the First Week of Advent
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Dictionaries
Pillar
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
or "a column supporting the weight of a building," is used (a) metaphorically, of those who bear responsibility in the churches, as of the elders in the church at Jerusalem, Galatians 2:9; of a local church as to its responsibility, in a collective capacity, to maintain the doctrines of the faith by teaching and practice, 1 Timothy 3:15; some would attach this and the next words to the statement in ver. 16; the connection in the Eng. versions seems preferable; (b) figuratively in Revelation 3:12 , indicating a firm and permanent position in the spiritual, heavenly and eternal Temple of God; (c) illustratively, of the feet of the angel in the vision in Revelation 10:1 , seen as flames rising like columns of fire indicative of holiness and consuming power, and thus reflecting the glory of Christ as depicted in Revelation 1:15; cp. Ezekiel 1:7 .
These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Pillar'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/p/pillar.html. 1940.
