Ἀπελλῆς
Apelles
Definition
Apelles is a personal name, referring to a specific Christian man in Rome greeted by Paul in his letter to the Romans. The name itself is of Greek origin and was relatively common in the Greco-Roman world. In the biblical context, Apelles is identified as a fellow believer whom Paul describes as 'approved in Christ' (Romans 16:10). This single reference provides the entirety of the biblical data about him, and the name carries no other distinct meanings or senses within the New Testament.
Biblical Usage
The word Ἀπελλῆς is used only once in the New Testament, in Romans 16:10. It functions strictly as a proper noun, identifying an individual within a list of personal greetings from Paul to members of the church in Rome. There are no patterns of usage, as it occurs in this single, specific context of commending and acknowledging fellow Christians.
Etymology
The name Apelles is of Greek origin, likely derived from the root 'pellēs', though its exact meaning is uncertain. It is not a compound of ἀ- (a negative prefix) as sometimes suggested; that is a folk etymology. The name was borne by the famous Greek painter Apelles of Kos, indicating it was a known personal name in the Hellenistic world, adopted by individuals like this Christian in Rome.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its context in Romans 16:10 is significant. Paul's description of Apelles as 'approved in Christ' (τὸν δόκιμον ἐν Χριστῷ) highlights the New Testament theme of testing and proving genuine faith. This commendation suggests a believer of proven character and steadfastness, embodying the ideal of a faithful witness within the early Christian community.
As a personal name, 'Apelles' was part of the common onomastic (naming) pool of the Greco-Roman world. Its use by a Christian in Rome reflects the cultural integration of the early church, where believers retained their given names while their primary identity became 'in Christ.' The name carries no specific cultural or religious baggage distinct from its use as an identifier for an individual.
There are no direct synonyms, as it is a proper name. Other commended individuals in Romans 16 share a similar role: Ampliatus (G291) — another greeted believer; Urbanus (G3773) — a fellow worker; Stachys (G4720) — a beloved friend.
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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