Greek

Greek a term not found in the A.V. of the O.T., where either Javan is retained, or, as in Joe 3:6, the word is rendered by Grecian. In Maccabees Greek and Grecians seem to be used indifferently (comp. 1 Macc. 1:10; 6:2; also 2 Macc. 4:10, Greekish). In the N.T., on the other hand, a distinction is observed, ῞Ελλην being rendered "Greek," and ῾Ελληνιστής,"Grecian." The difference of the English terminations, however, is not sufficient to convey the differsence of meanings. (See Overkamp, De distinctione inter Judaeos et Graecos, et inter Graec. et barbaros, Gryph. 1782; Amnell, Hellas, N.T. illustrata, Upsal. 1752.) ῞Ελλην, in the N.T. is either a Greek by race, as in Ac 16:1-3; Ac 18:17; Ro 1:14; or more frequently a Gentile, as opposed to a Jew (Ro 2:9-10, etc.); so fem. ῾Ελληνίς Mr 7:26; Ac 17:12. ῾Ελληνιστής (properly "one who speaks Greek") is a foreign Jew; opposed, therefore, not to Ι᾿ουδαῖος, but to ῾Εβραῖος, a home-Jew, one who dwelt in Palestine. So Schleusner, etc.: according to Salmasius, however, the Hellenists were Greek proselytes, who had become Christians; so Wolf, Parkhurst, etc., arguing from Ac 11:20, where ῾Ελληνισταί are contrasted with Ι᾿ουδαῖοι in 19. The question resolves itself partly into a textual one, Griesbach having adopted the reading ῞Ελληνας, and so also Lachmann, Tischendorf, and others. SEE HELLENIST.