Urbane
Summary
A Christian at Rome whom Paul greeted as a fellow worker in Christ in his letter to the Romans.
☩Paul's Greeting
Urbane, more properly rendered Urban or Urbanus, was a Christian residing at Rome whom Paul saluted in his epistle to the Romans. Paul describes him as 'our fellow worker in Christ,' using the same designation he applied to other close associates like Prisca and Aquila, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. The term 'fellow worker' (Greek: synergos) was Paul's most common designation for those who labored alongside him in gospel ministry.
☩Background
The name Urbanus is Latin, meaning 'of the city' or 'urbane,' and was common among slaves, appearing frequently in inscriptions of the Imperial household. Nothing further is known about the specific nature of Urbane's work, but his inclusion in Paul's greetings indicates he was well known to the Roman church and had assisted in missionary labors in a manner familiar to the epistle's readers.
Related Verses1 mention
Romans· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Urbane," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Urbanus," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.George Morrish, "Urbane," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Urbane," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).