τὴν τοὺς θεμελίους ἔχουσαν. “The city which hath the foundations,” namely, “the Jerusalem above” (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 13:14; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:14). The same thought is frequently found in Philo. The tents of the Patriarchs had no foundations; the foundations of the City of God are of pearl and precious stone (Revelation 21:14; Revelation 21:19). There is perhaps a reference to Psalms 87:1, “Her foundations are upon the holy hills.” Mr Rendall too precariously infers a contrast with the foundations of the earthly Jerusalem, shaken by the Roman engines of war.

τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργός. “Architect and builder.” This is the only place in the N. T. where the word δημιουργὸς occurs. It is found also in 2Ma 4:1, and plays a large part in the vocabulary of Gnostic heretics, who believing in the inherent evil of matter spoke of the Demiurge as the Evil creator. But God is called the “Architect” of the Universe in Philo and in Wis 13:1, “neither by considering the works did they acknowledge the workmaster.”

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Old Testament