Faithful Service: Σώπατρος (Strong’s G4986: Sópatros) Exemplifies Missionary Partnership

Strong’s G4986: From sós (safe) and patér (father), Σώπατρος was a Berean Christian who accompanied Paul on his missionary journey. His name and service demonstrate the multicultural nature of early church leadership and mission work.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σώπατρος represents the diverse leadership that emerged in the early church. As a Berean believer who joined Paul’s missionary team, he exemplifies how the Gospel transcended cultural boundaries. His name combines Greek elements suggesting “safe father” or “saving father,” though he’s best known for his faithful service. The early church saw in his example the importance of cross-cultural partnership in ministry. Today, he reminds us of the vital role of multicultural leadership in Gospel advancement.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Σώπατρος, Sópatros, /sō’-pä-tros/
• Pronunciation Guide: “SOH-pah-tros” (stress on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• σῶς (sós) – safe, sound
• πατήρ (patér) – father
• -ος (-os) – masculine noun ending

D – Defining Meanings

• Safe father
• Saving father
• Father of salvation

Translation Options:

• “Sopater” – Traditional English rendering
• “Sopatros” – Transliteration of Greek
• “Sopater of Berea” – Full biblical designation

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Σωσίπατρος (Sósipatros) /sō-sē’-pä-tros/ – possibly same person – See G4988
• Πατρόβας (Patrobas) /pä-tro’-bäs/ – another compound name with “father” – See G3969
• Πατήρ (Patér) /pä-tār’/ – father – See G3962

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a proper noun, Σώπατρος exhibits:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second

Examples:

• Nominative: Σώπατρος (Sopater)
• Genitive: Σωπάτρου (of Sopater)
• Dative: Σωπάτρῳ (to/for Sopater)
• Accusative: Σώπατρον (Sopater as object)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies him as a Berean companion of Paul. Thayer’s notes possible connection with Sosipater. LSJ documents the name’s use in Greek culture. Vine’s connects him to the Berean church. Strong’s emphasizes the name’s compound nature. Moulton and Milligan note its occurrence in inscriptions.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 20:4: “He was accompanied by [Σώπατρος] Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.”

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σώπατρος exemplifies the multicultural nature of early Christian ministry. His story proclaims the good news that the Messiah’s Gospel unites people across cultural boundaries in common mission, demonstrating how diverse leadership strengthens the church’s witness.

D – Did You Know?

• He was specifically identified as “son of Pyrrhus,” suggesting prominence
• He represented the Berean church in Paul’s mission team
• Some scholars identify him with Sosipater mentioned in Romans 16:21

Strong’s G4986: From sós (safe) and patér (father), Σώπατρος was a Berean Christian who accompanied Paul on his missionary journey. His name and service demonstrate the multicultural nature of early church leadership and mission work.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: Berean believers, Paul’s companions, missionary teams, multicultural ministry, Acts 20, church leadership, early church, Gentile converts, mission partnerships, cultural diversity​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​