaiah 58:12; Isaiah 61:4; Isaiah 65:21 Jeremiah 31:4, 28; Jeremiah 42:10 Ezekiel 36:36 Amos 9:11; compare Acts 15:16);

(3) as establishing in prosperity (Job 22:23 1 Samuel 2:35 Jeremiah 24:6; compare Genesis 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"); compare Job 19:8;

(6) the choosing of a corner-stone which the builders rejected (Psalm 118:22, 23; quoted by Christ (Matthew 21:42 Mark 12:10 Luke 20:17); by Peter (Acts 4:11 1 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 2:5 Acts 9:31 the Revised Version, margin; Romans 15:20 1 Corinthians 3:10, 12, 14 (epoikodomo); Ephesians 2:20);

(2) as being continuously and progressively built up in their faith and life (Acts 20:32 1 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; compare Jude 1:20);

(3) they are "builded togethe r" (sunoikodomeo) in Christ (Ephesians 2:22 Colossians 2:7 (epoikodomeo); compare 1 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) in Hebrews 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 Hebrews 9:11 for "building" the Revised Version (British and American) has "creation" (ktisis);

(7) in 1 Corinthians 3:10-14 Galatians 2:18, building represents constructing a system of teaching; Paul speaks of himself as "a wise master-builder" (sophos architekton).

W. L. Walker