Faithful Service: Φορτουνᾶτος (Strong’s G5415: Phortounatos) Embodies Early Christian Leadership

Strong’s G5415: A Latinized Greek name meaning “fortunate” or “prosperous,” Φορτουνᾶτος was a prominent early Christian from Corinth. His name appears in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, where he is mentioned as a faithful messenger and worker who refreshed Paul’s spirit along with others.

U – Unveiling the Word

Φορτουνᾶτος represents an interesting intersection of Roman and Greek Christian culture in the early church. As a Latinized Greek name derived from the Latin “Fortunatus,” it reflects the multicultural nature of early Christianity in Corinth. The name literally means “fortunate” or “blessed by fortune,” though in Christian context it took on deeper spiritual significance. This individual played a crucial role in the Corinthian church, being mentioned by Paul as someone who, along with others, refreshed his spirit. His name’s appearance in 1 Corinthians demonstrates how early Christianity incorporated believers from various cultural backgrounds, working together in unity. Today, this name serves as a reminder of how the early church bridged cultural divides and how individuals from diverse backgrounds contributed to the spread of the gospel.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Φορτουνᾶτος, Phortounatos, /for-too-NAH-tos/
• Detailed pronunciation: fohr-too-NAH-tohs (stress on third syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Latin name “Fortunatus” Hellenized into Greek
• From Latin “fortuna” meaning “fortune, luck, prosperity”
• -τος (-tos) Greek nominal suffix adapting the Latin “-tus” ending

D – Defining Meanings

• Fortunate one
• Blessed by fortune
• Prosperous person

For compound words: Not a compound word, but a Latinized Greek adaptation

Translation Options:

• “Fortunatus” – preserves the original Latin form
• “Fortunate” – captures the meaning in English
• “The blessed one” – reflects the spiritual connotation in Christian context

E – Exploring Similar Words

• μακάριος (makarios, mak-AR-ee-os) – blessed, fortunate See G3107
• εὐλογητός (eulogetos, yoo-log-ay-TOS) – blessed, praised See G2128
• εὐτυχής (eutuches, yoo-too-KHEES) – fortunate, successful (not in NT)

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Nominative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second

As a proper noun, it follows standard second declension patterns:

• Nominative: Φορτουνᾶτος
• Genitive: Φορτουνᾶτου
• Dative: Φορτουνᾶτῳ
• Accusative: Φορτουνᾶτον

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexical sources provide interesting insights into Φορτουνᾶτος. BDAG notes his role as a member of the Corinthian church who visited Paul in Ephesus. Thayer’s emphasizes the Latin origin of the name and its significance in early Christian communities. LSJ provides context for how such Latinized names were common in Hellenistic Greek, especially in cosmopolitan cities like Corinth. Vine’s discusses how the name reflects the multicultural nature of early Christianity. Strong’s connects it to the concept of divine blessing, while Moulton and Milligan cite evidence of the name’s usage in contemporary papyri, showing it was a relatively common name in the Greco-Roman world of the first century.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“I am glad of the coming of [Φορτουνᾶτος] Fortunatus and Achaicus and Stephanas: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.” 1 Corinthians 16:17

Additional References:
1 Corinthians 16:24

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Φορτουνᾶτος stands as a testament to the diverse and inclusive nature of early Christianity. As a bearer of a Latinized Greek name serving in the predominantly Greek city of Corinth, he represents how the gospel transcended cultural and ethnic boundaries. His faithful service to Paul and the church demonstrates that true fortune or blessing in Christian context comes through serving others. The good news shines through his example – in Christ, people from all backgrounds can come together in unity and service, finding their true fortune not in worldly prosperity but in spiritual blessing through faithful ministry.

D – Did You Know?

• The name was common among freed slaves in the Roman Empire
• It appears in early Christian inscriptions in Roman catacombs
• The name influenced later Christian naming practices in both East and West

Strong’s G5415: A Latinized Greek name meaning “fortunate,” Φορτουνᾶτος was a prominent early Christian from Corinth who, along with others, brought refreshment to Paul’s spirit. His name represents the multicultural nature of early Christianity and the faithful service of early church members.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: Corinthian church, early Christians, Paul’s companions, Latin names, Greek converts, church leadership, spiritual refreshment, multicultural church, faithful service, Christian unity​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​