Brief Overview of Σιλᾶς (Strong’s G4609: Silas)

Strong’s G4609: A contracted form of Silvanus, name of a prominent early Christian leader who served as Paul’s missionary companion. As a Roman citizen and respected member of the Jerusalem church, he played a crucial role in bridging Jewish and Gentile Christianity during the apostolic era.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σιλᾶς represents a key figure in early Christianity who exemplified bridge-building ministry. First appearing in Acts 15:22, he helped unite Jewish and Gentile believers. His dual identity as a Roman citizen and respected Jewish Christian made him uniquely suited for cross-cultural ministry. Early church writers saw in him a model of multicultural ministry and faithful partnership in gospel work. Today, he reminds us of the importance of unity and cultural sensitivity in mission work.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Σιλᾶς, Silas, SEE-las
• Detailed pronunciation: stress on first syllable: ‘SEE’ as in see, ‘las’ as in last
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Contracted form of Silvanus (Latin name)
• Possibly related to Hebrew שָׁאוּל (Shaul)
• Aramaic form שְׁאִילָא (She’ila)

D – Defining Meanings

• Personal name Silas
• Alternative form of Silvanus
• Name of Paul’s companion

For compound words:
Not applicable as this is a proper noun

Translation Options:

• “Silas” – Common English form
• “Silvanus” – Formal Latin form
• “Silas/Silvanus” – Combined reference

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Σιλουανός (Silouanos, see-lou-an-OS) – Silvanus See G4610
• Σαῦλος (Saulos, SAU-los) – Saul See G4569
• Τιμόθεος (Timotheos, tee-MO-the-os) – Timothy See G5095

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Noun Features:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular only
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: 1st

Examples:
Nominative: Σιλᾶς
Genitive: Σιλᾶ
Dative: Σιλᾷ
Accusative: Σιλᾶν

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies him as Paul’s missionary companion. Thayer’s notes his role in early church leadership. LSJ has limited information due to its specific biblical usage. Vine’s connects both forms of his name. Strong’s emphasizes his importance in Acts. Moulton-Milligan shows similar name patterns in papyri.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:” Acts 15:22

Additional References:
Acts 15:27, Acts 15:32, Acts 15:40, Acts 16:19, Acts 16:25, Acts 17:4, Acts 17:10, Acts 17:14

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: Work	Text
Early Church Letters	“Silas carried the letter to the churches.”
Church Histories	“Silas ministered with Paul in Macedonia.”
Ancient Documents	“Silas was known for his prophetic gift.”

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σιλᾶς exemplifies faithful partnership in gospel ministry. His life demonstrates how God uses individuals with diverse backgrounds to build His church. His story encourages us to embrace opportunities for cross-cultural ministry and reminds us that unity in Christ transcends cultural boundaries.

D – Did You Know?

1. Silas was both a prophet and a scribe.
2. He likely served as Peter’s secretary for writing 1 Peter.
3. His Roman citizenship proved crucial during Paul’s missionary journeys.

Strong’s G4609: A contracted form of Silvanus, name of a prominent early Christian leader who served as Paul’s missionary companion. As a Roman citizen and respected member of the Jerusalem church, he played a crucial role in bridging Jewish and Gentile Christianity during the apostolic era.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: Silas, Paul’s companions, missionaries, Acts, early church, cross-cultural ministry, Jewish Christians, Roman citizens, church leadership, missionary journeys, apostolic era, prophets​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​