Bible Encyclopedias

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Unknown God

(ἄγνῳστος θεός , A.V. unfortunately "the unknown God," instead of "an unknown God"), the inscription observed by Paul on some site consecrated to a deity whose name had been lost-a fact which he ingeniously adduces in his speech before the citizens to show their scrupulousness, and to lead them to the knowledge of the true God (Acts 17:23). There is no evidence that it was a spot dedicated to the worship of Jehovah, as some commentators have imagined. See the monographs cited by Volbeding, Index Program hatum, p. 82. (See ALTAR); (See ATHENS).