Tertius Τέρτιος
Paul's scribe who wrote the Epistle to the Romans
Biography
Tertius is mentioned in Rom.16.22 as the scribe who wrote down the Epistle to the Romans on behalf of the Apostle Paul. Paul likely dictated the letter to Tertius, who then penned it in his own hand. In the closing of the epistle, Tertius inserts his own personal greeting to the recipients, indicating his close association with Paul and the Christian community in Rome. No other details are provided about Tertius' background or role in the early church. His service as a scribe highlights the collaborative nature of Paul's ministry and the importance of written communication in spreading the gospel message.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentRomans 1 verse Study available
- Romans 16:22
"I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Τέρτιος | G5060 |
Tertius
, salute you in the Lord" (Ro 16:22). "It is as a Christian, not in virtue of any other relation he has to the Romans, that Tertius salutes them" (Denney). Some identify him with Silas, owing to the fact that shalish is the Hebrew for "third (officer)," as tertius is the Latin Others think he was a Roman Christian residing in Corinth. This is, however, merely conjecture. Paul seems to have dictated his letters to an amanuensis, adding by his own hand merely the concluding sentences as "the token in every epistle" (2Th 3:17; Col 4:18; 1Co 16:21). How far this may have influenced the style of his letters is discussed in Sanday-Headlam, Romans, Introduction, LX.
S. F. Hunter
ter-tul'-us, ter- (Tertullos, diminutive of Latin tertius, "third"):, An orator who descended with Ananias the high priest and elders from Jerusalem to Caesarea to accuse Paul before Felix the Roman governor (<ref o