Jesus Called Justus

Biblical Record

He is mentioned only in Colossians 4:11. The King James Version renders the verse: "And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me." In the preceding verse (Colossians 4:10), Paul introduces Aristarchus, his fellow prisoner, and Mark, the nephew of Barnabas ("sister's son to Barnabas" in the KJV), and then goes on to mention this man. The text tells us only three things about him: he sent greetings to the church at Colossae, he was of the circumcision, and as Paul's coworker he had been a comfort to the apostle. His place of origin, his conversion, and his later activities are not recorded.

Significance Within Scripture

"The circumcision" refers to those who had received circumcision, that is, Christians of Jewish background. Paul writes that among those of Jewish origin, "these only" worked with him for the kingdom of God. The verse is therefore read as reflecting the isolation Paul experienced among his own people and the few coworkers who nonetheless remained at his side to the end.

"Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Joshua), a common name among Jews of the time. "Justus" is a Latin name meaning "just" or "righteous." Jews commonly used a Greek or Roman name alongside a Hebrew one. He is a different person from Jesus Christ and simply shares the same name.

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• Other people named Justus appear in the New Testament. In Acts 1:23, "Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus" is put forward alongside Matthias as a candidate for apostleship, and in Acts 18:7, Titius Justus receives Paul in Corinth. Since the text offers no basis for identifying these men with one another, they are usually regarded as distinct individuals.
• Philemon 1:23–24 contains a list of coworkers nearly identical to the one in Colossians, but this man's name is absent. Some scholars have proposed reading the "Jesus" in "Christ Jesus" in Philemon 1:23 as a reference to him. Because no manuscripts support this reading, however, the proposal has not been widely accepted.
• Scholars differ over the date and place of the composition of Colossians (Rome, Ephesus, Caesarea, and others). Whether Paul himself wrote the letter is also debated.

In the Korean Church

He is rarely the subject of a sermon or Sunday school lesson in his own right. He is usually mentioned briefly, together with Epaphras, Luke, Demas, and others, when Paul's coworkers are discussed on the basis of the greetings in Colossians 4.