Holy Ones are those set apart to God.
In Scripture the name can fall
on the saints on earth,
on the host in heaven,
and above all on the Holy One of Israel.
Holy does not first mean fragile or grim. It means belonging to Him.
The church is called saints
—holy ones—
not because she finished her work,
but because she has been washed and named.
Qedoshim in the Hebrew Scriptures and hagioi in the Greek name a class of persons who are other because God is other. Daniel sees a court of holy ones and hears of the people of the saints of the Most High who receive the kingdom. Job and the psalms speak of holy ones in heaven who are not God and cannot be compared with Him. Israel was told, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. The prophets call the Lord the Holy One of Israel again and again. In the New Testament the ordinary address of a letter is to the saints: holy ones in Christ Jesus at Philippi, at Corinth, at Ephesus. Paul is not writing to a second tier of heroes. He is writing to the baptized, the called, the forgiven. Jude says the faith was once for all delivered to the saints. Revelation shows the prayers of the saints rising and the holy ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Confusion comes when “holy ones” is reserved for angels only, or for a few dead worthies, and the living church forgets her name. Confusion also comes when the church wears the name and keeps the works of darkness. Set apart is a status and a call.
- Holy One, singular and capital, is the Lord’s title. Holy ones, plural, are creatures who belong to Him.
- Saints in the letters are the congregation, not a hall of fame only.
- Heaven has holy ones who serve. They are not to be worshiped.
- The people of the saints receive the kingdom. Daniel and Jesus agree that the kingdom is given.
- Called to be holy ones is grace first. Walk worthy follows.
- Prayers of the saints matter in heaven.
- The Holy One of Israel is not a tribal mascot. He is the Redeemer who says, Be holy.
- The Holy One – The Lord Himself; there is none like Him.
- Saints on Earth – The church addressed as holy ones in Christ.
- Holy Ones in Heaven – The host who stand around the throne.
- People of the Saints – Daniel’s name for those who receive the kingdom.
- Called and Washed – Holiness as gift before it is habit.
- Kept Faith – Holy ones who hold the commandments and the testimony.
- Not Worshiped – Fellow servants; worship God.
- Psalm 89:5-7 – “Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones…”
- Daniel 7:18, 27 – “But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever… And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.”
- Daniel 8:13 – “Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke…”
- Job 15:15 – “Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight.”
- Deuteronomy 33:2-3 – “The Lord came from Sinai… he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand. Yes, he loved his people, all his holy ones were in his hand.”
- Leviticus 19:2 – “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”
- Isaiah 6:3 – “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
- Isaiah 43:3, 14-15 – “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”
- Psalm 16:3 – “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
- Romans 1:7 – “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 – “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…”
- Ephesians 1:1, 18 – “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus… that you may know… what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
- Ephesians 5:3 – “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
- Colossians 1:12 – “…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
- Jude 1:3 – “…contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
- Revelation 5:8 – Golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
- Revelation 14:12 – “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”
- Zechariah 14:5 – “Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.”
- 1 Thessalonians 3:13 – “…so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
- Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
- Revelation 22:8-9 – The angel said, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets… Worship God.”
- Saints
- Holy One of Israel
- Sanctification
- Called to Be Saints
- Heavenly Host
- People of the Saints of the Most High
- Holiness
- Inheritance of the Saints in Light
- Prayers of the Saints
- Council of the Holy Ones
- Set Apart
- Faith Once Delivered
You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
To the church of God, called to be saints—holy ones in Christ Jesus.
The Holy One of Israel is Savior and King. None in the skies is like the Lord.
The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom forever.
Do not give the name only to angels or only to the dead. Do not wear the name and keep the dark.
Contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Endure. Keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
He will come with all His holy ones. Worship God. Share the inheritance of the saints in light.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.