Sosthenes
“Savior of his nation”
Summary
A ruler of the synagogue at Corinth who was beaten before Gallio's judgment seat, possibly the same man later associated with Paul.
☩The Incident at Corinth
Sosthenes was the ruler of the synagogue at Corinth when the Jews brought Paul before the proconsul Gallio, charging him with teaching contrary to the law. When Gallio dismissed the case, refusing to judge religious disputes, the crowd seized Sosthenes and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio 'cared for none of these things,' refusing to intervene.
☩Who Beat Him?
There is debate over who attacked Sosthenes. Some believe it was the Greeks who, seeing Gallio's contempt for the Jewish accusers, took advantage of the situation to show their own disdain for the Jews. Others suggest the Jews themselves beat their own leader in frustration over their failed prosecution. Sosthenes had apparently replaced Crispus as synagogue ruler after Crispus converted to Christianity.
☩Later Christian?
A Sosthenes appears in 1 Corinthians as Paul's co-sender of the letter. Many believe this is the same man, suggesting that the former synagogue ruler later became a Christian—perhaps converted through Paul's compassion shown after the beating. If so, his story parallels Paul's own transformation from persecutor to apostle.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sosthenes," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Sosthenes," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sosthenes," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).