Ἀρτεμᾶς
Artemas
Definition
Artemas is a personal name of a Christian man mentioned only once in the New Testament. In Titus 3:12, the Apostle Paul writes to Titus, stating, 'When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.' This indicates Artemas was a trusted companion and coworker of Paul, likely being sent on a mission to relieve Titus in Crete so that Titus could join Paul. The name itself carries no inherent theological meaning but identifies a specific individual within the early church network.
Biblical Usage
The name Artemas is used only once in the New Testament, in Titus 3:12. It is used in the context of apostolic mission and logistics. Paul mentions Artemas alongside Tychicus as a potential emissary, showing he was considered a reliable and capable fellow worker who could be entrusted with leadership responsibilities in the early Christian communities.
Etymology
The name Ἀρτεμᾶς (Artemas) is a shortened or derived form related to the name of the Greek goddess Artemis. It is likely a theophoric name, meaning 'gift of Artemis' or 'devoted to Artemis,' similar to how names like 'Theodore' mean 'gift of God.' Despite its pagan origins, it was borne by a Christian, a common occurrence in the early church where converts retained their given names.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, Artemas as an individual represents the practical, relational network of the early church. His mention highlights themes of Christian partnership, delegation of ministry (2 Timothy 2:2), and the trusted fellowship that supported the spread of the gospel. Understanding that he was a real person with a pagan-derived name enriches reading by connecting the biblical narrative to the concrete social world of the first century.
In the Greco-Roman world, names derived from deities like Artemis were very common. A man bearing this name converting to Christianity illustrates the church's penetration into ordinary pagan society. There is no significant difference in understanding the name itself, but its presence in Scripture shows the early Christians came from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, yet were integrated into a new community in Christ.
Τυχικός (Tychikos, G5190) — Another trusted fellow worker and messenger of Paul, mentioned alongside Artemas as an alternative envoy in Titus 3:12.
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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