The concept of building in the Bible encompasses both the physical act of construction and the metaphorical idea of spiritual and communal edification. Throughout Scripture, building is portrayed as an activity that reflects human creativity, divine instruction, and the establishment of God's purposes on earth.

Old Testament

In the Old Testament, building is often associated with the construction of altars, cities, and the Temple. The first mention of building occurs in Genesis 4:17, where Cain builds a city and names it after his son Enoch. This act of building signifies the beginning of human civilization and the establishment of communities.

The construction of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9 is a significant event where humanity's desire to build a tower reaching the heavens leads to divine intervention. The Lord confuses their language, scattering them across the earth. This narrative highlights the potential for human pride and ambition to conflict with God's will.

The building of the Tabernacle, as detailed in Exodus 25-40, is a divinely ordained project. God provides Moses with specific instructions for its construction, emphasizing the importance of obedience and reverence in building a dwelling place for His presence. The Tabernacle serves as a precursor to the Temple, which Solomon builds in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6). Solomon's Temple becomes the central place of worship for Israel, symbolizing God's covenant with His people.

New Testament

In the New Testament, the concept of building extends beyond physical structures to include the spiritual building of the Church. Jesus Christ is described as the cornerstone of this spiritual edifice. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." This statement underscores the foundational role of Christ and His apostles in establishing the Church.

The Apostle Paul frequently uses building imagery to describe the growth and development of the Christian community. In 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, Paul writes, "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of building on the foundation of Christ with care and integrity.

Ephesians 2:19-22 further elaborates on this theme: "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit." This passage highlights the unity and growth of believers as they are built into a spiritual temple.

Spiritual and Moral Implications

Building in the Bible often carries spiritual and moral implications. Proverbs 24:3-4 states, "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure." This proverb suggests that wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are essential for building a life that honors God.

The metaphor of building is also used to encourage believers to edify one another. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul exhorts, "Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing." This call to mutual edification reflects the communal aspect of building within the body of Christ.

Conclusion

The theme of building in the Bible encompasses both the tangible and intangible aspects of constructing a life and community that align with God's purposes. Whether through the physical construction of sacred spaces or the spiritual edification of the Church, building serves as a powerful metaphor for growth, unity, and obedience to God's will.1937. epithumeo -- desire, lust after
... 1937 (from 1909 , "focused " intensifying 2372 , "passionate desire") -- properly,
to show as it aptly builds on (Gk , "upon") what a person truly yearns for ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1937.htm - 8k

1933. epieikes -- seemly, equitable, yielding
... 1933 ("justice beyond ordinary justice") builds on the real (purpose) of what is
really at stake (note the , "upon") -- and hence, is that appropriately ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1933.htm - 7k

2026. epoikodomeo -- to build upon
... specifications. Word Origin from epi and oikodomeo Definition to build upon NASB
Word Usage building (2), builds (2), built (4). build upon. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2026.htm - 7k

2015. epiphaneia -- appearance
... epiphany."]. 2015 () literally suggests an appearing that builds on (Gk ) on
the characteristics of a particular situation. Accordingly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2015.htm - 7k

1997. episunagoge -- a gathering together, an assembly
... Cognate: 1997 -- a (apt) "grouping together" that fulfills (builds ) the specific
of the gathering together (note the , ""). See 1996 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1997.htm - 7k

2014. epiphaino -- to show forth, ie to appear
... Cognate: 2014 (from 1909 , "suitably ," which intensifies 5316 , "appear") -- properly,
to to achieve the , ie as it builds (Gk ) on the particular situation. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2014.htm - 7k

1938. epithumetes -- one who desires
... 1938 ("crave") describes passion that builds on (Gk , "upon") what is to
the will of God (used only in 1 Cor 10:6). See 1937 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1938.htm - 6k

1963. epinoia -- a thought, design
... intent. 1963 (from 1909 , ", fitting" and 3563 , "mind") -- properly, ,
ie what is the mind and (note the , "builds "). Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1963.htm - 7k

1783. enteuxis -- a petition, ie spec. supplication
... Intercession is not "the tool in and of itself" to act according to the , of
the intercessor! It always builds on faith (learning God's ).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1783.htm - 8k

1955. epilusis -- a release, an interpretation
... 1955 (from 1909 , ", fitting" and 3089 , "to loose") -- properly, unloosing (unpacking)
in an () manner, ie that builds on sound hermeneutical principles (note ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1955.htm - 7k

2997. Yibneyah -- "Yah builds up," a Benjamite
... 2996, 2997. Yibneyah. 2998 . "Yah builds up," a Benjamite. Transliteration:
Yibneyah Phonetic Spelling: (yib-neh-yaw') Short Definition: Ibneiah. ...
/hebrew/2997.htm - 6k

2998. Yibniyyah -- "Yah builds up," a Benjamite
... 2997, 2998. Yibniyyah. 2999 . "Yah builds up," a Benjamite. Transliteration:
Yibniyyah Phonetic Spelling: (yib-nee-yaw') Short Definition: Ibnijah. ...
/hebrew/2998.htm - 6k

1129. banah -- to build
... root Definition to build NASB Word Usage besieged* (1), build (112), build* (1),
builders (10), building (16), builds (8), built (177), construct (1 ...
/hebrew/1129.htm - 6k

That Interpretation of Scripture which Builds us up in Love is not ...
... Book I. Chapter 36."That Interpretation of Scripture Which Builds Us Up in Love
is Not Perniciously Deceptive Nor Mendacious, Even Though It Be Faulty. ...
/.../chapter 36 that interpretation of scripture.htm

St. Malachy Becomes Bishop of Connor; He Builds the Monastery of ...
... CHAPTER III St. Malachy becomes Bishop of Connor; he builds the Monastery
of Iveragh. 16. (10). At that time an episcopal see was ...
/.../chapter iii st malachy becomes.htm

The Emperor's Mother Helena Having Come to Jerusalem, Searches for ...
... Book I. Chapter XVII."The Emperor's Mother Helena having come to Jerusalem, searches
for and finds the Cross of Christ, and builds a Church. ...
/.../chapter xvii the emperors mother helena.htm

Whether Venial Sins are Suitably Designated as "Wood, Hay, and ...
... and stubble. Objection 2: Further, he who builds wood, hay and stubble, "shall
be saved yet so as by fire" (1:Cor.3:15). But sometimes ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether venial sins are suitably.htm

Faith and Works
... Now, this fire, of which the apostle speaks, should be understood as one through
which both kinds of men must pass: that is, the man who builds with gold ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xviii faith and.htm

The Temple Spoken of by Christ is the Church. Application to the ...
... priesthood. Thus the son of David, who builds this house, is a type of Christ.
He builds it when his wars are at an end, [5119] and ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/23 the temple spoken of.htm

The Promise Given to Peter not Restricted to Him, but Applicable ...
... what is the "it"? Is it the rock upon which Christ builds the church, or
is it the church? For the phrase is ambiguous. Or is it ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/11 the promise given to.htm

Every Sin --Every False Doctrine is a "Gate of Hades. "
... has "spot or wrinkle or any such thing," [5635] and because of wickedness is neither
holy nor blameless, is neither a rock upon which Christ builds, nor a ...
/.../12 every sinevery false doctrine.htm

Conformity to Type
... There is the potter who segments the worm, and the potter who builds up
the form of the dog, and the potter who moulds the man. ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/conformity to type.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... 3. I design, in the following discourse, First, to consider the case of him who
thus builds his house upon the sand: Secondly, to show the wisdom of him who ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 33 upon our lords.htm

Builds (18 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Builds (18 Occurrences). Matthew 7:24 "Every one
who hears these my teachings and acts upon them will be ...
/b/builds.htm - 11k

Builder (33 Occurrences)
... (n.) One who builds; one whose occupation is to build, as a carpenter, a shipwright,
or a mason. Int. ... But let each man be careful how he builds on it. ...
/b/builder.htm - 20k

Foundation (82 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise
master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. ...
/f/foundation.htm - 36k

Watchman (19 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Job 27:18 He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman
makes. ... Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. ...
/w/watchman.htm - 14k

Teachings (34 Occurrences)
... Matthew 7:24 "Every one who hears these my teachings and acts upon them will be
found to resemble a wise man who builds his house upon rock; (WEY). ...
/t/teachings.htm - 15k

Resemble (15 Occurrences)
... Matthew 7:24 "Every one who hears these my teachings and acts upon them will be
found to resemble a wise man who builds his house upon rock; (WEY). ...
/r/resemble.htm - 11k

Expert (59 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise
master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. ...
/e/expert.htm - 25k

Architect (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which has been given to me, as
a wise architect, I have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it. ...
/a/architect.htm - 7k

Skilled (44 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise
master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. ...
/s/skilled.htm - 20k

Build (242 Occurrences)
... 24-27). Christ is the sole true foundation; the work which a man builds
on this will be tried by fire (1 Corinthians 3:9-15). The ...
/b/build.htm - 45k

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