κολωνία (kolōnia)
kolōnia
Roman colony
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kolōnia refers to a Roman colony, specifically a settlement established by Rome for retired soldiers or citizens in foreign territories. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, identifying Philippi as such a colony in Acts 16:12. This designation carried significant legal and political weight, marking the city as an extension of Roman law and authority far from Italy itself.
As Dodson notes, these colonies functioned as garrison cities where Roman citizens lived under their own legal protections rather than local customs. The presence of this term in Acts highlights the imperial context of Paul’s ministry, showing how the early church emerged within a structured network of Roman administrative power. The word itself derives from Latin, reflecting the direct cultural and political influence of Rome on the regions described in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kolōnia describes a Roman colony, a settlement established by Rome for retired soldiers or citizens in foreign territories. In Acts 16:12, Philippi is identified as such a colony, marking it as an extension of Roman law and authority far from Italy itself. This designation carried significant legal and political weight, showing how the early church emerged within a structured network of Roman administrative power.
Understanding this historical context helps us see that the Gospel spread through real cities with established systems of governance. Paul’s ministry took place in places like Philippi, where Roman citizens lived under their own legal protections rather than local customs. This highlights the imperial context of his work and shows how the early church navigated a world shaped by Roman influence.
For your faith, this reminds us that God works within the structures of human society. The spread of the Gospel was not separate from the political realities of the time but engaged with them directly. This encourages us to see our own contexts as places where God’s message can take root and grow, even amidst complex social and cultural landscapes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [and Roman] colony.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κολωνία.1×
Key Verses
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Acts 16:12
and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
This verse identifies Philippi as a Roman colony, highlighting the legal and political status of the city where Paul established one of his first European ministries.