Brief Overview of πολιτάρχης (Strong’s G4173: politarchēs)

Strong’s G4173: A compound noun meaning “city ruler” or “magistrate,” specifically referring to civil authorities in Macedonian cities. The term combines “city” (polis) and “ruler” (archōn), describing officials who maintained civic order and administered justice in cities like Thessalonica.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πολιτάρχης represents a specific type of civil authority in Macedonian cities during the New Testament period. As a compound word combining “city” and “ruler,” it accurately describes local government officials who maintained order and administered justice. Its appearance in Acts demonstrates Luke’s historical accuracy in describing local governance structures. The early church recognized these officials as legitimate civil authorities to whom Christians owed appropriate respect while maintaining ultimate allegiance to Christ.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πολιτάρχης, politarchēs, /pol-it-ar’-khace/
• Detailed Pronunciation: p (plosive) + ol (syllable) + it (syllable) + ar (syllable) + khace (final syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Component 1: πόλις (polis) – “city”
• Component 2: ἄρχω (archō) – “to rule”
• Function: Creates a compound noun indicating a city ruler

D – Defining Meanings

• City ruler
• City magistrate
• Municipal authority
• Civil governor

For compound words:
πόλις provides the sphere of authority (city), while ἄρχω indicates the function of ruling/governing

Translation Options:

• City magistrate – Best captures official role
• City ruler – Emphasizes authority aspect
• Municipal official – Highlights civic function

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἄρχων (archōn) /ar’-khone/ – refers to a ruler in general – See G758
• στρατηγός (stratēgos) /strat-ay-gos’/ – refers to a military commander – See G4755
• ἡγεμών (hēgemōn) /hayg-em-ohn’/ – refers to a governor – See G2232

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

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

Examples:
Singular:

• Nominative: πολιτάρχης
• Genitive: πολιτάρχου
• Dative: πολιτάρχῃ
• Accusative: πολιτάρχην

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its specific Macedonian context. Thayer’s notes its administrative function. LSJ traces its usage in civic contexts. Vine’s highlights its historical accuracy. Strong’s connects it to civil authority. Moulton and Milligan document its confirmation in inscriptions.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Acts 17:6: “And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities [πολιτάρχας], crying out, ‘These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.'”

Additional References:
Acts 17:8

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πολιτάρχης demonstrates how the gospel encountered and interacted with civic authorities, reminding us that the message of Jesus Christ impacts all levels of society. It proclaims the good news that while we respect earthly authorities, our ultimate citizenship and allegiance belong to Christ’s kingdom.

D – Did You Know?

1. Archaeological inscriptions confirm Luke’s accurate use of this title
2. The term appears only in Acts and specifically in Macedonia
3. It provides important evidence for the historical reliability of Acts

Strong’s G4173: A compound noun meaning “city ruler” or “magistrate,” specifically referring to civil authorities in Macedonian cities. The term combines “city” (polis) and “ruler” (archōn), describing officials who maintained civic order and administered justice in cities like Thessalonica.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: magistrate, city ruler, civil authority, Macedonian government, Thessalonica, Acts, civic leadership, municipal authority, Biblical Greek, New Testament terminology, historical accuracy, archaeology​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​