The Greek word ἀνθύπατος (anthypatos) is a noun that translates to “proconsul” in English. It denotes a high-ranking Roman official who governed a province, particularly in the early Roman Empire. The term was used for a senior magistrate or governor who had authority over a specific region or province.

Detailed Overview

1. Strong’s Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀνθύπατος (G446) as “proconsul,” a title used for a high-ranking Roman official. In the Roman administrative system, a proconsul was a governor appointed to manage a province, particularly one that had previously been under the jurisdiction of a consul.
2. Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon: BDAG provides a more detailed explanation, noting that ἀνθύπατος refers to a “proconsul,” a Roman official who held significant administrative and judicial powers in a province. BDAG highlights the role of the proconsul as one who governed regions with considerable authority, and mentions that the title was used in the early Empire for officials who governed provinces.
3. Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon: LSJ similarly defines ἀνθύπατος as “proconsul,” describing it as a title for high-ranking officials in the Roman Empire who administered provinces. LSJ emphasizes the administrative and political authority associated with this role, noting its prominence in the Roman governance structure.
4. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon: Thayer’s also corroborates the definition of ἀνθύπατος as “proconsul,” describing it as a title for a high-ranking Roman official responsible for governing a province. Thayer’s provides historical context, noting that the term was used to refer to the highest-ranking magistrate in a province during the early Roman Empire.

In summary, ἀνθύπατος refers to a “proconsul,” a key administrative role in the Roman Empire with significant governing and judicial responsibilities. This definition is consistently supported by Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, LSJ, and Thayer’s, reflecting its importance in the Roman political and administrative system.