https://parrhesia-lalein.blogspot.it/20 ... -john.htmlBut what, in Jerusalem, has exactly three pillars? What image is this, to which James, Cephas, and John are compared?
We do know of a structure that is renowned for having two pillars: Solomon's Temple, as described in florid symbolic detail in 1 Kgs 7 and 2 Chr 3, where the pillars are given the names Jachin (more literally Yakhin) and Boaz. The pillars are at the entrance to the temple, and the Book of the Kings has the king standing "at the pillar" to make declarations before God and the people.
The idea that James, Peter and John - as ''Pillars'' - ''make declarations before God and the people'' remembers very closely the fable known as Acts of Apostles.
Besides, the fact that the Pillars support the Temple, and given the pauline equation ''new temple=community of the believers'', then why did Paul concede a so great honour to his great enemies?
The name ''Pillars'' seems to have a so dogmatic and fixed meaning (the implicit and reluctant admission by Paul that they and only they were the true founders of the church) that the idea seems very late, very along the lines of Acts's desire to make Paul a servant of Peter & company...
What do you think about?