Tag Archives: ἰδιώτης in the Bible

The Greek noun “ἰδιώτης”

Limited to Acts 4:13; 1 Cor. 14:16, 23-24; 2 Cor. 11:6, the Greek noun “idiotes” meant “unskilled,” “unlearned,” “amateur.”  Spicq (2:213) said this term “refers to anyone who has no  training or specialty, and therefore is contrasted with experts and professionals.”  Aside from Acts 4:13 where this adjective describes rulers and legal experts, this term is always used by Paul.  This apostle said he was “unskilled” in speech (2 Cor. 11:6).  In 1 Cor. 14, this word describes those “present in the Corinthian congregation but whom Paul apparently distinguished from the regular members of the church” (Silva, 2:501).  This word does not in any way support the clergy-laity system found in the denominational world.