📖 Biblical Definition
"The household of faith" is Paul’s phrase in Galatians 6:10: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." The believers are a family before they are anything else — bound by ties stronger than blood, geography, or ethnicity. Christ Himself: "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother" (Mark 3:35). The local church is the visible household; the universal church is the larger family across continents and centuries. Christian men should treat their fellow saints as actual brothers (with the duties of brotherhood) — opening homes, sharing resources, defending reputation, and showing up at every crisis.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Galatians 6:10.) Paul's phrase for the family of believers as a single household; the deeper kinship.
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Greek oikeioi tēs pisteōs — literally, the household-members of the faith. The Greek oikos (house) and oikeios (household member) ground the metaphor.
Christ's own teaching anticipates it: whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother (Mk 3:35). Spiritual kinship outranks biological.
📖 Key Scripture
Galatians 6:10 — "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
Ephesians 2:19 — "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God."
Mark 3:35 — "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
1 Timothy 3:15 — "That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often treats the church as voluntary association; Scripture treats it as primary household.
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Galatians 6:10's especially is striking. Do good to all; do it especially to the household of faith. The bias is toward the family of believers — not exclusively, but especially. The household's priority order is gospel order.
Ephesians 2:19 names what the saint has been brought into: fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. No longer stranger, no longer foreigner; a member of the cosmic household. The earthly family nests within.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek oikos (house) and oikeios (household member).
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Greek oikos — house, household.
Greek oikeios — household member; one who belongs.
Usage
"Spiritual kinship outranks biological."
"Do good to all; especially to the household of faith."
"The earthly family nests within the larger household."