What did John winthrop mean when he said we shall be as a city upon a hill?

Answer 1

The origin of this expression is from Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.", meaning that true belief makes a difference on the behaviour of someone that can't/shouldn't be hidden.

In sequence, Jesus says that "Neither do [men] light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house." - so, in addition to naturally behaving differently from unbelievers and nominal believers, true believers are made into a 'beacon' or 'lighthouse' to others, not to shine their own experiences or their good qualities, but God in living inside and through them, so other people can see what God living in someone means in fact and what a difference He makes.

Answer 2

City upon a hill is a concept which was established by one of the first settler groups that arrived to North America in the early 17th century.

it stated that the U.S is to be the "New Jerusalem", chosen by god.

the concept means that the U.S is a world leader which has an obligation to be the best country one earth, the U.S is metaphorically a country on top of a hill, thus, all other countries are somewhere below, depending on how different they are from the U.S.

The concept of "city upon a hill" has drastic influence on almost anything that was ever done by the U.S, be it the civil war, or Vietnam, or even Iraq today. The idea is that the U.S has an obligation as a world leader, to protect the world from "evil" such as communism, and even terrorism, and therefore, bring all other countries closer to that "hill".

Answer 3

A "city on a hill" refers to an example for others to follow and look up to. It comes from the teachings of Jesus called the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.