Greek
Who they were
Greek is one of the original languages in which the New Testament was written, along with Hebrew and Aramaic. It was the common language of the eastern Mediterranean region during the time of Jesus and the early church, due to the influence of Alexander the Great's conquests and the subsequent Hellenization of the area.
In the New Testament, Greek is specifically mentioned in several passages. In Luke 23:38 and Jhn.19.20, the inscription placed above Jesus' cross during His crucifixion was written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, reflecting the languages spoken in Jerusalem at the time. This detail underscores the historical and cultural context of Jesus' death under Roman rule.
In Act.21.37, when Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, he surprised the Roman tribune by speaking to him in Greek. This incident demonstrates that Greek was a language commonly used for communication between people of different nationalities and social classes.
Revelation 9:11 mentions the name "Apollyon" as the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name "Abaddon," both meaning "destroyer." This use of Greek in the book of Revelation shows that the language was widely understood among the early Christian communities to whom the book was addressed.
The New Testament authors, particularly Paul and the authors of the Gospels, wrote in Greek to make their message accessible to a broad audience. Many of the early Christian converts were Greek-speaking Gentiles, and the use of Greek facilitated the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire.
The use of Greek in the New Testament also has significant implications for biblical interpretation and translation. Understanding the nuances and meaning of the Greek text is essential for accurately conveying the message of the New Testament to modern readers.
Every mention
Luke 1 mention
John 1 mention
Acts 1 mention
Revelation 1 mention
What the dictionary says
Found only in the New Testament, where a distinction is observed between “Greek” and “Grecian”.
Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data