Does your translation help you to understand the passages that you read?

Xeno.of.athens · Mar 25, 2025

Act 6:1-7 (ESV) Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Who were the Hellenists and who were the Hebrews?

A study bible will probably tell you in the notes. Some translations will have an explanatory note.

Clare73 · Mar 25, 2025

Yes, I find the NIV most helpful.

The Liturgist · Mar 25, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
Act 6:1-7 (ESV) Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Who were the Hellenists and who were the Hebrews?

A study bible will probably tell you in the notes. Some translations will have an explanatory note.

In this case we don’t need a Study Bible; Hellenists would either be Pagan adherents of the Greco-Roman religion or Hellenized Jews, Jews who spoke Greek and lived a Greek lifestyle, whereas Hebrews would be either Jews or Jews who specifically lived a Hebrew lifestyle, speaking Aramaic and rejecting Greek culture.

Hellenized Jews still practiced Judaism, but they did so within the cultural context of ancient Greece. They are one of several branches of Judaism which became extinct, along with the Sadducees, who rejected the Oral Torah that was in the time of Christ being preached by the Pharisees and compiled by the Scribes and which would eventually become the Mishnah, the basis of Rabinnical Judaism, but the Sadducees also did not believe in eternal life or the resurrection, believing rather like the ancient Greeks that the promises in Scripture applied to this life only, and another extinct sect is the Essenes, who were a mystical movement within ancient Judaism.

The four surviving ancient Hebraic religions other than Christianity are Rabinnical Judaism, Karaite Judaism, which emerged as a reaction to Rabinnical Judaism but unlike the Sadducees, generally does believe in the Resurrection (but Karaites do not believe in the existence of the devil), the Samaritan religion, which accepts only the five books of the Torah, with some minor modifications primarily pertaining to worship on Mount Gerizim, which they regard as sacred, and finally the Beta Israel or Ethiopian Jews. There may be a few other surviving groups such as the Bene Israel in India, and another group in sub-Saharan Africa, but this is uncertain.

BobRyan · Mar 25, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
Act 6:1-7 (ESV) Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Who were the Hellenists and who were the Hebrews?

A study bible will probably tell you in the notes. Some translations will have an explanatory note.

Yes I find the NASB helpful.

Hellenists are Jews living outside of Israel due to Diaspora, but they had adopted Greek culture - lifestyle. Hebrews were those who still lived according to Jewish culture - usually in Israel.

Acts 6:
3 Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit...
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Xeno.of.athens · Mar 25, 2025

The Liturgist said:
In this case we don’t need a Study Bible; Hellenists would either be Pagan adherents of the Greco-Roman religion or Hellenized Jews, Jews who spoke Greek and lived a Greek lifestyle, whereas Hebrews would be either Jews or Jews who specifically lived a Hebrew lifestyle, speaking Aramaic and rejecting Greek culture.

Hellenized Jews still practiced Judaism, but they did so within the cultural context of ancient Greece. They are one of several branches of Judaism which became extinct, along with the Sadducees, who rejected the Oral Torah that was in the time of Christ being preached by the Pharisees and compiled by the Scribes and which would eventually become the Mishnah, the basis of Rabinnical Judaism, but the Sadducees also did not believe in eternal life or the resurrection, believing rather like the ancient Greeks that the promises in Scripture applied to this life only, and another extinct sect is the Essenes, who were a mystical movement within ancient Judaism.

The four surviving ancient Hebraic religions other than Christianity are Rabinnical Judaism, Karaite Judaism, which emerged as a reaction to Rabinnical Judaism but unlike the Sadducees, generally does believe in the Resurrection (but Karaites do not believe in the existence of the devil), the Samaritan religion, which accepts only the five books of the Torah, with some minor modifications primarily pertaining to worship on Mount Gerizim, which they regard as sacred, and finally the Beta Israel or Ethiopian Jews. There may be a few other surviving groups such as the Bene Israel in India, and another group in sub-Saharan Africa, but this is uncertain.

I'd go for Hellenised Jews.

The Liturgist · Mar 26, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
I'd go for Hellenised Jews.

Indeed I believe the passage in question is referring to them; would you like me to confirm that with the Patristic authorities who constitute the shared heritage of Roman Catholicism and the Eastern churches?

Xeno.of.athens · Mar 26, 2025

The Liturgist said:
Indeed I believe the passage in question is referring to them; would you like me to confirm that with the Patristic authorities who constitute the shared heritage of Roman Catholicism and the Eastern churches?

The DRB 1899 edition from Cardinal Gibbon's time has a note to the effect. My Catholic bibles with patristic notes make the point that it is Hellenised Jews (Greek speakers) Vs Aramaic speaking Jews.

The Liturgist · Mar 26, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
The DRB 1899 edition from Cardinal Gibbon's time has a note to the effect. My Catholic bibles with patristic notes make the point that it is Hellenised Jews (Greek speakers) Vs Aramaic speaking Jews.

Yes indeed, the Orthodox Study Bible agrees, and the text also makes it clear that it is speaking of Hellenized Jews rather than Hellenes (Pagans).

Dan Perez · May 20, 2025

BobRyan said:
Yes I find the NASB helpful.

Hellenists are Jews living outside of Israel due to Diaspora, but they had adopted Greek culture - lifestyle. Hebrews were those who still lived according to Jewish culture - usually in Israel.

Acts 6:
3 Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit...
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

If you STRONG"S Greek DICTIONARY , use G 1675 for GRECIANS .

And G 1445 FOR Hebrews and can pirachase a used , or buy from AMASION !

dan p

Does your translation help you to understand the passages that you read?

Xeno.of.athens

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

More options

Clare73

Blood-bought

More options

The Liturgist

Traditional Liturgical Christian

More options

BobRyan

Junior Member

More options

Xeno.of.athens

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

More options

The Liturgist

Traditional Liturgical Christian

More options

Xeno.of.athens

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

More options

The Liturgist

Traditional Liturgical Christian

More options

Dan Perez

Well-Known Member

More options

Similar threads

Does your translation help you to understand the passages that you read?

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

Blood-bought

Traditional Liturgical Christian

Junior Member

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

Traditional Liturgical Christian

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

Traditional Liturgical Christian

Well-Known Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency