Jesus

Jesus, also called Justus, was one of the few Jewish believers who supported Paul during his imprisonment.

Jesus Justus is mentioned in Col 4:11 as one of the few Jewish believers who supported Paul during his imprisonment. The context of the passage is Paul's final greetings and instructions to the Colossian church, where he mentions several individuals who have been a comfort and support to him (Col 4:7-18).

In his greeting, Paul identifies Jesus Justus as one of his fellow workers for the kingdom of God, along with Aristarchus, Mark, and Epaphras (Col 4:10-12). He specifically notes that Jesus Justus, Aristarchus, and Mark are the only Jewish believers among his co-workers, emphasizing their importance and the encouragement they provided to him.

The fact that Jesus Justus is mentioned by both his Jewish name (Jesus) and his Roman surname (Justus) suggests that he was a Hellenistic Jew who had adopted a Roman name, possibly indicating his familiarity with Gentile culture and his ability to relate to both Jewish and Gentile believers.

Paul's mention of Jesus Justus as a fellow worker and a source of comfort during his imprisonment highlights the significance of Jewish believers who embraced the gospel message and supported Paul's ministry. It also underscores the unity and collaboration among believers from different backgrounds in the early church.

Apart from this brief mention in Paul's letter to the Colossians, no other information about Jesus Justus' life, conversion, or specific contributions to Paul's ministry.

A Jewish Christian surnamed Justus (Col. 4:11).

Je’sus, the proper, as Christ is the official, name of our Lord. To distinguish him from others so called, he is spoken of as “Jesus of Nazareth” (John 18:7), and “Jesus the son of Joseph” (John 6:42).

This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Hoshea (Num. 13:8, 16), but changed by Moses into Jehoshua (Num. 13:16; 1 Chr. 7:27), or Joshua. After the Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save (Matt. 1:21).

The life of Jesus on earth may be divided into two great periods, (1) that of his private life, till he was about thirty years of age; and (2) that of his public life, which lasted about three years.

In the “fulness of time” he was born at Bethlehem, in the reign of the emperor Augustus, of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter (Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:23; comp. John 7:42). His birth was announced to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Wise men from the east came to Bethlehem to see him who was born “King of the Jews,” bringing gifts with them (Matt. 2:1-12). Herod’s cruel jealousy led to Joseph’s flight into Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus, where they tarried till the death of this king (Matt. 2:13-23), when they returned and settled in Nazareth, in Lower Galilee (2:23; comp. Luke 4:16; John 1:46, etc.). At the age of twelve years he went up to Jerusalem to the Passover with his parents. There, in the temple, “in the midst of the doctors,” all that heard him were “astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:41, etc.).

Eighteen years pass, of which we have no record beyond this, that he returned to Nazareth and “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

He entered on his public ministry when he was about thirty years of age. It is generally reckoned to have extended to about three years. “Each of these years had peculiar features of its own.