Σεκοῦνδος
Secundus
Definition
Secundus is a proper name meaning 'second' or 'following,' derived from the Latin 'Secundus.' In the New Testament, it refers specifically to a Christian man from Thessalonica. He is mentioned only once, in Acts 20:4, as one of the companions traveling with the apostle Paul from Greece to Asia Minor. The name itself, while a personal identifier, carries the simple meaning of 'second' in order or sequence.
Biblical Usage
The word Σεκοῦνδος is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 20:4. It functions strictly as a proper name identifying an individual. Secundus is listed among the group of believers, including Aristarchus and Gaius, who accompanied Paul on his journey, likely to deliver the collection for the saints in Jerusalem. Its usage is purely for personal identification within a travel narrative.
Etymology
Σεκοῦνδος (Sekoundos) is a direct borrowing from the Latin name 'Secundus,' meaning 'second,' 'following,' or 'favorable.' It entered Koine Greek as a common personal name in the Roman era. The name is related to the Latin ordinal number 'secundus,' indicating sequence.
Semantic Range
In the Greco-Roman world, 'Secundus' was a common Roman praenomen (first name) or cognomen (family name), often given to a second-born son. Its presence in Acts 20:4 reflects the multicultural nature of the early church, where individuals with Latin names were integrated into a primarily Greek-speaking Christian community. This highlights the church's reach beyond Jewish circles into the Roman world.
Δεύτερος (deuteros, G1208) — The standard Greek adjective for 'second,' used for sequence or rank, not as a personal name.
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.
Full methodology & sources →