Φορτουνᾶτος

Phortounâtos

G5415 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A personal name meaning 'fortunate' or 'prosperous.' In the New Testament, Φορτουνᾶτος refers to an individual associated with the early assemblies of followers of Jesus, specifically noted in Paul's correspondence. The name carries a sense of being considered lucky or favored by fortune, reflecting a common Roman naming practice rather than serving as a descriptive label.

Semantic Range

fortunate, lucky, prosperous; personal name

Root / Etymology

From the Latin name Fortunatus, itself derived from 'fortuna' (fortune, luck), ultimately from the root 'fors' (chance, luck). It is not of native Greek origin, though the Greek form is adapted with the ending -ᾶτος.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Φορτουνᾶτος is found in the Greek New Testament only in 1 Corinthians 16:17, where it refers to a member of the Corinthian community visiting Paul. The name was widely used across the Roman Empire for both slaves and freedmen, testifying to its Latin origin and the permeability of names across linguistic and cultural boundaries in the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. There is no inherent religious, ethnic, or theological significance to the name itself; its usage in this biblical context reflects the cosmopolitan character of the early assemblies. English translations typically transfer the name directly (Fortunatus), but the original audience might have understood it as 'the fortunate one.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Latin origin; "fortunate"; Fortunatus, a Christian:--Fortunatus.

Root Family

Φορτουνᾶτος (Phortounatos) — fortune, luck, prosperity

Root φορτουν- fortune, luck, prosperity

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5415-01 Φορτουνάτου phortounatou N GEN M SG Fortunatus of Fortunate Phortounatos 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5415-01 1 Corinthians 16:17 Φορτουνάτου phortounatou N GEN M SG Fortunatus of Fortunate Phortounatos