“The Scythians Do Still Scare Us”

Abstract In Col 3:11, through tightly contrasting couplets, we are told that everyone can enjoy God’s grace. Though the passage seemingly involves no difficulty, doubts may be raised about opposition between barbarians and Scythians, both being uncivilized nations. Yet savagery of latter, unparalleled among barbarians, was their well-known hallmark. Even though this picture Scythians seems to have become commonplace in Greek Roman literature, it might inferred from epigraphical evidence barbarian nation still a reason for disquiet Asia Minor at time when Letter Colossians delivered.