Why do they speak of "Saints" in the bible?

Question

Who are they referring to and how in the world would they be speaking about other 'christians' when at the time it was written, there were hardly any of them???? How would other christians be of reference at all during biblical times?

Answer 1

The Church's teaching on the invocation of the saints is thus defined by the Council of Trent. "The saints, who reign together with Christ, offer up their own prayers to God for men. It is good and useful suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their prayers, aid and help for obtaining benefits from God, through His Son Jesus Christ, who alone is our Redeemer and Savior. Those persons think impiously who deny that the saints, who enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, are to be invoked; who assert that they do not pray for men; who declare that asking them to pray for each of us in particular is idolatry, repugnant to the word of God, and opposed to the honor of the One Mediator of God and men, Christ Jesus'' (Sess. xxv.).

The Old and New Testament plainly teach the principle and the practice of asking the prayers of our brethren, especially of the just (James v. 16-18). God commanded Abimelech to ask Abraham's prayers: "He shall pray for thee and thou shalt live" (Gen. xx. 7, 17). God had mercy on the sinful children of Israel in the desert because Moses interceded for them (Ps. xv. 23). God said to the friends of Job: "My servant Job shall pray for you; his face I will accept" (Job xliii. 8). St. Paul in his letters continually asked the brethren to pray for him (Rom. xv. 30; Eph. vi. 18, 19; 1 Thess. v. 25).

Is it reasonable to suppose that the Christian, who prayed for his brethren while upon earth, will lose all interest in them, once he reaches the kingdom of heaven? The Christian tradition from the beginning declares that the interest of the Saints in heaven will be increased a hundredfold, because they will realize then more fully our needs and necessities, and God's willingness to hearken to their intercession. St. Jerome (340-420) is a striking witness to this fact. He writes: "If Apostles and martyrs, whilst still in the flesh and still needing to care for themselves, can pray for others, how much more will they pray for others after they have won their crowns, their victories, their triumphs. Moses, one man, obtains God's pardon for six hundred thousand armed men, and Stephen prays for his persecutors. When they are with Christ will they be less powerful? St. Paul says that two hundred and seventy-six souls were granted to his prayers, whilst they were in the ship with him. Shall he close his lips after death, and not mutter a syllable for those who throughout the world have believed in his gospel? (Adv. Vigil)

That the angels pray for men we learn from the vision of Zacharias (i. 12, 13), and from the words of the angel Raphael tc Tobias: "When thou didst pray with tears ... I offered thy prayer to the Lord" (Tob. xii. 12). Christ Himself tells us that they have an interest in us, for He says: "There shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance" (Luke xv. 10). In another place He warns men not to scandalize little children, for they have angels to intercede for them in heaven (Matt, xviii. 10). If the angels make intercession for us, certainly the saints, who are united to us by the bond of a common human nature, and by the supernatural bond of the Communion of Saints, have the same power and the same privilege.

The early Fathers unanimously teach the doctrine of the intercession of the saints.

St. Hilary (366) writes: "To those who would fain stand, neither the guardianship of the saints, nor the protection of the angels is wanting" {In Ps., cxxiv.).

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386) writes: "We then commemorate those who have fallen asleep before us, patriarchs, prophets, Apostles, and martyrs, in order that God, by their prayers and intercessions, may receive our petitions" (Myst., v., 9).

St. John Chrysostom (344-407) writes: "When thou per-ceivest that God is chastening thee, fly not to His enemies . . . but to His friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who were pleasing to Him, and who have great power" (Orat., viii., Adv. Jus., 6).

Catholics firmly believe in the unique mediatorship of Jesus Christ (1 Tim. ii. 5), and the Council of Trent emphasizes this very doctrine when declaring her teaching on the invocation of saints. Catholics believe that Jesus Christ alone redeemed us by His Death upon the Cross, thus reconciling us to God, and making us partakers of His grace here and His glory hereafter. No divine gift can reach us except through Christ and the merits of His Sacred Passion. Therefore, every prayer we pray, and every prayer in heaven of the Blessed Virgin, the angels and the saints, have their efficacy only through Jesus Christ our Lord. The saints simply add their prayers to ours, and, although specially pleasing to God because of their greater holiness, they aid us only through the merits of the One Mediator.

Answer 2

Saints basically means 'God's people' (it's to do with being holy - the word has the same root as 'sanctified'). In the Old Testament it refers to God's people then, the nation of Israel. In the New Testament it's applied to Christians - God's people now. There weren't as many Christians around in NT times, but there were enough to refer to them. 'Saints' is first used in Acts in the NT - by which times there were lots of Christians.

Answer 3

The word "saint" from the Latin "Sancte" from which we get "sanctified" simply means "set aside for a holy purpose"....which Baptized Christians become when they receive the New Birth and are grafted into the Body of Christ (The Church) when they receive he Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Saint means "Christian" in the context you are referring to.

Answer 4

The word 'saint' means 'set aside', as in set aside for God's use. ALL Christians, living and dead, are saints. And since they tended to congregate together, there were always enough around to be spoken to.

Answer 5

I don't know what verses you are talking about but when the Bible talks of saints it is talking of Christians.

Romans 1:7
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

'Saints; is a term used in the KJV.
It refers to that number mentioned in Revelation 14:1.
Jesus taught us the Lord's prayer, in which we say "Your kingdom come."
Kingdom is an old English word for Government.
Jesus has been put in charge of a government.
He doesn't rule alone.
He has the assistance of 144,000.
The KJV calls them 'saints'.
Its just a word.

Answer 7

Right, and Allah isn't a word in the Bible either. Didn't think of that one did they?

Answer 8

Saints are faithful believers... and ummmm if you just look it up, there have always been faithful believers even if there werent millions at a time.

Answer 9

What Bible have you been reading?