Bible Dictionaries
Saint, Saints

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

for the meaning and use of which see HOLY , B, No. 1, is used as a noun in the singular in Philippians 4:21 , where pas, "every," is used with it. In the plural, as used of believers, it designates all such and is not applied merely to persons of exceptional holiness, or to those who, having died, were characterized by exceptional acts of "saintliness." See especially 2 Thessalonians 1:10 , where "His saints" are also described as "them that believed," i.e., the whole number of the redeemed. They are called "holy ones" in Jude 1:14 , RV. For the term as applied to the Holy Spirit see HOLY SPIRIT. See also SANCTIFY.

Notes: (1) In Revelation 15:3 the RV follows those texts which have aionon, "ages," and assigns the reading ethnon, "nations," to the margin; the AV translates those which have the inferior reading hagion, "saints," and puts "nations" and "ages" in the margin. (2) In Revelation 18:20 , the best texts have hagioi and apostoloi, each with the article, each being preceeded by kai, "and," RV, "and ye saints, and ye apostles;" the AV, "and ye holy apostles" follows those mss. from which the 2nd kai and the article are absent. (3) In Revelation 22:21 , the RV follows those mss. which have hagion, with the article, "(with) the saints;" the AV those which simply have panton, "all," but adds "you" (RV, marg., "with all").