"Saints" are mentioned in the Bible indeed...

...but they are not made "saints" by any Pope according to the bible. One does not need to die and perform miracles to be "SAINTS".

What are Christian saints according to the Bible?


How does the Roman Catholic understanding of “saints” compare with the biblical teaching? Not very well. In Roman Catholic theology, the saints are in heaven. In the Bible, the saints are on earth. In Roman Catholic teaching, a person does not become a saint unless he/she is “beatified” or “canonized” by the Pope or prominent bishop. In the Bible, everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith is a saint. In Roman Catholic practice, the saints are revered, prayed to, and in some instances, worshipped. In the Bible, saints are called to revere, worship, and pray to God alone.

To be a SAINT simply means to be a good Christian.

There are no saints mentioned specifically by name in the Bible.

I would say all of Jesus' disciples/apostles are saints. I would say there are many more saints both living and dead. I'm not sure if Mary, Mother of Jesus, is technically a "saint" by biblical account. She wasn't Christian but rather a Jew and she was perhaps a very good person. Can good Jews even be saints?

Jonathan Bailey said:

...but they are not made "saints" by any Pope according to the bible. One does not need to die and perform miracles to be "SAINTS".

What are Christian saints according to the Bible?


How does the Roman Catholic understanding of “saints” compare with the biblical teaching? Not very well. In Roman Catholic theology, the saints are in heaven. In the Bible, the saints are on earth. In Roman Catholic teaching, a person does not become a saint unless he/she is “beatified” or “canonized” by the Pope or prominent bishop. In the Bible, everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith is a saint. In Roman Catholic practice, the saints are revered, prayed to, and in some instances, worshipped. In the Bible, saints are called to revere, worship, and pray to God alone.

To be a SAINT simply means to be a good Christian.

There are no saints mentioned specifically by name in the Bible.

I would say all of Jesus' disciples/apostles are saints. I would say there are many more saints both living and dead. I'm not sure if Mary, Mother of Jesus, is technically a "saint" by biblical account. She wasn't Christian but rather a Jew and she was perhaps a very good person. Can good Jews even be saints?

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I think that your position is sound except or the last paragraph.

All Christians, until the event of Cornelius, were Jews. Certainly Mary was among the 120 in the upper room and was filled with the Holy Spirit of God's power. So I believe she was as much as a saint as anyone else who believed.

KenS said:

I think that your position is sound except or the last paragraph.

All Christians, until the event of Cornelius, were Jews. Certainly Mary was among the 120 in the upper room and was filled with the Holy Spirit of God's power. So I believe she was as much as a saint as anyone else who believed.

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Definition of saint | Dictionary.com

noun
any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization.
a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence.
a founder, sponsor, or patron, as of a movement or organization.
(in certain religious groups) a designation applied by the members to themselves.
verb (used with object)
to enroll formally among the saints recognized by the Church.
to give the name of saint to; reckon as a saint.

It's hard for me to believe, even as a person who once practiced as a Protestant, that Mary the mother of Jesus Christ is anything but a saint and anywhere but in heaven with God and her Son.

To me, a SAINT is simply a person in heaven or who is still living in this world and is living a life to be worthy of God's Kingdom eternally after death. This woman was chosen by God as somebody special to bear His only begotten Son. Mary had not one bad bone in her entire body. She had more kindness in her little toe than many people, Donald Trump included, today have in their entire bodies.

All SAINTS go to heaven. All non-repentant sinners go to hell.

I object to naming a football team the Saints, however. There is nothing benevolent and holy about beating the crap out of your opponents physically and violently as is the very nature of that sport.

Jonathan Bailey said:

Definition of saint | Dictionary.com

noun
any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization.
a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence.
a founder, sponsor, or patron, as of a movement or organization.
(in certain religious groups) a designation applied by the members to themselves.
verb (used with object)
to enroll formally among the saints recognized by the Church.
to give the name of saint to; reckon as a saint.

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Dictionaries simply define a word as currently used (mostly) or as used before.

Let's look at how the Bible defined it:

Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, There were saints before the death of Jesus

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: Here saints was simply those who believed in Jerusalem

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In both cases, they are referring to believers.

I think you are referring to those the Catholic Church refers as saints? Which would be different than at Bible times.

Jonathan Bailey said:

It's hard for me to believe, even as a person who once practiced as a Protestant, that Mary the mother of Jesus Christ is anything but a saint and anywhere but in heaven with God and her Son.

To me, a SAINT is simply a person in heaven or who is still living in this world and is living a life to be worthy of God's Kingdom eternally after death. This woman was chosen by God as somebody special to bear His only begotten Son. Mary had not one bad bone in her entire body. She had more kindness in her little toe than many people, Donald Trump included, today have in their entire bodies.

All SAINTS go to heaven. All non-repentant sinners go to hell.

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I let God do the judging. My commandment is simply to let people know that Jesus died for their sins, that God loves them and that if you put your faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you can be saved.

Jonathan Bailey said:

I object to naming a football team the Saints, however. There is nothing benevolent and holy about beating the crap out of your opponents physically and violently as is the very nature of that sport.

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LOL... that's did produce a chuckle!

I don't think there is any such thing as a 'saint'. Everyone is human with faults and failing. That woman, Mother Teresa, was created a 'saint' yet was as far away from being one as it was possible to be. I met a person some years ago who had actually worked with her, they were not impressed by her behaviour towards the people she was supposed to be helping. Apparently she thought physical suffering was good for the soul and withheld pain meds from the dying!

JJ50 said:

I don't think there is any such thing as a 'saint'. Everyone is human with faults and failing. That woman, Mother Teresa, was created a 'saint' yet was as far away from being one as it was possible to be. I met a person some years ago who had actually worked with her, they were not impressed by her behaviour towards the people she was supposed to be helping. Apparently she thought physical suffering was good for the soul and withheld pain meds from the dying!

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Jesus in the Bible healed the sick. He didn't let sick people continue to suffer "for the sake of their souls".

Perhaps Our Lord Jesus Christ is Saint of Saints.

Jim Jones was no saint. He withheld food from old people and disabled people too weak to participate in worship services, I've been told. He murdered innocent people with poisoned kool-aid too and suicide is a deadly sin, supposedly.

Jonathan Bailey said:

Jesus in the Bible healed the sick. He didn't let sick people continue to suffer "for the sake of their souls".

Perhaps Our Lord Jesus Christ is Saint of Saints.

Jim Jones was no saint. He withheld food from old people and disabled people too weak to participate in worship services, I've been told. He murdered innocent people with poisoned kool-aid too and suicide is a deadly sin, supposedly.

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So the Bible says. I doubt being a mere human like the rest of us he was capable of performing miracles.

JJ50 said:

So the Bible says. I doubt being a mere human like the rest of us he was capable of performing miracles.

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I think they have made a mess of it with their embellishments.