Lexical Summary oikodomeó: To build, to construct, to edify Original Word: οἰκοδομέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance build, edify, embolden. From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, i.e. Construct or (figuratively) confirm -- (be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden. see GREEK oikodome HELPS Word-studies 3618 oikodoméō (from 3624 /oíkos, "a house" and domeō, "to build") – properly, to build a house (home, edifice); (figuratively) to edify – literally, "build someone up," helping them to stand (be strong, "sturdy"). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom oikodomos Definition to build a house NASB Translation build (13), builders (4), building (2), built (10), edified (1), edifies (3), edify (1), rebuild (4), strengthened (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3618: οἰκοδομέωοἰκοδομέω, οἰκοδομῶ; imperfect ᾠκοδόμουν; future οἰκοδομήσω; 1 aorist ᾠκοδόμησα (ὀικοδόμησα Tr WH in Acts 7:47; see Tdf. at the passage; Proleg., p. 120; WHs Appendix, p. 161; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 153; Winers Grammar, § 12, 4; Buttmann, 34 (30)); passive (present ὀικοδομοῦμαι (infinitive οἰκοδομεῖσθαι, Luke 6:48 Treg.); perfect infinitive οἰκοδομῆσθαι (Luke 6:48 T WH)); pluperfect 3 person singular ᾠκοδόμητο; 1 aorist ὠκοδομήθην (ὀικοδομήθην, T WH in John 2:20); 1 future ὀικοδομηθήσομαι; (οἰκοδόμος, which see); from Herodotus down; the Sept. for בָּנָה; to build a house. erect a building; a. properly, α. to build (up from the foundation): absolutely, Luke 11:48 G T WH Tr text b. metaphorically, α. equivalent to to found: ἐπί ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρα οἰκοδομήσω μου τήν ἐκκλησίαν, i. e. by reason of the strength of thy faith thou shalt be my principal support in the establishment of my church, Matthew 16:18. β. Since both a Christian church and individual Christians are likened to a building or temple in which God or the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:9, 16ff; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21), the erection of which temple will not be completely finished till the return of Christ from heaven, those who, by action, instruction, exhortation, comfort, promote the Christian wisdom of others and help them to live a correspondent life are regarded as taking part in the erection of that building, and hence, are said οἰκοδομεῖν, i. e. (dropping the figure) to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness: absolutely, Acts 20:32 L T Tr WH; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 10:23; τινα, STRONGS NT 3618: οἰκοδόμοςοἰκοδόμος, ὀικοδομου, ὁ (οἶκος, δέμω to build; cf. οἰκονόμος), a builder, an architect: Acts 4:11 L T Tr WH. (Herodotus, Xenophon, Plato, Plutarch, others; the Sept..) From the opening pages of Scripture the act of building is associated with purpose, permanence and covenant (Genesis 8:20; Genesis 11:4). In the Greek New Testament the verb translated “to build” occurs forty-one times and carries both its obvious architectural sense and its richer theological sense of establishing, strengthening and edifying. The narrative, didactic, and prophetic books alike show that what is built reveals the builder’s identity, intent and ultimate allegiance. Literal Construction in the Gospel Narratives 1. Private dwellings 2. Public and sacred structures 3. Legal accusations Jesus’ Instruction on Foundations The Sermon on the Mount climaxes with a building metaphor. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). The identical verb is used in the contrasting image of the foolish man (Matthew 7:26-27). Luke preserves the fuller detail: the wise builder “dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock” (Luke 6:48), showing that true obedience is both diligent and hidden from casual view. The unavoidable storms of life expose the quality of this construction. Christ the Builder and Cornerstone Jesus uniquely claims the role of builder in Matthew 16:18: “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” The future active points to an ongoing process inaugurated at Pentecost (Acts 2) and continuing until His return. The foundation stone imagery appears in the Synoptic citations of Psalm 118:22 (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17). Rejecting the cornerstone disqualifies a builder, while receiving it aligns one with the divine blueprint. Apostolic Theology of Edification 1. Paul’s pastoral use 2. Peter’s living-stone imagery 3. Community exhortation Warnings against Rebuilding the Wrong Structure Galatians 2:18 reads, “If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.” Returning to law-righteousness after receiving grace is likened to reconstructing a condemned building. Similarly, Matthew 23:29 and Luke 11:47-48 condemn the scribes and Pharisees for building tombs for the prophets their forefathers murdered, revealing hypocrisy cloaked in piety. Historical and Cultural Background First-century builders in Judea quarried local limestone, shaped it with chisels and set blocks without mortar when possible, employing wooden beams only where essential. Foundations were critical due to seasonal floods, a reality that gives Jesus’ parable vivid force. Rural Galilee also featured mud-brick structures susceptible to rapid decay, accentuating the folly of superficial building. Ministry Implications 1. Foundation inspection Every ministry, program and relationship must be weighed against the words of Christ and the apostolic teaching. Resolute alignment with Scripture ensures stability. 2. Materials and methods Paul’s image of gold, silver, costly stones versus wood, hay and straw (1 Corinthians 3:12-15, using a cognate noun) reminds workers that quality will be tested by fire. Pure doctrine, sincere love and humble service endure; empty rhetoric and self-promotion do not. 3. Cooperative labor Building is collective: “We are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). The gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given “to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). 4. Continual progress Acts 9:31 reports that the church, “walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, multiplied and was being built up.” Healthy growth is both quantitative and qualitative. Eschatological Completion Hebrews anticipates “the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Revelation closes with the New Jerusalem, a consummate structure descending from heaven, confirming that every act of godly building points forward to a finished, perfect dwelling of God with His people. Summary The verb translated “to build” weaves through narratives, parables, apostolic instruction and prophetic vision, binding together the literal stones of ancient Judea and the living stones of the church. Whether warning against shallow foundations, affirming Christ’s sovereign construction of His assembly, or urging believers to edify one another in love, Scripture consistently treats building as a sacred activity that mirrors the character and purposes of God Himself. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 7:24 V-AIA-3SGRK: φρονίμῳ ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν NAS: man who built his house on the rock. KJV: man, which built his house INT: wise who built his Matthew 7:26 V-AIA-3S Matthew 16:18 V-FIA-1S Matthew 21:33 V-AIA-3S Matthew 21:42 V-PPA-NMP Matthew 23:29 V-PIA-2P Matthew 26:61 V-ANA Matthew 27:40 V-PPA-NMS Mark 12:1 V-AIA-3S Mark 12:10 V-PPA-NMP Mark 14:58 V-FIA-1S Mark 15:29 V-PPA-NMS Luke 4:29 V-LIM/P-3S Luke 6:48 V-PPA-DMS Luke 6:48 V-RNM/P Luke 6:49 V-APA-DMS Luke 7:5 V-AIA-3S Luke 11:47 V-PIA-2P Luke 11:48 V-PIA-2P Luke 12:18 V-FIA-1S Luke 14:28 V-ANA Luke 14:30 V-PNA Luke 17:28 V-IIA-3P Luke 20:17 V-PPA-NMP John 2:20 V-AIP-3S Strong's Greek 3618 |
    |