Bible Lexicons

";saviour."; Some vivid light by way of contrast is thrown on John 4:42 and 1 John 4:14 by the fact that the title σωτήρ was regularly given to the Ptolemies and to the Roman Emperors. Exx. are P Petr II. 8 (I) B.1 f. (c. B.C. 250) where the reign of Euergetes I. is alluded to in the words βασιλεύοντο [ς Πτ ]ολεμαίου τ [οῦ Πτολεμαί ]ου σωτῆρος, and ib. 111. 20i. 15 (B.C. 246) (= ib. II. 8 (2) revised), where the phrase πάν ]τ ̣ω ̣ν ̣ σωτῆρα is employed, cf. 1 Timothy 4:10. In Syll 347 (= 760).8, an Ephesian inscr. of A.D. 48, the Town Council of Ephesus and other cities acclaim Julius Caesar as θεὸν ἐπιφανῆ (see s.vv. θεός and ἐπιφανής) καὶ κοινὸν τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου βίου σωτῆρα, and in a i/A.D. Egyptian inscr. (published in Archiv ii. p. 434, No. 24), reference is made to Nero as τῶι σωτῆρι καὶ εὐεργέτηι (cf. Luke 22:25) τῆ [ς ] οἰκουμένης : cf. the description of Vespasian in ib. No. 28 τὸν σωτῆρα καὶ εὐεργέτην.

The designation is further extended to leading officials, as when a complainant petitions a praefect in the words—ἐπὶ σὲ τ ̣οε ̣υ ̣ν ̣ω τὸν σωτῆρα τῶν δικαίων τυχεῖν, ";(I turn) to you, my preserver, to obtain my just rights" (P Oxy I. 38.18 (A.D. 49–50) (= Selections, p. 54)), and similarly in the account of a public demonstration in honour of the prytanis at Oxyrhynchus, the multitude acclaim him—εὐτυχὴ ἡγεμώ [ν ], σωτὴρ μετρίων, καθολικαί, ";Prosperous praefect, protector of honest men, our ruler!"; (ib. 41.22 (ii/iii A.D.)).

The problem of Tit 2.18 cannot be discussed here, but Moulton (Proleg. p. 84) cites for what they are worth the Christian papyri BGU IX. 366, 367, 368, 371, 395 (all vii/A.D.), which ";attest the translation ‘our great God and Saviour’ as current among Greek-speaking Christians."; It may be further noted that following Hort, Parry, and Gore, Rawlinson (Bampton Lect. p. 172 n.3) regards δόξα as a Christological term, and translates ";the ‘epiphany’ of Him Who is the Glory of our great God and Saviour, viz. : Jesus Christ.";

In connexion with the belief that the death and resurrection of Attis each year secured a like renewal of life after their death to the faithful, we may add that a hymn dedicated to the god contains the following lines : θαρρεῖτε μύσται τοῦ θεοῦ σεσωσμένου, ἔσται γὰρ ὑμῖν ἐκ πόνων σωτηρία : see Cumont Les Religions Orientales, pp. 73, 266 (Engl. tr. pp. 59, 225).

See further the classic discussion on Σωτήρ by Wendland in ZNTW v. (1904), p. 335 ff.