Lexical Summary Skuthés: Scythian Original Word: Σκύθης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Scythian. Probably of foreign origin; a Scythene or Scythian, i.e. (by implication) a savage -- Scythian. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition a Scythian, an inhab. of Scythia (considered the wildest of barbarians) NASB Translation Scythian (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4658: ΣκύθηςΣκύθης, Σκυθου, ὁ, a Scythian, an inhabitant of Scythia i. e. modern Russia: Colossians 3:11. By the more civilized nations of antiquity the Scythians were regarded as the wildest of all barbarians; cf. Cicero, in Verr. 2, 5, 58 § 150; in Pison. 8, 18; Josephus, c. Apion. 2, 37, 6; (Philo, leg. ad Gaium § 2); Lucian, Tox. 5f; 2 Macc. 4:47; 3Macc. 7:5. (See Lightfoot on Colossians, the passage cited; Hackett in B. D. under the word Topical Lexicon Identity and Historical Background The Scythians were nomadic peoples originating in the Eurasian steppe regions north of the Black Sea (modern-day Ukraine, southern Russia, and Kazakhstan). Classical Greek writers such as Herodotus portrayed them as fierce warriors renowned for mounted archery, horse breeding, and a mobile way of life. By New Testament times their name had become a byword in the Greco-Roman world for the most uncivilized of “barbarians,” a stereotype fueled by their distance from the Mediterranean cultural centers and their reputation for brutality and crudeness. Biblical Usage and Immediate Context The singular New Testament occurrence appears in Colossians 3:11. The apostle Paul lists “Scythian” alongside “Greek,” “Jew,” “Barbarian,” and various social distinctions to underscore the new humanity created in Christ. In the verse, the term functions rhetorically as the extreme end of the cultural spectrum: If even the dreaded Scythian may be one with Christ, then no ethnic or cultural barrier can exclude anyone who is united to Him by faith. By invoking the Scythians, Paul presses his point home to a Gentile audience steeped in Greco-Roman prejudices. Theological Significance 1. Universal Lordship of Christ: Paul’s inclusion of the Scythian confirms that Jesus Christ “is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11). No ethnic identity can rival or withstand the supremacy of the risen Lord. Historical and Missional Implications Early Christian writers noted missionary activity reaching the northern Black Sea region by the second and third centuries, suggesting that Paul’s theological vision quickly translated into evangelistic effort. Today, the reference to the Scythians reminds the Church of its mandate to carry the gospel to cultures that mainstream society may still dismiss as unreachable, hostile, or too foreign. Ministry Applications Related Biblical Themes Acts 1:8 – The Spirit empowers witness “to the ends of the earth,” implicitly including peoples as distant as the Scythians. Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” a parallel statement to Colossians 3:11. Isaiah 49:6 – The Servant’s light extends to the nations, foreshadowing Paul’s insistence on gospel inclusion. Summary The lone New Testament mention of the Scythian in Colossians 3:11 powerfully illustrates the all-embracing scope of Christ’s redeeming work. Historically infamous and culturally despised, the Scythians stand as representatives of humanity at its furthest remove from Greco-Roman respectability—yet even they are welcomed without reservation into the new creation. The Church, therefore, is called to reflect Christ’s heart, pursuing unity across every ethnic and cultural divide until the whole earth acknowledges that “Christ is all, and in all.” Forms and Transliterations Σκυθης Σκύθης σκυθρωπάζει σκυθρωπάζων σκυθρωπάσει Skuthes Skuthēs Skythes Skythēs Skýthes SkýthēsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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