[Greek] ὀρφανός (orphanos), [Latin] pupillos: orphan, parentless, one without parents, desolate, orphaned, fatherless; Jn.14:18, Jas.1:27
The Orphans in Haarlem: (painting by Jan de Bray in 1663)
Background Information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means children orphaned, children abandoned, or without parents. Orphans are illustrated from Plato’s Laws (Dialogues), Euripides’s play Ion, and Homer’s Odyssey. Plato’s Laws X1,926 states “orphan children will undergo a kind of second birth…We must legally appoint Law wards to care for the orphans as their own.” Plato’s Phaedo 116 states “for we felt like he (Socrates) was like a father to us and then when bereft of him we should pass the rest of our lives like orphans.” Euripides’ play Ion involves the story of the orphan Ion in the discovery of his origins. Homer’s Odyssey 20,68 states “their parents the gods had slain, and they were left orphans in the halls.”
Old Testament: This term means orphan, fatherless, abandoned, left, and deprived. The widows and orphans, although defenseless and helpless, were under special legal protection. It was a highly important Old Testament principle to care for orphans (and widows). One who raised up an orphan was considered like a father to that child. It is interesting to note that term “fatherless” (rather than orphan) was consistently used throughout the Old Testament scripture.
New Testament: This term, meaning orphan or friendless person, occurs only twice in the New Testament. Interestingly, these terms both follow the Old Testament command to protect widows and orphans. This command originates from the Hebrews’ experience as aliens in Egypt. In addition, this fulfills the command in Deuteronomy not to violate the rights of the widows and orphans. Although Jesus will leave the disciples in His return to heaven, He will not abandon them. Jesus will ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit (Advocate) to be with them always. Jesus also states He lives in them and they are in Him.
“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” Jn.14:18
Jesus was intending to finish His mission on earth and return to the Father. Jesus states He will not abandon His disciples.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Jas. 1:27
This scripture follows the Old Testament command to care for the widows and orphans.
Orphanages: The Romans formed the first orphanages around 400 A.D. The orphanotrophium was an ancient orphanage. Zostikos was the first director of the orphanage in Constaninople. Zostikos was eventually martyred by a subsequent Emperor. St. Zostikos will be later eventually known as the Feeder of the Orphans. The orphanage becomes firmly established under the rule of Justinian. Justinian declared that children are to be free, are entitled to have an education, and to be exempt from slavery.
Conclusion:
Orphan, orphanage, pupil
I am not surprised that the issue of orphaned children would appear in various genres, fields, government, and sciences. This is an important issue in any era. It is interesting to note that the Greco-Roman state did make provisions for orphaned children.
Every Old Testament scripture passage mentioned “fatherless.” In this culture, it was very important to have a father to carry on the family name. It was also interesting to learn about the Old Testament command to care for widows and children.
The New Testament continues this Old Testament command. Not surprisingly, there are similar qualities and aspects of the master/disciple relationship between the Greco-Roman culture and the New Testament culture. I would say that possibly Socrates and Jesus would have felt the same way toward their respective disciples.
Harlem, one of the New York City’s buroughs, is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. Harlem was originally started as a Dutch village, established in 1658.