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Idiotae

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Encyclopedias
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Idiotae
The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Idiota

(ἰδιῶται , private men), a term applied by some early writers to laymen in distinction from ministers (κλῆροι). Chrysostom (Homil. 35) and Theodoret (Comm. in 1 Corinthians) employ the word in this signification, and show that the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:16) thus designates a private person, whether learned or unlearned. So also Origen, Contra Cels. 7, p. 334. See Bingham, Orig. Eccles. bk. 1, ch. 5, § 6. (See LAITY).