Sosipater

Sosip´ater [SOPATER]

See SOPATER.\par

Sosip’ater. (saviour of his father). Kinsman, or fellow tribesman, of St. Paul, Rom 16:21, is, probably, the same person as Sopater of Berea. (A.D. 54). See Sopater.

Rom 16:21. Possibly the full form of Sopater (Act 20:4).

[Sosi’pater]

Kinsman of Paul, whose salutations were sent to Rome. Rom 16:21.

SOSIPATER.—See Sopater.

sṓ-sip´a-tẽr (Σωσίπατρος, Sōsı́patros): Sosipater unites with Lucius and Jason in sending greetings to the Roman Christians (Rom 16:21). He is a “kinsman” of Paul, by which Paul means a Jew (Rom 9:3; Rom 16:11, Rom 16:21). It is the same name as SOPATER (which see). “Sopater of Berea” was one of the companions of Paul on his journey from Philippi after his 3rd missionary journey (Act 20:4). These two are probably the same person, Paul having with him in Corinth, at the time of writing to the Roman Christians, the two Macedonians, Sopater of Berea and Jason of Thessalonica. The name Sosipater is found on a list of politarchs of Thessalonica.

(Óùóßðáôñïò, a Greek name)

Sosipater is one of three men, Lucius and Jason being the others, who send salutations in Rom_16:21 and are described by St. Paul as ‘my kinsmen’ (ïἱ óõããåíåῖò ìïõ), i.e. fellow-Jews (cf. Andronicus and Junia(s), Rom_16:7, Herodion, Rom_16:11). It is possible that Jason (q.v. [Note: .v. quod vide, which see.] ) is identical with Jason of Act_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 Act_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 (Act_20:23), the personal greeting of the amanuensis being interposed (Act_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.

(Romans 16)

- The third Jewish Christian listed after Lucius and Jason. He was probably from Corinth. Shortly, in Acts 20:4, a Sopater of Berea is one of Paul’s companions on his return journey from Greece (Corinth) to Jerusalem. Sosipater and Sopater may be the same man