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Ἀπολλῶς

Apollōs

G625 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Apollos, a personal name used in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, referring to an individual in the New Testament. The name does not carry an inherent lexical meaning beyond being a proper noun, denoting a man known in early Christ-groups for his eloquence and scriptural knowledge. Primarily, the name designates a specific Alexandrian Judean teacher active in the mid-first century CE.

Semantic Range

personal name, especially for a Hellenistic Judean male; no abstract or common noun meanings

Root / Etymology

The name derives from the Greek Ἀπολλώς (Apollōs), which is a contracted or diminutive form of Ἀπολλώνιος (Apollōnios, 'of Apollo') or Ἀπολλώνιδης (Apollōnidēs, 'son/descendant of Apollo'). These names are rooted in the theonym Ἀπόλλων (Apollo), the Greek god of prophecy, music, and light. It is thus a typically Hellenistic personal name. There is no evidence that Ἀπολλῶς is a Hebrew or Israelite-origin name; it is of Greek origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the classical and Hellenistic periods, names derived from gods, especially Apollo, were common across the Greek-speaking world, including among peoples outside ethno-Greek origins. In the New Testament (primarily Acts and 1 Corinthians), Ἀπολλῶς refers to an Alexandrian Judean (see Acts 18:24-28), skilled in rhetoric and 'mighty in the scriptures.' The frequent modern rendering 'Apollos, a Jew' translates Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios), but more accurately reflects a Judean or Judean-background individual. The name's Greek roots suggest either birth among Hellenized Judeans or the adoption of Greek names among diaspora communities. The use of 'Apollos' in the New Testament does not imply a connection with the pagan god Apollo, but reflects common Hellenistic naming patterns. English Bibles universally transliterate the name as 'Apollos,' potentially obscuring its Greek cultural associations. There are no significant semantic shifts, as the name remained a personal proper noun.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from the same as Ἀπολλωνία; Apollos, an Israelite:--Apollos.

Root Family

Ἀπολλῶς (Apollōs) — personal name, derived from Apollo, proper noun

Root Ἀπολλω- personal name, derived from Apollo, proper noun

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G625-03 Ἀπολλῶς apollos N NOM M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos 4
G625-01 Ἀπολλῶ apollo N ACC M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos 4
G625-02 Ἀπολλῶν apollon N ACC M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos 2

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G625-03 Acts 18:24 Ἀπολλῶς apollos N NOM M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-01 Acts 19:1 Ἀπολλῶ apollo N ACC M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-01 1 Corinthians 1:12 Ἀπολλῶ apollo N GEN M SG of Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-01 1 Corinthians 3:4 Ἀπολλῶ apollo N GEN M SG of Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-03 1 Corinthians 3:5 Ἀπολλῶς apollos N NOM M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-03 1 Corinthians 3:6 Ἀπολλῶς apollos N NOM M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-03 1 Corinthians 3:22 Ἀπολλῶς apollos N NOM M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-02 1 Corinthians 4:6 Ἀπολλῶν apollon N ACC M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-01 1 Corinthians 16:12 Ἀπολλῶ apollo N GEN M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos
G625-02 Titus 3:13 Ἀπολλῶν apollon N ACC M SG Apollos Apollos Apollos
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