Lexical Summary Sósipatros: Sosipater Original Word: Σώπατρος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sosipater. Prolongation for Sopatros; Sosipatrus, a Christian -- Sosipater. see GREEK Sopatros NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prol. form of Sópatros Definition "of a safe father," Sosipater, a Christian, perhaps the same as NG4986 NASB Translation Sosipater (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4989: ΣωσίπατροςΣωσίπατρος, Σωσιπατρου, ὁ, Sosipater, a certain Christian, one of Paul's kinsmen (perhaps the same man who in Acts 20:4 is called Σώπατρος (which see; yet the latter was from Beraea, Sosipater in Corinth); cf. Σωκράτης and Σωσικρατης, Σωκλειδης and Σωσικλειδης, see Fritzsche, Ep. ad Romans, vol. iii., p. 316; (cf. Fick, Gr. Personennamen, pp. 79, 80)): Romans 16:21. Topical Lexicon Identity and Background Sosipater appears once in the Greek New Testament (Romans 16:21). His name, common in the Hellenistic world, reflects a blend of Jewish roots and Greco-Roman culture, fitting the cosmopolitan character of the early church. Biblical Occurrence Romans 16:21: “Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow kinsmen.” In Paul’s closing greetings from Corinth, Sosipater is listed among the apostle’s “kinsmen,” a term Paul uses for fellow Jews (cf. Romans 9:3; 2 Corinthians 11:22). His inclusion underscores the multiethnic but deeply Jewish core of Paul’s missionary team and highlights the gospel’s spread from Jerusalem to the wider Gentile world. Connection with Sopater of Berea Acts 20:4 introduces “Sopater of Berea,” a companion of Paul on the return leg of the third missionary journey. Because “Sosipater” and “Sopater” differ by only one syllable and both travel with Paul during roughly the same era, many commentators identify them as the same person. If so, Sosipater would be: Role in Paul’s Ministry 1. Fellow Worker: Paul regularly called those who traveled and labored with him “synergos” (co-worker). Although the term is not used of Sosipater directly, his placement beside Timothy, Lucius, and Jason in Romans 16:21 implies equal standing in ministry labor. Early Church Tradition Second- and third-century sources (e.g., the “Apostolic Constitutions”) pair Sosipater with Jason as two of the Seventy sent out by Jesus (Luke 10:1), later claiming they evangelized Corfu, faced imprisonment, and saw many conversions. While Scripture is silent on these details, the traditions reflect the esteem in which the early church held Sosipater and illustrate how Paul’s co-workers became foundations for later missionary advance. Theological and Pastoral Insights • Cooperation in Mission: The greeting in Romans 16:21 shows a diverse team—Jew and Gentile, older apostle and younger assistants—united around gospel proclamation. Key References Romans 16:21; Acts 20:4 (possible parallel) Forms and Transliterations Σωσιπατρος Σωσίπατρος Sosipatros Sosípatros Sōsipatros SōsípatrosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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