International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ZENASze'-nas (Zenas (Titus 3:13); the name in full would probably be Zenodorus, literally, meaning "the gift of Zeus"):
1. A Jewish Lawyer:
Paul calls Zenas "the lawyer." The meaning of this is, that, previous to his becoming a Christian, he had been a Jewish lawyer. The lawyers were that class of Jewish teachers who were specially learned in the Mosaic Law, and who interpreted that Law, and taught it to the people.
They are met with again and again in the Gospels, where they frequently came into contact with Christ, usually in a manner hostile to Him. For example, "A certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25). our Lord replied to him on his own ground, asking, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" Regarding this class of teachers as a whole, it is recorded that "the Pharisees and lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God" (Luke 7:30). The term nomikos, "lawyer," applied to Zenas, is in the Gospels varied by nomodidakalos, "a teacher of the law," and by grammateus, "a scribe": all three terms describe the same persons. Before his conversion to Christ, Zenas had been a lawyer, one of the recognized expounders of the Law of Moses.
A different view of Zenas' occupation is taken by Zahn (Introduction to the New Testament, II, 54), who says that in itself nomikos could denote a rabbi, quoting Ambrosiaster, "Because Zenas had been of this profession in the synagogue, Paul calls him by this name." But Zahn gives his own opinion that "since the Jewish scribe who became a Christian, by that very act separated himself from the rabbinic body, and since the retention of rabbinic methods and ways of thinking was anything but a recommendation in Paul's eyes (1 Timothy 1:7), Zenas is here characterized, not as legis (Mosaicae), doctor, but as juris peritus. The word denotes not an office, but usually the practical lawyer, through whose assistance e.g. a will is made, or a lawsuit carried on. Plutarch applies this name to the renowned jurist Mucius Scaevola."
The ordinary meaning seems preferable, which sees in Zenas one who previous to his conversion had been a Jewish rabbi.
2. Paul's Wishes regarding Zenas:
It is not certain where Paul was when he wrote the Epistle to Titus. But he directs Titus to come to him to Nicopolis, where he had resolved to spend the ensuing winter. And he adds the injunction that he desires him to "bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos"-Paul's old friend from Alexandria-with him "on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them" (the King James Version). This may mean that Paul wished to have Zenas and Apollos with him at Nicopolis; but, on the other hand, it may not have this meaning. For the King James Version in translating "bring" is in error. The word signifies, as given in the Revised Version (British and American), "set forward" on their journey, that is, furnish them with all that they need for the journey. But even supposing Paul is not instructing Titus to bring Zenas and Apollos to Nicopolis-though this is perhaps what he means-yet it is most interesting to find these two friends of the apostle mentioned in this particular way, and especially at a time so near to the close of his life. Paul was unselfish as ever, solicitous that Zenas and Apollos be comfortably provided for on their intended journey. He is full of affectionate regard for them, interested in their welfare at every step; while he himself is far distant in another country, he remembers them with tender and sympathetic friendship. Doubtless the two friends reciprocated his affection.
Nothing more is known of Zenas than is contained in this passage.
John Rutherfurd
Greek
2211. Zenas -- "Zeus-given," Zenas, a Christian lawyer ... 2210, 2211.
Zenas. 2212 . "Zeus-given,"
Zenas, a Christian lawyer. Part
of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Zenas Phonetic
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2211.htm - 6kLibrary
Titus iii. 11-Aug
... Now Nicopolis [1519] is a city of Thrace. Ver.14. "Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos
on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.". ...
/.../homily vi titus iii 11-aug.htm
Letter A
... Samuel "Received 1818, Died 1832 * Adams, Thomas "Received 1802, Located 1810 *
Adams, William "Received 1814, Died 1835 * Adams, Zenas "Received 1814 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter a.htm
For He Himself Also, with an Eye to the Like Necessities of Saints ...
... this he hath straightway added, "But ye, brethren, become not weak in showing
beneficence." [2522] And when he was writing to Titus, saying, "Zenas the lawyer ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 16 for he himself.htm
Titus i. 4-Jan
... [1444] Perhaps he was a Corinthian, unless there was some other of the same name.
And he summons Zenas, and orders Apollos to be sent to him, never Titus. ...
/.../homily i titus i 4-jan.htm
The Same Hippolytus on the Seventy Apostles.
... 64. Aristarchus, bishop of Apamea. 65. Mark, who is also John, bishop of Bibloupolis.
66. Zenas, bishop of Diospolis. 67. Philemon, bishop of Gaza. 68, 69. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/the same hippolytus on the.htm
The First Successors of the Apostles.
... In the fragment de Vita et Actis Titi, by the lawyer Zenas (in Fabric. Cod.
Apoc. NT II. 831 sqq., according to Howson, in Smith's Dict. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter iv the first successors of.htm
Introductory Note to the Writings of Justin Martyr
... of the True Faith; 2. Replies to the Orthodox; 3. Christian Questions to Gentiles;
4. Gentile Questions to Christians; 5. Epistle to Zenas and Serenus; and 6 ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/introductory note to the writings.htm
Letter C
... Received 1823 * Covel, James "Received 1791, Located 1797 * Covel, James "Received
1816 * Covel, Samuel "Received 1821 * Covel, Zenas "Received 1801 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter c.htm
The Pastoral Epistles
... Greece. It seems from iii.13 that Zenas, a former teacher of the Jewish
law, and Apollos, had occasion to travel by Crete, and St. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xvii the pastoral epistles.htm
Letter viii. To Demophilus, Therapeutes. About Minding Ones Own ...
... ZENAS, one of the seventy-two disciples, who was versed in the science of law, wrote
a life of Titus, and says that he was descended from the family of Minos ...
/.../letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter viii to demophilus therapeutes.htm
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Zenasliving
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Zenasa believer, and, as may be inferred from the context, a preacher of the gospel, who is mentioned in (Titus 3:13) in connection with Apollos. He is further described as "the lawyer." It is impossible to determine whether Zenas was a Roman jurisconsult or a Jewish doctor.
ATS Bible Dictionary
ZenasA pious lawyer, and a friend of Paul, who, writing from Nicopolis during the last year of his life, commends him and Apollos, then at Crete on a journey, to the kind offices of Titus, Ti 3:13. His name is Greek, and his profession may have been Greek civil law, rather than Jewish law.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A disciple called "the lawyer," whom Paul wished Titus to bring with him (
Titus 3:13). Nothing more is known of him.
Thesaurus
Zenas (1 Occurrence)... A disciple called "the lawyer," whom Paul wished Titus to bring with him (Titus
3:13). Nothing more is known of him. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ZENAS.
.../z/zenas.htm - 10kApollos (11 Occurrences)
... crucified. The last mention of Apollos is in the Epistle to Titus, where
he is recommended along with Zenas to Titus (Titus 3:13). ...
/a/apollos.htm - 16k
Zendavesta
Zendavesta. Zenas, Zendavesta. Zend-avesta . Int. ... zend-a-ves'-ta. See PERSIAN
RELIGION; ZOROASTRIANISM. Zenas, Zendavesta. Zend-avesta . Reference Bible
/z/zendavesta.htm - 6k
Zenan (1 Occurrence)
/z/zenan.htm - 6k
Lacking (53 Occurrences)
... Titus 3:13 Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily,
that nothing may be lacking for them. (WEB DBY YLT NAS). ...
/l/lacking.htm - 22k
Wanting (27 Occurrences)
... WBS). Titus 3:13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently,
that nothing be wanting unto them. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/w/wanting.htm - 14k
Require (46 Occurrences)
... Titus 3:13 Help Zenas the lawyer forward on his journey with special care,
and Apollos, so that they may have all they require. (WEY). ...
/r/require.htm - 22k
Evangelist (2 Occurrences)
... as it is today, for that matter (compare Amphias from Amphiatos, Antipas from
Antipatros, Apollos from Apollonias, Demas from Demetrios, Zenas from Zenodoros ...
/e/evangelist.htm - 23k
Apol'los (10 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Titus 3:13 Zenas the lawyer and Apollos bring diligently on their way,
that nothing to them may be lacking, (See RSV). Apollos, Apol'los. Apollyon ...
/a/apol'los.htm - 9k
Speed (22 Occurrences)
... Titus 3:13 Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily,
that nothing may be lacking for them. (Root in WEB RSV). ...
/s/speed.htm - 14k
Bible Concordance
Zenas (1 Occurrence)Titus 3:13 Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Subtopics
Zenas
Zenas: A Christian Believer and Lawyer
Related Terms
Apollos (11 Occurrences)
Zendavesta
Zenan (1 Occurrence)
Lacking (53 Occurrences)
Wanting (27 Occurrences)
Require (46 Occurrences)
Evangelist (2 Occurrences)
Apol'los (10 Occurrences)
Speed (22 Occurrences)
Speedily (38 Occurrences)
Diligently (85 Occurrences)
Special (89 Occurrences)
Luke (4 Occurrences)
Lack (86 Occurrences)
Lawyer (5 Occurrences)
Best (252 Occurrences)
Journey (214 Occurrences)
Forward (252 Occurrences)
Links
Bible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus