Lexical Summary Patmos: Patmos Original Word: Πάτμος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Patmos. Of uncertain derivation; Patmus, an islet in the Mediterranean -- Patmos. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition Patmos, an island in the Aegean Sea NASB Translation Patmos (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3963: ΠάτμοςΠάτμος, Πατμου, ἡ, Patmos, a small and rocky island in the Aegean Sea, reckoned as one of the Sporades (Thucydides 3, 33; Strabo 10, p. 488; Pliny, h. n. 4, 23); now called Patino or (chiefly in the middle ages (Howson)) Palmosa and having from four to five thousand Christian inhabitants (cf. Schubert, Raise in das Morgenland, Th. iii., pp. 425-443; Bleek, Vorless. üb. die Apokalypse, p. 157; Kneucker in Schenkel iv., p. 403f; (BB. DD. under the word)). In it John, the author of the Apocalypse, says the revelations were made to him of the approaching consummation of God's kingdom: Revelation 1:9. It has been held by the church, ever since the time of (Justin Martyr (dialog contra Trypho, § 81, p. 308 a. cf. Eusebius, h. e. 4, 18, 8; see Charteris, Canonicity, chapter 34:and note)and) Irenaeus adv. haer. 5, 30, that this John is the Apostle; see Ἰωάννης, 2 and 6. Topical Lexicon Geographic Setting Patmos is a small, rugged island in the Aegean Sea, roughly twenty-five miles off the coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Volcanic in origin and barren in terrain, it measures about ten miles long and six miles wide. In the first century it was under Roman rule as part of the province of Asia and served, among other purposes, as a place of political banishment. Biblical Occurrence in Revelation Revelation 1:9: “I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.” John locates himself on Patmos when he receives the visions that compose the book of Revelation. The island is therefore inseparably linked to the climactic prophetic message of the New Testament. Historical Background Early Christian writers (Irenaeus, Eusebius, Victorinus) record that the Roman authorities exiled the apostle John to Patmos during the reign of Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96). Exile was a common Roman penalty that removed perceived troublemakers from influential urban centers. Patmos, sparsely populated and easily guarded, provided an ideal setting for such a punishment. According to tradition, John was later released and returned to Ephesus under Emperor Nerva, though Scripture is silent on this point. Setting for Divine Revelation 1. Solitude for Vision: The island’s isolation became the stage for the Spirit’s disclosure “on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10). What Rome intended for silencing the apostle, God used for unveiling His redemptive plan. Theological Themes Emerging from Patmos • Sovereignty of Christ over earthly powers: The visions begin with the risen Jesus walking among the lampstands, asserting dominion despite imperial opposition. Implications for Ministry Today 1. God uses unlikely places: Remote or difficult settings can become strategic platforms for advancing the gospel and receiving fresh vision. Thus Patmos, though mentioned only once, stands as a lasting symbol of God’s ability to transform human hardship into a conduit for His most sweeping revelation. Forms and Transliterations Πατμω Πάτμῳ πατράδελφος πατραδέλφου Patmo Patmō Pátmoi PátmōiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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