Nation
The Scythians
A nomadic and warlike group mentioned by the Apostle Paul to illustrate the universal reach of the Gospel and the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.
In the New Testament, the term 'Scythian' appears exclusively in the Epistle to the Colossians. During the first century AD, Scythians were traditionally regarded by the Greco-Roman world as the quintessential 'barbarians.' Originating from the Eurasian Steppes, they were known for their nomadic lifestyle, mastery of horseback archery, and a reputation for fierce, uncivilized behavior.
Paul’s inclusion of the Scythian in his list of social and ethnic categories serves a specific rhetorical and theological purpose. By naming the Scythian alongside the Greek, the Jew, and the barbarian, Paul asserts that the transformative power of Christ transcends even the most extreme cultural and social boundaries of the ancient world.
Background and Family
Strictly speaking, the Scythians are not presented as specific individuals in the biblical text, but as a collective group represented by a singular Greek noun (Skythēs). The Bible provides no genealogical data or recorded relationships for this group. Historically, Scythians were a confederation of nomadic tribes inhabiting the regions north of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. In the cultural lexicon of the 1st century AD, they occupied the lowest rung of the social hierarchy regarding 'civilization.'
Major Life Events
The only 'event' associated with the Scythian in the New Testament is their inclusion in the spiritual body of the Church. In Colossians 3:11, Paul writes to a congregation in Asia Minor, addressing the new identity found in Christ. The Scythian is mentioned to illustrate that the gospel has reached even those whom the Roman and Greek elite considered the most remote and unrefined.
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all. (Colossians 3:11, BSB)
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
The text establishes no personal relationships between Scythians and other named biblical figures. Their presence in the narrative is entirely functional, serving as a foil to the 'Greek' or the 'Jew.' While a 'barbarian' was simply someone who did not speak Greek, the 'Scythian' was often viewed as a barbarian of a more extreme or savage degree. By grouping them together, Paul emphasizes that no one is too far removed from the grace of God.
Spiritual Significance
The spiritual significance of the Scythian lies in the doctrine of the 'New Man.' Paul argues that in the Christian community, previous distinctions based on ethnicity (Jew or Greek), religious ritual (circumcised or uncircumcised), social status (slave or free), or cultural level (barbarian or Scythian) are rendered obsolete. The inclusion of the Scythian confirms that the Church is a global entity where the common denominator is Christ. This verse remains a foundational text for Christian universalism and the equality of all persons before God.