Why did Paul call James a pillar?

Answer 1

A:When Paul first came as a Christian convert to visit the church in Jerusalem, he was trying to decide for himself who held power in that church. He decided that James, Peter and John appeared to be the leaders, or pillars, of the church.

Answer /

Pillar was a word used to denote authority in the time of Paul. Pillars were used to support the most imposing buildings of that time - those buildings where rulers held office, and so they denote persons who hold authority in a particular office. Steles, or stelars, pillarlike structures of Paul's day, were used by rulers to publish their laws and decrees, and as commemorations of records to their honour.

In this case of James, with Peter and John, Paul views them as the chief authorities of the Christian community, that is the three chief pillars supporting the church.

It may be viewed that as written, Peter is the chief pillar, that is, the centre pillar and James is on his right, and John is on his left, as set out in the New Testament, if one was investigating any symbolic possibility for the description of pillars. Also it may be that Paul wrote James first in order, because James was the Bishop, or leader for the Jerusalem district, and has first jurisdiction in that area according to cannon law.

Specifically for James, his authority rests in his being conferred by Jesus Christ to be the leader in whom the disciples are to go to, for matters requiring a ruling within the church - Gospel of Thomas; Vision II, Hermas.

Such a ruling was made by James in Acts 15, after Peter had stood and testified of the Gospel and Holy Ghost, concerning the matter of dispute.