Μίλητος
Miletus
Definition
Μίλητος (Miletus) refers to a significant coastal city in the Roman province of Asia, located near the mouth of the Maeander River. In the New Testament, it is mentioned exclusively as a geographical location where the apostle Paul stopped during his missionary journeys. The city served as a major port and a center of commerce and culture in the ancient world. All biblical references (Acts 20:15, Acts 20:17, 2 Timothy 4:20) consistently use the name to denote this specific city, with no differing symbolic or metaphorical meanings.
Biblical Usage
The word Μίλητος is used three times in the New Testament, all as a proper noun identifying the city. In Acts 20:15-17, Paul stops at Miletus on his journey to Jerusalem and summons the elders from the nearby church in Ephesus to give them a farewell address. In 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul mentions leaving a co-worker named Trophimus sick in Miletus, indicating it was a point along his travels. The usage is purely geographical, marking a location of pastoral activity and travel within the narrative of Acts and the Pauline epistles.
Etymology
The name Μίλητος is of Greek origin, derived directly from the ancient city's name. It is not derived from a common Greek root word with a broader meaning; it is a proper toponym (place-name). The city itself was historically a prominent Ionian Greek settlement.
Semantic Range
In the 1st century, Miletus was a prosperous and influential port city in Asia Minor, known for its grand harbor, theater, and temples. Its location made it a key hub for travel and trade between the Aegean coast and the interior of Asia. Understanding Miletus as a major urban center helps modern readers appreciate the strategic nature of Paul's missionary travels, as he engaged with significant population and cultural centers. The city's decline due to the silting of its harbor is a post-biblical development.
Ἔφεσος (Ephesos, G2181) — A major city also in Asia Minor, located north of Miletus, where Paul ministered extensively.
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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