Bible Dictionary
Saint
A saint is a person separated or consecrated to God, especially a believer in Christ. In Scripture the term applies to God’s people and, in some passages, to holy beings in heaven.
Definition
A saint is one separated from the world and consecrated to God, holy by profession and covenant, and a believer in Christ. The term can also refer to holy beings, the holy dead, or those belonging to God. Scripture does not present “saint” as a title of spiritual nobility for apostles, evangelists, or other Christians.
Biblical Usage
In Scripture, saints are God’s people and believers in Christ. In Jude, the term probably refers to an innumerable company of angels. It is also used of holy dead people in passages concerning the resurrection and judgment.
Historical Background
The use of “saint” as a distinctive title for apostles, evangelists, and a supposed spiritual nobility arose in the fourth century and is not a scriptural use of the term.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
One separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ (Ps. 16:3; Rom. 1:7; 8:27; Phil. 1:1; Heb. 6:10). The “saints” spoken of in Jude 1:14 are probably not the disciples of Christ, but the “innumerable company of angels” (Heb. 12:22; Ps. 68:17), with reference to Deut. 33:2. This word is also used of the holy dead (Matt. 27:52; Rev. 18:24). It was not used as a distinctive title of the apostles and evangelists and of a “spiritual nobility” till the fourth century. In that sense it is not a scriptural title.