Andrew: The "Background" Apostle (Part 3)

The Meaning of His Name

The meaning of Andrew’s name is a bit interesting when you think about it. The Greek word for “Andrew” is “Andreas” and means “strength, manly.” This name was a perfect fit for an individual such as this apostle. Now, he did not represent manliness according to the Romans. A Roman likely would have looked to one of their soldiers or a captain over hundreds of men. These individuals would have been strong from a physical standpoint and would have been very talented tacticians. The Romans would have looked to an individual who could command thousands in battle and win the victory for their nation. Andrew would definitely fit with the American version of manliness. Many individuals would look toward a movie star in Hollywood and claim, “That is a man’s man.” Andrew would not have fit that bill.

Andrew fit a different type of manliness. He was the type of man God wanted him to be. He was a godly individual, held the attitude of a servant, had a genuine love for mankind, and one who had a true love for His Lord and Savior. Andrew would have fit that to a tee. As we will study of this individual, we will see more clearly what is meant.