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Bible Dictionaries
Zenas
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or In Titus 3:13 Titus is urged to ‘set forward (πρόπεμψον) Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently (σπουδαίως), that nothing be wanting unto them.’ We gather that Zenas and Apollos were fellow-travellers who had come to Crete and were contemplating going elsewhere. Perhaps they were travelling preachers; or Zenas may have been the travelling companion of the eloquent Apollos. Anyhow, Paul asks for them a ‘send-off’ worthy of devoted Christian workers. Zenas is described as a ‘lawyer’ (νομικός). It is likely, therefore, that he was a convert from the ranks of Jewish lawyers-men skilled in the Jewish law. It is significant that he is found in the company of Apollos, whose preaching had a Jewish tinge (cf. article Apollos). Though a convert to Christianity, and evidently a valued worker, he did not shake off his legalism completely; he favoured the Apollos type of preaching rather than the Pauline. It has been suggested that Zenas and Apollos were the bearers of the Epistle. May it be that these men were chosen as messengers to Crete because they were known to have influence amongst Jewish converts from whom the troubles in Crete seem to have chiefly arisen (cf. Titus 3:9)?
Literature.-A. C. Headlam, article ‘Zenas’ in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) iv.; W. Lock, article ‘Titus,’ ib., p. 782b; J. E. Roberts, article ‘Apollos’ in Dict. of Christian Antiquities ; W. B. Jones, article ‘Zenas’ in Smith’s Dict. of the Bible iii. (for tradition); Expositor , 8th 6er., v. [1913] 329.
J. E. Roberts.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Zenas'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/z/zenas.html. 1906-1918.
