Builder

In the NT the word is used six times. Five of them are quotations of Psalm 118:22 (Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7), and the sixth says that God is the builder of the city which has foundations to which Abraham looked forward (Heb 11:10).

A great deal is known about building in ancient times because of the hundreds of buildings that survive in whole or in part. Every new mound excavated by archeologists reveals the foundations of many buildings, both large and small. The best of the builders were highly skilled craftsmen. (See Build, Building.)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

"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 (Ps 69:35; 102:16; Jer 12:16), the throne of David (Ps 89:4), Jerusalem (Ps 147:2);

(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");

(4) the firm establishment of the Divine attributes (Ps 89:2);

(5) Divine opposition (La 3:5, "He hath builded against me"); compare Job 19:8;

(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)).

In the New Testament Christians are represented as being:

(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);

(3) they are "builded togethe r" (sunoikodomeo) in Christ (Eph 2:22; Col 2:7 (epoikodomeo); compare 1Co 3:9);

(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");

(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);

(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).