In the Christian tradition, the term "Vessels to Honor" is a metaphorical expression used to describe the sanctified and noble purpose of the saints, those who are set apart for God's service. This concept is rooted in the imagery of vessels or containers, which are used throughout Scripture to symbolize individuals who carry out God's will and reflect His glory.

The primary biblical reference for this title is found in the Apostle Paul's second letter to Timothy. In 2 Timothy 2:20-21 , Paul writes: "A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work."

This passage highlights the distinction between vessels of honor and those of common use, emphasizing the importance of purity and sanctification. The saints, as vessels to honor, are called to cleanse themselves from impurity and to be set apart for God's purposes. This involves a process of spiritual purification and dedication to living a life that is pleasing to God.

The imagery of vessels is also seen in other parts of Scripture, where it conveys the idea of being filled with God's presence and used for His divine purposes. In Romans 9:21-23 , Paul uses the analogy of a potter and clay to illustrate God's sovereign choice in preparing vessels for honor: "Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use? What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory?"

The saints, as vessels of mercy, are recipients of God's grace and are prepared for glory. They are called to live lives that reflect the character of Christ, being filled with the Holy Spirit and manifesting the fruits of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 : "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Furthermore, the concept of being vessels to honor is closely linked to the idea of being instruments of righteousness. In Romans 6:13 , Paul exhorts believers: "Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness."

The saints, as vessels to honor, are called to offer themselves wholly to God, allowing Him to work through them to accomplish His purposes on earth. This involves a commitment to holiness, obedience, and a willingness to be used by God in whatever way He sees fit.

In summary, the title "Vessels to Honor" encapsulates the calling of the saints to be set apart for God's service, to be purified and sanctified, and to be used as instruments of His righteousness and glory. Through their lives, they are to reflect the character of Christ and to be vessels through which God's love and grace are poured out into the world.2 Timothy 2:21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared to every good work.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Articles of Religion.
... of images as of reliques, and also invocation of saints, is a ... Of Homilies."The second
Book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we ... "Of the Names of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/articles of religion.htm

Epistles to the Seven Churches.
... the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints," 19:8 ... dwell on the earth shall
wonder, whose names were not ... mention of the Saviour by those titles, which are ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/epistles to the seven churches.htm

The Transformation of Rome from a Pagan into a Christian City.
... uncompromising than these two words, because the titles of Deus ... on the Aventine,
we read the names of a ... of the Madonna, 1,318 images of saints, ornamented with ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter i the transformation of.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... troubles, [440]173; addresses God by various titles, why, [441 ... of temptations,
[463]324; called by such names as would ... cast out by bones of the saints, [476]403 ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

Augustin's Part in the Controversy.
... law,""he refrains still from mentioning the names of the ... grace, and so the number
of the saints has always ... come down to us under the separate titles of On ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/iii augustins part in the.htm

The Bible
... it was repudiating this apostate church (which set up saints and images ... these might
be added more than five hundred other names and titles, together with ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/haldeman/christ christianity and the bible/the bible.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... the righteousness of God to forget good works, and the fact that you have ministered
and do minister to the Saints for His ... [4692] "Potters' vessels are proved ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... places around me and hear so many names that I ... Blessed Virgin, as for example all
the titles in the ... its palaces and gardens and the mansions of future saints. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm

The Canon.
... Scriptures, but he gives no list of their titles. ... are seven Old Testament books whose
names the New ... Presbyterian, and he passed to the "Saints' Rest" nearly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter xi the canon.htm

Period iii. The Dissolution of the Imperial State Church and the ...
... has given to all heavenly existences new explanatory titles. ... and last of the heavenly
hierarchies he names the order ... wherein he and many other saints rest in ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iii the dissolution of.htm

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