Barbarian; Barbarous
Origin and Meaning of the Term
The Greek word 'barbaros' was originally an onomatopoeia, an imitation of the unintelligible sounds that foreign speech made to Greek ears. To a Greek, anyone who did not speak Greek was a 'barbaros,' regardless of how sophisticated or civilized their culture might be. The Persians, Egyptians, and even the Romans were all 'barbarians' in this linguistic sense. The term did not initially imply savagery or moral inferiority; it simply meant "non-Greek" or "foreign-speaking."
As Greek culture spread throughout the Mediterranean world following the conquests of Alexander the Great, and as Rome adopted Greek learning, the division between "Greek" and "barbarian" came to represent the fundamental cultural divide of the ancient world. Romans, having embraced Greek culture, eventually placed themselves on the Greek side of this line, so that "Greek and barbarian" effectively meant "the civilized world and everyone else."
Paul's Use of the Term
Paul employs the word "barbarian" in three significant passages, each with a different emphasis. In Romans 1:14, he declares, "I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish." Here, "Greeks and barbarians" is a merism, a figure of speech using two contrasting categories to mean "everyone." Paul's debt to preach the gospel extends to the entire human race without exception.
In Colossians 3:11, Paul makes an even more radical statement: "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." The Scythians were considered the most primitive of all barbarians, the lowest rung on the cultural ladder. By placing "barbarian, Scythian" in a climactic sequence, Paul emphasizes that even the most extreme cultural distinctions are abolished in Christ. No one is too foreign, too uncivilized, or too far removed from the cultural mainstream to be included in the body of Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 14:11, Paul uses the term in its more original, linguistic sense: "If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me." Here the point is practical, unintelligible speech, even if Spirit-inspired, fails to edify the community. The gift of tongues without interpretation makes the speaker a "barbarian" to the listener.
The Inhabitants of Malta
In Acts 28:2, Luke describes the natives of Malta as "barbarians" (some translations render this as "native people" or "islanders"). When Paul was shipwrecked on Malta during his journey to Rome, the local population showed extraordinary kindness, building a fire for the cold and wet survivors. Luke's use of "barbarian" here likely reflects the standard Greco-Roman classification of the Maltese, who were of Phoenician descent and spoke a non-Greek language. Yet Luke immediately subverts any negative connotation by highlighting their exceptional hospitality (Acts 28:2, 10).
The Gospel Beyond Cultural Barriers
The Bible's treatment of the barbarian concept reveals a fundamental truth: the gospel does not respect human cultural hierarchies. The Greek-barbarian divide was the ancient world's most basic cultural boundary, yet Paul declared it irrelevant in Christ. The Maltese "barbarians" demonstrated Christlike hospitality that put many in the so-called civilized world to shame.
This leveling of cultural distinctions was revolutionary in the ancient world and remains a core aspect of the Christian message. The church is called to be a community where ethnicity, language, education, and cultural sophistication carry no spiritual weight, where Christ alone is the measure of a person's worth.
From Cultural Label to Spiritual Truth
The evolution of the word "barbarian" from a Greek cultural label to a term transcended by the gospel mirrors the larger biblical story. God chose Israel not because of their superiority but to bless all nations (Genesis 12:3). Jesus ministered to Samaritans and Gentiles. The early church struggled with and ultimately embraced the inclusion of all peoples. Paul's declaration that there is neither barbarian nor Scythian in Christ stands as one of Scripture's most powerful affirmations of the universal scope of God's love.
Biblical Context
The term 'barbarian' appears in Romans 1:14, where Paul expresses his obligation to preach to all people; in 1 Corinthians 14:11, regarding unintelligible speech in worship; in Colossians 3:11, where all cultural distinctions are declared irrelevant in Christ; and in Acts 28:2, 4, describing the inhabitants of Malta. Each passage uses the term differently but consistently challenges the assumption that cultural divisions determine spiritual worth.
Theological Significance
The biblical use of 'barbarian' teaches that the gospel transcends every human cultural boundary. Paul's declaration in Colossians 3:11 that there is no longer barbarian or Scythian in Christ is a radical statement of equality that undermines all forms of cultural superiority. This teaching reflects the universal scope of God's redemptive plan and calls the church to welcome all people regardless of cultural background, language, or social status.
Historical Background
The Greek-barbarian distinction was the ancient world's primary cultural divide. After Alexander the Great's conquests spread Hellenistic culture across the Mediterranean and Near East, Greek language and customs became the markers of civilization. Rome adopted this framework, and the division persisted throughout the Roman imperial period. The term did not originally imply moral inferiority but simply non-Greek identity. Over time, especially in later usage, it took on connotations of cruelty and savagery that the biblical texts do not carry. Malta, where Paul was shipwrecked, was a Phoenician colony whose inhabitants spoke a Punic language rather than Greek.