the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Sosipater
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or (Σωσίπατρος, a Greek name)
Sosipater is one of three men, Lucius and Jason being the others, who send salutations in Romans 16:21 and are described by St. Paul as ‘my kinsmen’ (οἱ συγγενεῖς μου), i.e. fellow-Jews (cf. Andronicus and Junia(s), Romans 16:7, Herodion, Romans 16:11). It is possible that Jason (q.v. [Note: .v. quod vide, which see.] ) is identical with Jason of Acts 17:5 f., who was the Apostle’s host at Thessalonica. Sosipater may be the same as Sopater (q.v. [Note: .v. quod vide, which see.] )-another form of the name-of Acts 20:4, who is said to have been a BerCEan. If these identifications are correct, we shall suppose that these men were visiting St. Paul at Corinth at the time of writing or had become missionary companions of the Apostle. We know that Sopater did accompany St. Paul afterwards on at least part of his return journey to Palestine. It is perhaps in favour of this theory that the salutations of Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater are sent with those of Timothy and not with those of the Corinthian Christians, Gaius, Erastus, Quartus (Acts 20:23), the personal greeting of the amanuensis being interposed (Acts 20:22). If we think the identification unlikely, we shall suppose Sosipater and the others to have been members of the church at Corinth. It is perhaps easier to believe that their salutations were meant for fellow-Christians at Ephesus than at Rome, but we must remember that in the Apostolic Church sympathy and even affection were possible between converts who were not personally acquainted. It is interesting but of little importance for our present purpose to know that the name Sosipater is found among the list of Thessalonian politarchs (CIG [Note: IG Corpus Inscrip. Graecarum.] ii. 1967).
T. B. Allworthy.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Sosipater'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/s/sosipater.html. 1906-1918.
