Νικόπολις

Nicopolis

Definition

Νικόπολις (Nicopolis) refers to a specific city in the Roman Empire, meaning 'City of Victory'. In the New Testament, it is mentioned only in Titus 3:12 as the place where the Apostle Paul planned to spend the winter. Historically, there were several cities named Nicopolis in the Roman world, but the biblical reference is almost certainly to the prominent city in the province of Epirus (western Greece), founded by Emperor Augustus to commemorate his naval victory at Actium. This city served as a significant administrative and cultural center in the region.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Titus 3:12. Paul instructs Titus to join him there after sending Artemas or Tychicus to Crete. The usage is purely geographical, identifying Paul's intended winter residence and a point for ministry coordination. It provides a specific historical anchor for Paul's travels during his later ministry.

Etymology

The word is a compound of two Greek roots: νίκη (nikē, G3529), meaning 'victory', and πόλις (polis, G4172), meaning 'city'. Thus, it literally translates to 'City of Victory'. Such names were commonly given to cities founded to commemorate military triumphs in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Semantic Range

Nicopolis in Epirus was a Roman colony founded by Emperor Augustus around 31 BC after his decisive victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium nearby. As a 'victory city', it was a symbol of Roman imperial power and peace (Pax Romana). Its population included Roman veterans and local inhabitants. Paul's choice to winter there (Titus 3:12) suggests it was a well-connected, strategic location for his missionary work, possibly serving as a hub for outreach to both the western Greek mainland and regions across the Adriatic.

πόλις (polis, G4172) — The general Greek word for 'city', of which Νικόπολις is a specific compound form.

Word Details

Scripture References