Greek (έλλην)

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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A native of Greece. For their origin, and reference to them in the Old Testament, see GRECIA and GRECIANS. In the New Testament we read that some came to Jerusalem to worship and desired to see Jesus; but He was then just about to be offered up (John 12:20-2420And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:20‑24)). The Greeks were an intellectual people and naturally sought after wisdom; and Christ crucified was unto them foolishness. How could they naturally think of having faith in a man crucified with malefactors? But to the called ones Christ became the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:22-2422For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:22‑24)). In Paul’s evangelizing among them “great multitudes” believed, and lost their proud nationality in Christ (Acts 14:11And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. (Acts 14:1); Acts 17:44And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. (Acts 17:4); Gal. 3:2828There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28); Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)).