stulos denotes a pillar, used for temple imagery and for persons or an assembly described as supporting or prominent.

The attested uses present stulos as pillar imagery: in Revelation it is associated with fiery feet and a place in God’s temple, while Galatians and 1 Timothy apply the image to prominent people and to the assembly in relation to truth.

1. Pillar imagery in fiery and temple settings · common

   In Revelation 10:1, the nominative plural form occurs in the comparison of the angel’s feet to “pillars of fire” in the APB. In Revelation 3:12, the accusative singular occurs in the promise to make the conqueror “a pillar in the temple of my God.”

   Revelation 10:1Revelation 3:12
2. Figurative designation for people and the assembly · common

   In Galatians 2:9, the nominative plural form describes James, Cephas, and John as those “reputed to be pillars” in the APB. In 1 Timothy 3:15, the nominative singular form occurs in the description of the assembly of the living God as “a pillar and foundation of the truth.”

   Galatians 2:91 Timothy 3:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB uses “pillars” for the plural forms in Galatians 2:9 and Revelation 10:1, and “pillar” for the singular forms in 1 Timothy 3:15 and Revelation 3:12. These renderings confirm the clauses’ imagery without fixing every nuance of the Greek term.