Builder
Morrish Bible Dictionary [1]
As early as Genesis 4:17 we read of Cain building a city and calling it after his son's name; since which time building houses has become general; whereas Abraham looked for a city whose Builder is God. It is used as symbolical of raising up a spiritual edifice to God, of which Christ is the Builder. Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Ephesians 2:21; 1 Peter 2:5 . As instruments, others also are builders Paul calls himself 'a wise master builder,' or rather 'architect' as having well laid the foundation of the assembly, which is Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10 . The labourers are cautioned as to the material they use in building up a house for God: improper materials will not stand the test of the fire, and the builders will suffer loss by seeing their work burned up and by losing their reward. 1 Corinthians 3:10-14 . Whereas all that Christ builds, though by the instrumentality of His servants, will surely stand for ever. Under another similitude Christ is the chief corner stone, or head of the corner, which 'the builders,' the heads of the Jewish nation, refused, but which God exalted. Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7 .
King James Dictionary [2]
BUILD'ER, n. bild'er. One who builds one whose occupation is to build an architect, a ship-wright,a mason, &c.
1. A creator.
Whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(n.) One who builds; one whose occupation is to build, as a carpenter, a shipwright, or a mason.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [4]
BUILDER . See Arts and Crafts, 3 .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
bild´ẽr ( בּנה , bānāh ; οἰκοδομέω , oikodoméō , τεχνίτης , technı́tēs ): "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 , Jeremiah 31:28; 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 , Psalm 118:23; 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 , 1 Corinthians 3:16 ) on Christ as the one foundation ( Matthew 16:18 , on Jesus as the Christ; 1 Peter 2:5 f; Acts 9:31 the Revised Version, margin; Romans 15:20; 1 Corinthians 3:10 , 1 Corinthians 3:12 , 1 Corinthians 3:14 ( epoikodoméō ); 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"; 1 Corinthians 10:23 margin, Greek "build up"; 1 Corinthians 14:4 , 1 Corinthians 14:17 m; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; compare Judges 1:20 ); (3) They are "builded together" ( sunoikodoméō ) in Christ ( Ephesians 2:22; Colossians 2:7 ( εποικοδομεο , epoikodomeō ); 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 Hebrews 11:10 as the Builder ( technitēs ), of the New Jerusalem; in Hebrews 9:11 for "building" the Revised Version (British and American) has "creation" ( ktı́sis ); (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" ( sophós architéktōn ).
