4988. Sósthenés

Lexicon

Sósthenés: Sosthenes

Original Word: Σωσθένης
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Sósthenés
Pronunciation: soce-THEN-ace
Phonetic Spelling: (soce-then'-ace)
Definition: Sosthenes
Meaning: Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue at Corinth.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Sosthenes.

From the base of sozo and that of sthenoo; of safe strength; Sosthenes, a Christian -- Sosthenes.

see GREEK sozo

see GREEK sthenoo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as sózó and sthenoó
Definition
"of safe strength," Sosthenes, the name of a ruler of a synagogue and of a Christian
NASB Translation
Sosthenes (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4988: Σωσθένης

Σωσθένης, Σωσθενου, ὁ, Sosthenes;

1. the ruler of the Jewish synagogue at Corinth, and an opponent of Christianity: Acts 18:17.

2. a certain Christian, an associate of the apostle Paul: 1 Corinthians 1:1. The name was a common one among the Greeks.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek words "σῴζω" (sōzō), meaning "to save," and "σθένος" (sthenos), meaning "strength" or "might."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Hebrew equivalents for the name Sosthenes, as it is a Greek name. However, the concept of "strength" and "salvation" can be related to Hebrew words such as "יָשַׁע" (yasha, Strong's Hebrew 3467) meaning "to save," and "כֹּחַ" (koach, Strong's Hebrew 3581) meaning "strength" or "power."

Usage: The name Sosthenes appears in the New Testament as a figure associated with the early Christian community. He is mentioned in the context of the Apostle Paul's ministry.

Context: Sosthenes is a notable figure in the New Testament, appearing in two key passages. In Acts 18:17, Sosthenes is identified as the "synagogue leader" in Corinth. During a tumultuous event, he is seized and beaten by a crowd in front of the tribunal, an incident that occurs after the proconsul Gallio dismisses charges against Paul. The text does not specify why Sosthenes is targeted, but it suggests a possible internal conflict among the Jewish community or a backlash from the Gentiles.

Later, in 1 Corinthians 1:1, Sosthenes is mentioned as a co-author with Paul in the greeting of the letter to the Corinthians: "Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes." This reference indicates that Sosthenes had become a Christian and was a respected member of the early church, possibly serving as a scribe or co-worker with Paul. His inclusion in the letter's salutation suggests a significant role in the Corinthian church, highlighting his transformation from a synagogue leader to a Christian brother.

The transition of Sosthenes from a Jewish leader to a Christian associate of Paul exemplifies the diverse backgrounds of early Christian converts and the unifying power of the Gospel message. His story reflects the broader theme of reconciliation and the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles in the early church.

Forms and Transliterations

Σωσθενην Σωσθένην Σωσθενης Σωσθένης Sosthenen Sosthénen Sōsthenēn Sōsthénēn Sosthenes Sosthénes Sōsthenēs Sōsthénēs

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 18:17 N-AMS
GRK: δὲ πάντες Σωσθένην τὸν ἀρχισυνάγωγον
NAS: took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue,
KJV: took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue,
INT: moreover all Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue

1 Corinthians 1:1 N-NMS
GRK: θεοῦ καὶ Σωσθένης ὁ ἀδελφὸς
NAS: of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
KJV: of God, and Sosthenes [our] brother,
INT: of God and Sosthenes the brother

Strong's Greek 4988
2 Occurrences

Σωσθένην — 1 Occ.
Σωσθένης — 1 Occ.