Category Archives: Greek word studies

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The Greek noun “ἰδιώτης”

Limited to Acts 4:13; 1 Cor. 14:16, 23-24; 2 Cor. 11:6, the Greek noun “idiotes” meant “unskilled,” “unlearned,” “amateur.”  Spicq (2:213) said this term “refers to anyone who has no  training or specialty, and therefore is contrasted with experts and professionals.”  Aside from Acts 4:13 where this adjective describes rulers and legal experts, this term is always used by Paul.  This apostle said he was “unskilled” in speech (2 Cor. 11:6).  In 1 Cor. 14, this word describes those “present in the Corinthian congregation but whom Paul apparently distinguished from the regular members of the church” (Silva, 2:501).  This word does not in any way support the clergy-laity system found in the denominational world.

The Greek adjective “ἴδιος”

Found more than a hundred times in the New Testament, the Greek adjective “idios” meant “private” or “one’s own” as belonging to an individual.

Spicq (2:205) said whether “used as adjective, noun, or adverb, this term means ‘peculiar to, particular, private,’ but its sense is weakened in the Koine, where it is usually equivalent to a possessive.  It is used with respect to things as well as persons to express who they belong to.”

This term first occurs in Mt. 9:1 and it last used in Jude 6.  Peter used this adjective to say Scripture is not of “private” interpretation (2 Pet. 1:20).

The Greek noun “ἰατρός”

Limited to Mt. 9:12; Mk. 2:17; 5:26; Lk. 4:23; 5:31; 8:43; Col. 4:14, the Greek noun “iatros” meant “healer” or “physician.”  In the first century, doctors were viewed in a favorable way (Col. 4:14).

Ἰάσων

Limited to Acts 17:5-7, 9; Rom. 16:21, the name “Jason” is the name for two different men in the New Testament.  One of these men was a Christian in Thessalonica who was taken before city officials because of his support for Paul and Silas (Acts 17).  The other man was listed in Paul’s greetings to Christians at Rome (Rom. 16:21).

The Greek noun “ἴασπις”

Limited to Rev. 4:3; 21:11; 21:18-19, the Greek noun “iaspis” meant “Jasper.”  In ancient times, “jasper” could “designate any opaque stone” (Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, 2:170).