Lexical Summary Ourbanos: Urbanus Original Word: Οὐρβανός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Urbanus. Of Latin origin; Urbanus (of the city, "urbane"), a Christian -- Urbanus. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin (of the city, polished, etc.) Definition Urbanus, a Christian NASB Translation Urbanus (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3773: ΟὐρβανόςΟὐρβανός, Ὀυρβανου, ὁ (a Latin name; cf. Lightfoot on Philip., p. 174), Urbanus, a certain Christian: Romans 16:9. Topical Lexicon Name and Cultural Background Urbanus bears a distinctly Latin name meaning “city-bred” or “of the city.” The presence of such a name in the Roman congregation fits the social mosaic of the first-century capital, where slaves, freedmen, and immigrants from every corner of the Empire worshiped side by side. The name points to either a Roman birth or, more likely, a freedman status, for Latin names were often adopted at manumission. His Greek form (Οὐρβανὸς) appears only once, yet that single mention opens a window onto the cosmopolitan character of the early church. Biblical Occurrence Romans 16:9: “Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.” Role in Paul’s Ministry 1. Fellow Worker: Paul’s use of “our fellow worker” (συνεργὸς ἡμῶν) places Urbanus in the circle of laborers who advanced the gospel through teaching, hospitality, financial support, or administrative help. The plural pronoun “our” suggests recognition not merely by Paul but by the wider missionary team. Patterns of Fellowship in Romans 16 • Commendation rather than command: Paul does not direct Urbanus but honors him, reinforcing servant-leadership. Historical Traditions After the New Testament Early patristic lists of the Seventy sometimes include Urbanus, grouping him with other names from Romans 16 such as Amplias and Stachys. Later martyrologies claim he became bishop in Macedonia and suffered under Emperor Trajan. While these accounts arise centuries after Paul and cannot be verified from Scripture, they testify to the high regard in which his memory was held. Theological and Practical Lessons • Every believer’s labor matters: a single verse immortalizes Urbanus as co-laborer with an apostle, encouraging ordinary Christians that none serve unnoticed. Thus, Strong’s Greek 3773 introduces us to more than a name; it introduces a pattern of partnership, humility, and cultural inclusiveness that marks authentic New Testament ministry. Forms and Transliterations Ουρβανον Οὐρβανὸν ουρούντα ουρών Ourbanon OurbanònLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |