Topical Encyclopedia
The denarius was a silver coin used during the time of the New Testament, particularly in the Roman Empire. It holds significant historical and theological importance within the biblical narrative, often serving as a reference point for economic transactions and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Historical ContextThe denarius originated as a Roman coin first minted in the late third century BC. By the time of the New Testament, it was the standard silver coin of the Roman Empire, widely circulated and recognized for its value. The denarius typically weighed about 3.9 grams and was made of high-quality silver, making it a reliable measure of wealth and commerce.
Biblical ReferencesThe denarius is mentioned several times in the New Testament, often in the context of daily wages and economic transactions. One of the most notable references is found in the parable of the workers in the vineyard, where Jesus uses the denarius to illustrate the kingdom of heaven and the generosity of God. In
Matthew 20:2 , it states, "He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard."
Another significant mention of the denarius is in the account of Jesus being questioned about paying taxes to Caesar. In
Matthew 22:19-21 , Jesus asks for a denarius to illustrate His teaching on civic duty and divine obligation: "Show Me the coin used for the tax." And they brought Him a denarius. "Whose image is this," He asked, "and whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they answered. So Jesus told them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Economic SignificanceIn the New Testament era, a denarius was commonly understood to be the daily wage for a laborer. This is evident in the parable of the vineyard workers, where the payment of a denarius for a day's work reflects the standard compensation for labor at the time. The denarius thus serves as a benchmark for understanding the economic conditions and social structures of the period.
Theological ImplicationsThe use of the denarius in Jesus' teachings often transcends its economic value, serving as a tool to convey deeper spiritual truths. In the parable of the vineyard workers, the denarius symbolizes the grace and generosity of God, who rewards not based on human merit but on His own benevolent nature. Similarly, the discussion of the denarius in the context of paying taxes highlights the dual responsibilities of believers to both earthly authorities and divine commandments.
ConclusionThe denarius, while a simple coin, carries profound implications within the biblical narrative. It serves as a tangible link to the historical and cultural context of the New Testament, while also providing a medium through which Jesus communicated essential truths about the kingdom of God, justice, and the nature of divine grace.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Denarius(containing ten), Authorized Version "penny," (Matthew 18:28;20:2,9,13) a Roman silver coin in the time of our Saviour and the Apostles, worth about 15 cents. It took its name from its being first equal to ten "asses," a number afterwards increased to sixteen. It was the principal silver coin of the Roman commonwealth. From the parable of the laborers in the vineyard it would seem that a denarius was then the ordinary pay for a day's labor. (Matthew 20:2,4,7,9,10,13)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) A Roman silver coin of the value of about fourteen cents; the penny of the New Testament; -- so called from being worth originally ten of the pieces called as.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DENARIUSde-na'-ri-us (denarion): A Roman silver coin, 25 of which went to the aureus, the standard gold coin of the empire in the time of Augustus, which was equal in value to about one guinea or USD5, 25; more exactly ?1.0, 6 = USD5.00, the ? = USD4,866. Hence, the value of the denarius would be about 20 cents and this was the ordinary wage of a soldier and a day laborer. The word is uniformly rendered "penny" in the King James Version and "shilling" in the American Standard Revised Version, except inMatthew 22:19Mark 12:15 andLuke 20:24, where the Latin word is used, since in these passsages it refers to the coin in which tribute was paid to the Roman government. SeeMONEY.
H. Porter
Greek
1220. denarion --denarius (a Roman coin)...denarius (a Roman coin). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: denarion
Phonetic Spelling: (day-nar'-ee-on) Short Definition: a
denarius Definition: a
...3414. mna -- a mina (Gr. monetary unit)
... See also 1220 ("denarius") and 1406 ("drachma"). One was equivalent to 100
denarii (= one hundred days' wages for the common worker)....
2835. kodrantes -- quadrans, one-fourth of an as (a Roman monetary...
... 2835 -- a Roman copper coin, worth 1/A of adenarius; "(Latin, = quadrans), 'a
quadrans,' the smallest Roman copper coin, a quarter of an , the sixteenth part...
3016. leptos -- peeled, fine, thin, small, light
... probably the smallest piece of money. 3016 -- a copper or bronze coin worth
1/A of adenarius, ie . Word Origin from the same as...
Library
Cix. Jewish Rulers Seek to Ensnare Jesus.
... c 24 Show me adenarius. ^b bring me adenarius, that I may see it. [Religious
dues and tributes had been paid in shekels or old...
Delivered on the Lord's Day, on that which is Written in the...
... His vineyard. He went out in the morning," and hired those whom he found,
and agreed with them for adenarius as their hire. He...
All the Miracles of Richard:
... A passing pilgrim tells them to visit the hermit's tomb at Hampole. They do so,
and pay adenarius at the tomb and the child is restored to life....
Christ's Refutations of the Pharisees Rendering Dues to C??sar and...
... be C??sar's, and unto God the things which be God's." [4990] What will be "the things
which are God's?" Such things as are like C??sar'sdenarius"that is to...
The Third Day in Pasion-Week - the Last Series of Parables: to the...
... With these he agreed for adenarius a day, which was the ordianry wages for a day's
labour, [5292] and so sent them into the vineyard; in other words, He told...
The First vision "On Earth"
... a pair of balances in his hand.6. And I heard as [164] it were a voice in the midst
of the four Zoa, saying, "A choenix of wheat for adenarius, and three...
John Chapter iv. 18-Jan
... great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ." In that hope, when the reality of the
hope shall have come to pass, we shall receive our wages, a penny (denarius...
He Repels the Calumny Concerning the Acceptance of Persons.
... "Friend," said he, "I do thee no wrong. Hast not thou agreed with me for adenarius?
Take what thine is, and go; but I choose to give to this last as to thee....
First Withdrawal from Herod's Territory and Return.
... bread, and give them to eat? [The word translated shilling is the Romandenarius,
worth about seventeen cents. The sum was not large...
The Five Thousand Fed.
... It was equal to [USD]30, or ?�6, 5s.; a large amount of money then, since
adenarius, or "penny," was the hire of a day's labor....
Thesaurus
Denarius (8 Occurrences)... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
DENARIUS.
... Hence, the value of the
denarius would be
about 20 cents and this was the ordinary wage of a soldier and a day laborer.
...Penny (14 Occurrences)
... of an English shilling in account value, and equal to four farthings, or about two
cents; -- usually indicated by the abbreviation d. (the initial ofdenarius...
Denary (8 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The number ten; a division into ten. 3. (n.) A coin; the Anglicized form
ofdenarius. Multi-Version Concordance Denary (8 Occurrences)....
Farthing (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Matthew 10:29; Luke 12:6. Greek assarion, ie, a
small as, which was a Roman coin equal to a tenth of adenarius or drachma...
Received (312 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Matthew 20:9 "When those who were hired at about the eleventh
hour came, they each received adenarius. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)...
Denarii (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural ofDenarius. Multi-Version Concordance
Denarii (7 Occurrences). Matthew 18:28 "But that servant...
Barley (35 Occurrences)
... Revelation 6:6 I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
"A choenix of wheat for adenarius, and three choenix of barley for adenarius...
Choenixes (1 Occurrence)
... Revelation 6:6 And I heard as a voice in the midst of the four living creatures
saying, A choenix of wheat for adenarius, and three choenixes of barley for a...
Center (30 Occurrences)
... Revelation 6:6 I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
"A choenix of wheat for adenarius, and three choenix of barley for adenarius...
Choenix (1 Occurrence)
... Revelation 6:6 I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
"A choenix of wheat for adenarius, and three choenix of barley for adenarius...
Resources
What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar's”? | GotQuestions.orgDenarius: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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