citizen

Concise Bible Dictionary:

πολίτης. This is “one having municipal rights, duties, and protection.” Paul was a “citizen” of Tarsus (Acts 21:39³⁹But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. (Acts 21:39)). Gentile believers are no longer strangers and foreigners to the privileges of the people of God, but are “fellow-citizens” with the saints, and of the “household of God” (Eph. 2:19¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)). The Christian’s citizenship, πολίτευμα, is not on earth, but in heaven (Phil. 3:20²⁰For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

4177 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

πολίτης

Transliteration:

polites

Phonic:

pol-ee’-tace

Meaning:

from 4172; a townsman

KJV Usage:

citizen

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Philippians. 4:8. With other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

It was customary to have registers of citizenship, in which were entered the names of citizens, both natural and adopted. Heaven is represented as a city, and its inhabitants are registered. Some, who have not yet reached the heavenly city, are regarded as citizens on their way home. Their names are registered with the others. Such were the “fellow-laborers” to whom Paul refers in the text. See also Isaiah 4:3³And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: (Isaiah 4:3); Daniel 12:1¹And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1); Luke 10:20²⁰Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20); Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27⁸And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)
⁸The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8)
¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
²⁷And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27). When one was deprived of citizenship his name was erased from the roll of citizens. Reference may be found to this in Exodus 32:32³²Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (Exodus 32:32); Psalm 69:28²⁸Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28) and Revelation 3:5⁵He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5).

citizen

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

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