Fortunatus
Summary
A Christian from Corinth who, along with Stephanas and Achaicus, visited Paul at Ephesus and refreshed the apostle's spirit, likely returning with the first epistle to the Corinthians.
☩Visit to Paul
Fortunatus was a disciple of Corinth, of Roman birth or origin as his name indicates, who visited Paul at Ephesus around AD 54. Along with Stephanas and Achaicus, he was an ambassador of the Corinthian church whose presence refreshed the spirit of the apostle. These three men likely returned to Corinth carrying Paul's first epistle to that church.
☩Identity and Associations
The name Fortunatus means 'blessed' or 'fortunate' in Latin. Fortunatus and Achaicus may have been members of the household of Stephanas, whom Paul himself had baptized. It seems unlikely that all three deputies belonged to one household or were all slaves. Some have supposed these were 'they which are of the house of Chloe,' but the language of 1 Corinthians 16 makes this improbable.
☩Later Mention
A Fortunatus is mentioned at the end of Clement's first Epistle to the Corinthians as accompanying messengers from Rome to Corinth, distinguished from them. This may possibly have been the same person as Paul's associate, though the name was common enough to make certain identification impossible. If identical, this would place him as an active church servant spanning several decades of early Christianity.
Related Verses1 mention
1 Corinthians· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Fortunatus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Fortunatus," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Fortunatus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Fortunatus," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 5.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Fortunatus," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).