Lexical Summary Krispos: Crispus Original Word: Κρίσπος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Crispus. Of Latin origin; "crisp"; Crispus, a Corinthian -- Crispus. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin Definition Crispus, a Corinthian Christian NASB Translation Crispus (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2921: ΚρίσποςΚρίσπος, Κρισπου, ὁ, Crispus, the ruler of a synagogue at Corinth, Acts 18:8; baptized by Paul, 1 Corinthians 1:14. Topical Lexicon Identity within the New Testament Record Crispus appears twice in the Greek New Testament, both times in direct connection with the Apostle Paul. In Corinth he is introduced as “the synagogue leader” whose “whole household believed in the Lord” (Acts 18:8). Later, Paul reminds the church, “I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius” (1 Corinthians 1:14). These brief notices place Crispus at the heart of Paul’s second missionary journey and the formative days of the Corinthian congregation. Context of Corinth and the Synagogue First-century Corinth was a cosmopolitan center where Jewish and Gentile worlds intersected. As ruler of the synagogue, Crispus occupied a respected, influential post. His conversion therefore carried weight not only among Jewish hearers but also in the wider civic community. That such a figure embraced the gospel so early in Paul’s eighteen-month ministry (Acts 18:11) demonstrates the power of the message to cross entrenched religious lines. Conversion and Household Faith Luke records that Crispus believed “together with his whole household” (Acts 18:8). The salvation of an entire household echoes earlier patterns in Acts (for example, Lydia in Acts 16:15 and the jailer in Acts 16:34), stressing the covenantal breadth of the gospel and providing initial leadership resources for the infant church. The sight of a synagogue ruler submitting to Christ would also have emboldened many Corinthians who “heard Paul” (Acts 18:8) to follow suit. Baptism and the Question of Factions Paul’s brief reference in 1 Corinthians 1:14 illuminates another dimension of Crispus’s legacy. The apostle purposely limited the number of personal baptisms he performed in Corinth so that no one could claim spiritual allegiance to him over Christ. By naming Crispus and Gaius, Paul highlights converts who, though notable, were never to become rallying points for party spirit. Crispus thus serves as a living reminder that Christian identity derives from the cross, not from human leaders (1 Corinthians 1:13, 17). Bridge between Synagogue and Church Crispus’s move from synagogue leadership to Christian fellowship foreshadows the united body envisioned in Ephesians 2:14–16, where the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile is broken down in Christ. His account affirms that the earliest Christian communities were not merely Gentile associations but included influential Jews who recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah. Early Church Tradition Post-canonical sources (e.g., the Apostolic Constitutions) later mention a bishop named Crispus of Aegina. While certainty is impossible, early Christian writers often identified this figure with the Crispus of Acts, seeing in him an enduring leader who continued to shepherd God’s people beyond Corinth. Ministry Significance and Lessons for Today 1. Gospel Power among Leaders: The conversion of a synagogue ruler encourages confidence that God can reach those in positions of cultural or religious authority. Select References Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17; Ephesians 2:14–16 Forms and Transliterations Κρισπον Κρίσπον Κρισπος Κρίσπος Krispon Kríspon Krispos KrísposLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 18:8 N-NMSGRK: Κρίσπος δὲ ὁ NAS: Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, KJV: And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, INT: Crispus moreover the 1 Corinthians 1:14 N-AMS Strong's Greek 2921 |
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