Justus Ἰοῦστος
Jesus Justus, a Jewish believer who supported Paul
Biography
Jesus Justus is mentioned in Col.4.11 as one of the few Jewish believers who supported Paul during his imprisonment. The context of the passage is Paul's final greetings and instructions to the Colossian church, where he mentions several individuals who have been a comfort and support to him (Col.4.7-18).
In his greeting, Paul identifies Jesus Justus as one of his fellow workers for the kingdom of God, along with Aristarchus, Mark, and Epaphras (Col.4.10-12). He specifically notes that Jesus Justus, Aristarchus, and Mark are the only Jewish believers among his co-workers, emphasizing their importance and the encouragement they provided to him.
The fact that Jesus Justus is mentioned by both his Jewish name (Jesus) and his Roman surname (Justus) suggests that he was a Hellenistic Jew who had adopted a Roman name, possibly indicating his familiarity with Gentile culture and his ability to relate to both Jewish and Gentile believers.
Paul's mention of Jesus Justus as a fellow worker and a source of comfort during his imprisonment highlights the significance of Jewish believers who embraced the gospel message and supported Paul's ministry. It also underscores the unity and collaboration among believers from different backgrounds in the early church.
Apart from this brief mention in Paul's letter to the Colossians, no other information about Jesus Justus' life, conversion, or specific contributions to Paul's ministry.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentColossians 1 verse Study available
- Colossians 4:11
"and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ἰοῦστος | G2459H |
| Named | Greek | Ἰησοῦς | G2424J |