SPECIAL TOPIC: "DOOR" IN THE NT

The NT uses "door" in several senses.

1. literal
   1. of homes, Matt. 6:6; Mark 1:33; 2:2; 11:7, upper room, John 20:19,26
   2. of the temple, Acts 3:2; 21:30
   3. of a prison, Acts 5:19,23; 12:6; 16:26-27
   4. of a tomb, Matt. 27:60; 28:2; Mark 15:46; 16:3
   5. of a sheepfold, John 10:1,2
   6. of a courtyard, John 18:16; Acts 12:13
2. imagery for
   1. nearness of time, Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:29; Acts 5:9; James 5:9
   2. restriction on entrance to true faith, Matt. 7:13-14; Luke 13:24; Rev. 3:7,8,20
   3. opportunity of saving faith lost, Matt. 25:10; Luke 13:25; Rev. 3:7
   4. opportunity of saving faith, Acts 14:27; Rev. 3:7
   5. opportunity for ministry, 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor.2:12; Col. 4:3; Rev. 3:8
   6. revelation, Ezek. 1:1; Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:21; John 1:51; Rev. 4:1; 19:11
3. title for Jesus ("the door"), John 10:1,2,7,9

The original imagery of a "door" referred to the ANE understanding of the structure of God's creation of this planet (i.e., flat earth with a hard dome of stretched material). The rain came through "windows" (i.e., 2 Kgs. 7:2,19; Isa. 24:18; Mal. 3:10) and revelation came by an open door in the firmament (i.e., Gen. 1:6-20; Ezek. 1:22,23,25,26; Dan. 12:3).

Words have meaning only in sentences; sentences have meaning only in paragraphs. Context, not lexicons, define meaning.

Biblical imagery is rich and varied. A concordance is helpful. Parallel passages help us understand the intended meaning. The best interpreter of an inspired book is the inspired book.

A helpful book is G. B. Caird, The Langauge and Imagery of the Bible.

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