Hellenistic

Lexical Meaning: The word Ἕλλην (Hellēn) originally referred to a person from Greece or someone of Greek ethnicity, language, or culture. In classical Greek, it denoted the Hellenic people as distinct from other groups (e.g., Persians).

New Testament Context: By the time of the New Testament (1st century CE), Ἕλλην had a broader usage in Hellenistic and Roman contexts:

• It often referred to Gentiles (non-Jews) in general, especially those influenced by Greek culture or language, as Greek was the lingua franca of the eastern Roman Empire.

• In Jewish and early Christian writings, "Greeks" frequently served as a shorthand for all non-Jews, contrasting with "Jews" (Ἰουδαῖοι, Ioudaioi). This is evident in passages like Galatians 3:28 ("There is neither Jew nor Greek") and 1 Corinthians 1:22–24.

• In Romans 3:9, Paul uses Ἕλληνας to represent Gentiles broadly, encompassing all non-Jewish peoples, not just ethnic Greeks. This fits the theological argument that both Jews (under the Law) and Gentiles (outside the Law) are equally accountable to God and "under sin."

Cultural Nuance: The term reflects the Hellenistic world’s cultural divide between Jews, who maintained their distinct religious and cultural identity, and the broader Greco-Roman world, which was heavily influenced by Greek language and culture. Paul’s use of "Greeks" underscores the universality of sin across these groups.

English translations (e.g., KJV, NIV, ESV) retain "Greeks" for Ἕλληνας to preserve the original text’s terminology and historical context. However, some paraphrases or interpretive translations (e.g., NLT) might use "Gentiles" to clarify the broader meaning for modern readers, as "Greeks" might misleadingly suggest only ethnic Greeks. The choice of "Greeks" in most translations reflects fidelity to the Greek text, with the understanding that readers familiar with biblical language will recognize it as synonymous with Gentiles in this context.