What/Who are the Saints?

PSacramento

According to the OT:

Saints :gadowsh meaning Holy one and referes to those that have kept themselves free of difelment, idolatry, and other unlcean and profane things or the word gaddiysh which means those who are sacred to the most high, but can also man gods or deities.

In the NT:

Saint: Hagios, meaning someone(something) revered, worthy of veneration, someone whos services God employs.

Both meaning show that the individul is special and unique in God's eyes, yet there is no mention of any saint by name, the term always being use din the plural.

Paul often addresses his letters to "the saints" of whatever church he was writing too and mentions "the saints" in general.

So, who are they and who decides who they are?

Deputy Dog

Saints are all those being sanctified, or all true believers.

isaacaustin

JWs call them the 144,000, although they do not use the word 'saints'. They give that word a negative connotation.

snowbird

The saints are the called-out ones (Church), Jews and Gentiles, who are going to reign with Jesus on earth when He returns.

They are ordinary, everyday people who obey the two greatest commandments.

It is God through Jesus Who does the calling.

Sylvia

PSacramento

So, semantics aside, the saints are, for JW's the annoited, yes?

IS there a bible passage that make sit clear(ish) that all true believers are saints? I know that Paul's general vagueness of this kind of makes one think that way.

Snowbird,

Where did you get the view that they are ordinary people that obey the 2 greatest commandments?

Deputy Dog

Here is an example:

1Co 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

It's the idea of being sanctified ( called out one).

snowbird

Snowbird,

Where did you get the view that they are ordinary people that obey the 2 greatest commandments?

From reading the Bible and observations, my dear.

At one time, I believed the JW teaching that the "remnant" of the 144k was associated with their organization, that they were going to Heaven to rule with Jesus Christ for a thousand years. In other words, the saints mentioned in the New Testament.

I don't believe that anymore. I believe there are millions of saints, scattered throughout Christendom, and what identifies them is their love for God and neighbor.

If not that, what else?

Sylvia