Ἀντίπας
Antipas
Definition
Antipas is a proper name referring to a specific individual mentioned in the New Testament. He is identified as a faithful Christian witness who was martyred in the city of Pergamum. The text in Revelation 2:13 explicitly calls him 'my faithful witness' and states he was killed for his faith, highlighting his role as an early martyr. This single biblical reference provides his entire scriptural identity, with no other meanings or individuals by this name appearing in the Bible.
Biblical Usage
The name Antipas is used only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 2:13. It is used in the context of Christ's message to the church in Pergamum, where Antipas is presented as a positive example of faithfulness unto death. The usage is purely referential, identifying a specific historical martyr within a specific local church context.
Etymology
The name Ἀντίπας (Antipas) is likely a shortened or familiar form of a longer Greek name like Antipatros (Ἀντίπατρος), meaning 'like the father' or 'in place of the father.' It is a compound of ἀντί (anti), meaning 'against,' 'in place of,' or 'comparable to,' and a root derived from πατήρ (patēr), meaning 'father.' The provided etymology in the existing data (from ἀ- meaning 'not') is incorrect for this proper name.
Semantic Range
Antipas is significant theologically as a concrete example of Christian martyrdom and faithful witness (μάρτυς, martys, G3144) in the early church. His example is held up by Christ Himself to encourage the persecuted church in Pergamum to remain steadfast. Understanding that he was a real person enriches the reading of Revelation by grounding its apocalyptic visions in the historical reality of suffering and loyalty faced by the first believers.
In the 1st-century Roman world, bearing witness to Christ could result in execution, as Pergamum was a major center of imperial cult worship. The name Antipas itself was a common Greek personal name, but in this context, it is forever associated with a believer who refused to compromise his faith despite cultural and political pressure. His martyrdom illustrates the severe cost of discipleship in a hostile environment.
μάρτυς (martys, G3144) — A general term for 'witness,' which can refer to one who testifies or, in context like Revelation 2:13, specifically to a martyr.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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