Faithful Service: Τέρτιος (Strong’s G5060: Tertios) Records Sacred Scripture

Strong’s G5060: A proper noun identifying Paul’s amanuensis (scribe) for the Epistle to the Romans. Of Latin origin meaning “third,” Tertius served as Paul’s secretary, transcribing one of the most theologically significant letters in the New Testament.

U – Unveiling the Word

Τέρτιος represents the important role of scribal assistance in the early church’s letter writing. His single mention in Romans 16:22 provides a glimpse into the collaborative nature of New Testament composition. As Paul’s amanuensis for the letter to the Romans, Tertius took dictation and likely helped shape the final form of this crucial epistle. The early church recognized the significance of such scribal work in preserving and transmitting apostolic teaching. Today, Tertius’s role reminds us of the human elements in divine inspiration and the importance of faithful service in spreading God’s word.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Τέρτιος, Tertios, ter’-tee-os
• Phonetic Guide: ter (as in “tear”) + tee + os (as in “dose”)
• Part of Speech: Noun (Proper)

Etymology:

• From Latin “Tertius” meaning “third”
• Hellenized form of the Latin name
• Common Roman naming convention for third-born sons

D – Defining Meanings

• Personal name meaning “third”
• Paul’s scribe for Romans
• Professional secretary

Translation Options:

• “Tertius” – transliteration preserving the name
• “The third” – literal meaning of the name
• “Third-born” – cultural meaning in Roman context

E – Exploring Similar Words

• γραμματεύς (grammateus) – scribe See G1122
• συνεργός (sunergos) – fellow worker See G4904
• ὑπογραφεύς (hupographeus) – secretary See related concept in G1125

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Nominal Features:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second declension

Examples:

• Nominative: Τέρτιος (Tertius)
• Genitive: Τερτίου (of Tertius)
• Dative: Τερτίῳ (to/for Tertius)
• Accusative: Τέρτιον (Tertius as object)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical sources provide understanding of Τέρτιος’s role. BDAG identifies him as Paul’s amanuensis for Romans. Thayer’s notes the significance of his personal greeting in Romans 16. LSJ documents the Hellenization of Latin names. Vine’s connects his work to ancient letter-writing practices. Strong’s emphasizes his Latin origin. Moulton and Milligan cite examples of professional scribes in papyri. The combined evidence suggests Τέρτιος was a skilled secretary whose contribution to Romans went beyond mere transcription.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“I, [Τέρτιος], who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.” Romans 16:22

Additional References:
This name appears only once in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Τέρτιος exemplifies the humble yet crucial role of those who serve in transmitting God’s word. His work as Paul’s secretary for Romans demonstrates how the Lord uses human instruments in conveying divine truth. This reminds us that the good news spreads through both prominent teachers and faithful supporters. Tertius’s brief self-identification shows that even those working “behind the scenes” play vital roles in God’s kingdom work.

D – Did You Know?

• Tertius is the only New Testament amanuensis to identify himself
• His Latin name suggests he was likely a professional Roman scribe
• Early church tradition holds he later became bishop of Iconium

Strong’s G5060: A proper noun identifying Paul’s amanuensis (scribe) for the Epistle to the Romans. Of Latin origin meaning “third,” Tertius served as Paul’s secretary, transcribing one of the most theologically significant letters in the New Testament.

Part of speech: Noun (Proper)

Tags: scribe, Romans, Paul, amanuensis, letter-writing, secretary, collaboration, Roman-names, scripture-transmission, service​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​