Ἰοῦστος (Ioustos)
Ioustos
Justus
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Ioustos is a Greek transliteration of the Latin nomen Justus, meaning "just" or "righteous." It appears only three times in the New Testament, serving as a surname for three distinct individuals who played minor but specific roles in the early Christian narrative. The word itself carries no unique theological weight beyond its literal meaning, functioning instead as a personal identifier rooted in Roman naming conventions.
Lexical sources identify these bearers as Joseph Barsabbas, nominated alongside Matthias to replace Judas in Acts 1:23; Titus Justus, a Gentile believer in Corinth who hosted Paul as recorded in Acts 18:7; and Jesus Justus, a fellow worker with Paul mentioned in Colossians 4:11. The presence of this Latin name among Greek-speaking Christians highlights the multicultural nature of the early church, where Jewish and Gentile believers lived and worked together across different linguistic backgrounds.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Justus appears in the New Testament as a personal identifier for three distinct individuals: Joseph Barsabbas, Titus, and Jesus. Its presence highlights the multicultural fabric of the early church, where Jewish and Gentile believers worked together across linguistic and cultural boundaries. This diversity was not a barrier but a reflection of the Gospel’s reach to all nations.
For your faith, this reminds us that God uses people from every background to advance His Kingdom. Whether you are called to host, serve, or stand firm in unity, your contribution matters. The early church thrived because believers valued each other’s unique roles, finding comfort and strength in their shared mission.
When we encounter these names, we see ordinary people named after a virtue—justice or righteousness. Their lives invite us to consider how our own character can reflect God’s nature in our daily interactions and service to others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Justus2×
- Justus,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἰοῦστος,1×
- Ἰοῦστος1×
- Ἰούστου1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 1:23
They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
This verse identifies Joseph Barsabbas as Justus, showing that the name was used among Jewish believers in Jerusalem alongside Matthias.
-
Acts 18:7
He departed there and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
Here, Titus Justus is described as a Gentile who worshiped God and provided his home for Paul near the synagogue in Corinth.
-
Colossians 4:11
and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.
Paul calls Jesus Justus one of his few fellow workers from the circumcision who served as a comfort to him during difficult times.