When Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians, he addresses it “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1 BEREAN). This greeting is not unique. Paul consistently refers to Christians as “saints” throughout his letters. But what does that mean? Today, many believers hesitate to call themselves saints, while others reserve the term for a select few. The Catholic Church even has an entire process for declaring certain individuals as saints. These differing views reveal a gap between how the Bible defines sainthood and how we often understand it today.
To clarify, we need to examine three key points: how the New Testament defines a saint, why many assume sainthood applies only to certain Christians, and how the Catholic Church developed its idea of canonized saints.
The New Testament definition of a saint
In the New Testament, a saint is simply a Christian. The word “saint” (Greek: hagios) means “holy one” or “set apart.” It does not refer to moral perfection but to a person’s position in Christ. Paul calls entire assemblies “saints,” including the Corinthians, despite their many moral and doctrinal failures (1 Cor 1:2). “Holy” means “being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God.”1 A synonym would be “set apart.” The word does not primarily refer to moral perfection, but it carries a strong connection to righteous living because God sets His people apart to serve Him. That calling requires a life that honors Him.
Ephesians 1:1 makes this clear. Paul does not single out an elite group within the church. He calls all the believers in Ephesus saints. The same pattern appears in Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:2, and Romans 1:7. In each case, Paul assumes that every Christian is a saint because they belong to Christ.
Nowhere does the New Testament describe saints as a separate class of believers. Instead, sainthood is part of the believer’s identity. Every Christian is a saint, not because of personal righteousness but because they have been set apart by God.
Misconceptions about saints
Despite the clear biblical teaching, many Christians do not think of themselves as saints. Several misconceptions contribute to this.
First, some believe that sainthood belongs only to exceptionally righteous people. Since people often associate the word “saint” with moral excellence, many assume it describes only the most faithful Christians. But Paul’s letters prove otherwise. He calls ordinary believers saints, even those struggling with sin, because their holiness comes from Christ, not their own achievements.
Second, some assume saints must be dead. Church traditions often highlight saints from the past, reinforcing the idea that only believers who have already died can hold that title. But the Bible applies the term to living Christians, not just to those who have died.
Third, some think sainthood must be officially conferred. Because the Catholic Church has a formal process for declaring saints, many assume that being a saint requires special recognition. But in the New Testament, no human institution bestows sainthood. God calls His people saints from the moment they enter Christ.
These misunderstandings obscure the simple truth: every believer is a saint, not because of what they have done, but because they are in Christ.
The Catholic view of saints
Unlike the New Testament, the Catholic Church defines sainthood as a special status granted to certain Christians after death. The process of canonization involves investigation, verification of miracles, and official recognition by church authorities. Catholics believe those declared saints intercede for the living and serve as examples of extraordinary faith.
This idea developed gradually. In the early church, Christians honored martyrs—those who died for their faith—as examples of steadfast devotion. Over time, certain figures gained recognition for their exceptional holiness, and local churches began commemorating them.2 By the fourth century, churches sought official approval to venerate these individuals, and sainthood became more institutionalized.
By the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church had established formal procedures for canonization. The process required evidence of miracles attributed to the person’s intercession, reinforcing the idea that saints had a special role in heaven.3 This shift moved sainthood from being the identity of every believer to an exclusive title reserved for a select few.
This departure from the New Testament view has led many to think of sainthood as something earned rather than something granted in Christ. While honoring faithful Christians is not inherently wrong, the idea that sainthood belongs only to a few contradicts the Bible’s teaching.
Conclusion
Ephesians 1:1 reminds us that sainthood is not a status conferred by the church but an identity given by God. Every Christian is a saint, not because of personal holiness, but because they are in Christ. Misconceptions about sainthood, whether through church tradition or personal doubt, should not keep believers from embracing what Scripture says about their identity.
The Catholic Church’s development of canonized sainthood has influenced how many view the term today, but the Bible presents a different picture. The saints are not an exclusive group of miracle-workers or martyrs. They are the people of God—ordinary believers made holy by His grace.
If you are in Christ, you are a saint. The question is not whether you are holy enough to deserve the description, but whether you believe what God has already declared about you.