In biblical times, colonnades were architectural features consisting of a series of columns set at regular intervals, often supporting a roof or an entablature. These structures were prevalent in ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman architecture and served both functional and aesthetic purposes. Colonnades provided shaded walkways, enhanced the grandeur of buildings, and were often associated with public spaces, temples, and palaces.

Biblical References

Colonnades are mentioned in several passages of the Bible, highlighting their significance in the architectural and social landscape of the time. One notable reference is found in the Gospel of John, where the colonnades of Solomon's Porch are mentioned. This area was part of the Temple complex in Jerusalem and served as a gathering place for teaching and discussion.

In John 10:23 , it is recorded: "And Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade." This passage indicates that colonnades were integral to the Temple's structure, providing a space for Jesus to teach and interact with the people. The colonnades of Solomon's Porch were significant as they were associated with the wisdom and legacy of King Solomon, adding a layer of historical and spiritual importance to the location.

Another reference to colonnades is found in the Book of Acts. In Acts 3:11 , after the healing of the lame man, it is noted: "While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the colonnade called Solomon’s." This event underscores the role of colonnades as central places for public gatherings and significant events in the early Christian community.

Cultural and Historical Context

Colonnades were a common feature in the architecture of the ancient world, reflecting the influence of Greek and Roman styles. In the context of the Jewish Temple, the colonnades not only served practical purposes but also symbolized the blending of cultural influences and the grandeur of the sacred space. The use of colonnades in the Temple complex highlights the intersection of Jewish tradition with the broader architectural trends of the time.

The presence of colonnades in the Temple also facilitated the fulfillment of religious and social functions. They provided shelter from the elements, allowing for year-round activities, and served as venues for teaching, debate, and communal gatherings. The colonnades thus played a crucial role in the religious life of the Jewish people and the early Christian community.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, the colonnades in the biblical narrative can be seen as spaces where divine revelation and human interaction intersect. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles in these areas underscore the importance of public proclamation and the accessibility of the Gospel message. The colonnades, as part of the Temple, also remind believers of the continuity of God's presence and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through history.

In summary, colonnades in the Bible are more than mere architectural features; they are significant settings for divine encounters, teaching, and the early spread of the Christian faith. Their presence in the biblical text invites reflection on the ways in which God uses ordinary spaces to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

Place of S. Cyril's Lectures.
... Some think that the place of Crucifixion was included in the vast area which was
enclosed with colonnades between the Sepulchre and the Basilica,...that ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/chapter viii place of s cyrils.htm

Other Things, Hindrances Equally of the Soul, May have Accompanied ...
... In spirit, then, roam abroad; in spirit walk about, not setting before you shady
paths or long colonnades, but the way which leads to God. ...
/.../tertullian/ad martyras/chapter ii other things hindrances.htm

The Stage as it was Once.
... gleaming white against the blue sky, with the huge bronze statue of Athene Promachos,
fifty feet in height, towering up among the temples and colonnades. ...
/.../kingsley/lectures delivered in america in 1874/lecture ii the stage as.htm

The Civil Trial
... The front of the palace, all round, was supported by massive pillars, forming broad,
shady colonnades; and round the building there extended a park, with walks ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter iv the civil trial.htm

The Cleansing of the Temple.
... Round this outer court ran marble colonnades, richly ornamented and supported by
four rows of pillars, and roofed with cedar, affording ample shade to the ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/vi the cleansing of the.htm

Acts III
... 11-15. The apostles took a position in one of the open colonnades which faced
the inner side of the temple wall, called Solomon's Portico. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts iii.htm

The Agony, and the Consoler
... Through the colonnades bright with innumerable lamps the light-hearted crowd of
many nationalities, and in bright costumes, used to roam about, far on into the ...
/.../chapter iii the agony and.htm

Another Archbishop
... From dawn to dusk the baths, the colonnades, the church porches, the markets, had
but one theme of common interest"who was to be the new Archbishop? ...
/.../chapter xiv another archbishop.htm

The Capture of Chrysostom
... now at the house which had been Philip's former home, and now at the glancing river,
seen in glimpses here and there, and at the long colonnades, and the ...
/.../chapter xv the capture of.htm

Philip is Baptised
... his life was very different from what it had been in the old days, when he might
have been seen singing with his schoolfellows in the colonnades, or shouting ...
/.../chapter ix philip is baptised.htm

Colonnades (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Colonnades (1 Occurrence). John 5:2 Now in Jerusalem
by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called ...
/c/colonnades.htm - 6k

Colony (1 Occurrence)

/c/colony.htm - 10k

Gerasa
... Two paved streets with double colonnades cut through the city at right angles,
four massive pedestals still marking the point of intersection. ...
/g/gerasa.htm - 10k

Gallery (2 Occurrences)
... 42:3, 1; etymology and meaning uncertain; among the more probable suggestions are
"pillar," "column," "walk with pillars," "colonnades," "passageway," "porches ...
/g/gallery.htm - 11k

Gerasenes (3 Occurrences)
... Two paved streets with double colonnades cut through the city at right angles,
four massive pedestals still marking the point of intersection. ...
/g/gerasenes.htm - 11k

Tadmor (2 Occurrences)
... It was also an important military station. (see SOLOMON.) "Remains of ancient temples
and palaces, surrounded by splendid colonnades of white marble, many of ...
/t/tadmor.htm - 9k

Modin
... and brethren Stanley (History of the Jewish Church, III, 318) gives the following
account: "It was a square structure surrounded by colonnades of monolith ...
/m/modin.htm - 10k

Parbar (1 Occurrence)
... In the plural form (2 Kings 23:11) the situation of the house of "Nathan-melech"
is described, and the translation, "in the colonnades," should, if the above ...
/p/parbar.htm - 8k

Bethesda (1 Occurrence)
... Under these "porches" or colonnades were usually a large number of infirm people
waiting for the "troubling of the water." It is usually identified with the ...
/b/bethesda.htm - 11k

Colonnade (3 Occurrences)

/c/colonnade.htm - 7k

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