[Greek] ἰδιώτης (idiōtēs), [French] imbecile, [German] dummkopf: private person, laymen, simpleton, rustic, outside, alien, unskilled person, commoner; Acts 4:13, 1Cor.14:16,23-24, 2Cor.11:6
Ancient Greek farmers (idiotae) just wanting to live their lives by themselves.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means private person, laymen, unlearned person, outsider, and alien. This term never takes on the sense of ignorance or stupidity. Instead, only a subtle stigma is attached to this person. Participation in the local community and government was highly valued. Those who kept to themselves were deemed unfit for office. These people were view as not having the “brains” to carry out this function.
Plutarch’s Theseus 24: “To the powerful he promised a government without a king and with a democracy, while in all else everyone should be on equal footing.”
Plato’s Republic 9.587c: “What one, bringing of tyrannical temper, does not live out his life in private station, but is so unfortunate by unhappy choice he is enabled to become an actual tyrant.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 3.77: “You behave like a man who can beat trained athletes and is afraid of amateurs. Yet you are shy of addressing men who never thought of public affairs.”
Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 1.3.11: “Let us not make the mistake to go against those untrained to go attend against us. They have not been taught to treat comrades and enemies.”
Herodotus’ Histories 7.3: “It was customary that if sons were born before their father had become king, they would not have royal privilege before them.”
“Aechines’ Against Ctesiphon 3.125: “Demosthenes had spoken in opposition, taking advantage of the inexperience of the men who made the notion.”
Old Testament: This term means private citizen, layman, and common man.
New Testament: This term means ordinary, uninstructed, and untrained. The Jewish leaders, perceiving Peter and John as ordinary, were amazed by their boldness. The uninstructed Corinthians [Christians] were unable to understand the blessing. The uninstructed were those who did not speak or understand tongues and were catechumens.
Scripture:
“Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.” Acts 4:13
The Sanhedrin had recognized Peter as a simple fisherman.
“Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.” 2Cor.11:6
Paul acknowledges that he is deficient in his rhetorical abilities. However, God has revealed the truth to him.
Conclusion:
Idiot, idiocy, dumb, imbecile
It was interesting to discover that this term did not have today’s current meaning of a fool or imbecile. This person was essentially a simple private laymen who shied away from the then highly valued Roman-Greco notion of participation in community affairs (government).
This Greco-Roman belief system was not really a hindrance to the growth of Christianity. Jesus welcomed and identified with the simple person/laymen.
Update: A vast majority of Americans want to keep the government out of their lives as much as possible. They believe in limited government.
President Trump was elected because he was viewed as an outsider (not a politician).
Yet President Biden and Vice President Harris have both consistently made idiotic statements and policy decisions.
President Biden has accused many private individuals as being enemies of the state (semi-Fascists).
The Biden Administration currently has several unskilled (incompetent) Cabinet officials and czars: immigration, transportation, justice, etc.
One doesn’t have to be a simpleton (uninstructed) to see when others hold a grudge. Even the ordinary person can feel under the control of someone else when they are criticized. Outsiders can see when some people are hostile toward others when found in a difficult situation.
Next post: to hold a grudge and to be lying in wait