Urbanus
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Topical Encyclopedia
Urbanus is a biblical figure mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Romans. His name appears in Romans 16:9, where Paul extends greetings to him: "Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys" . This brief mention places Urbanus among the early Christian community in Rome, highlighting his role as a collaborator in the ministry of the Gospel.

Role and Significance

Urbanus is described as a "fellow worker in Christ," indicating that he was actively involved in the missionary and evangelistic efforts of the early Church. The term "fellow worker" suggests a close partnership with Paul and possibly other leaders in the Christian community. This designation underscores the collaborative nature of early Christian ministry, where individuals like Urbanus played crucial roles in spreading the message of Christ and supporting the nascent Church.

Context in Romans 16

Romans 16 is a chapter rich with personal greetings and commendations, providing a glimpse into the network of relationships that underpinned the early Church. Paul's mention of Urbanus, along with others, reflects the diverse and interconnected community of believers in Rome. This chapter serves as a testament to the communal and relational aspects of early Christianity, where personal connections and mutual support were vital for the growth and sustenance of the faith.

Cultural and Historical Background

The name Urbanus is of Latin origin, meaning "of the city" or "urban." This suggests that Urbanus may have been a Roman citizen or someone with strong ties to the urban environment of Rome. The presence of a Roman name in the list of greetings in Romans 16 highlights the multicultural and multiethnic composition of the early Church, which included Jews and Gentiles from various backgrounds.

Theological Implications

Urbanus's inclusion in Paul's greetings emphasizes the importance of every member in the body of Christ, regardless of their prominence or the extent of their recorded contributions. The acknowledgment of Urbanus as a "fellow worker" reflects the New Testament's teaching on the priesthood of all believers, where each individual has a role to play in the mission of the Church. This principle is echoed in passages such as 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul describes the Church as one body with many parts, each essential to its function.

Legacy

While little is known about Urbanus beyond this brief mention, his legacy endures as a representative of the countless unnamed and unsung heroes of the early Church. His example encourages believers to faithfully serve in whatever capacity they are called, trusting that their labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Urbanus's mention in the Scriptures serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of those who work diligently and humbly for the cause of Christ.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Urbanus

the form given in the Revised Version for Urbane.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
URBANUS

ur-ba'-nus (Ourbanos; the King James Version Urbane): A common slave name. Gifford says that it is found "as here, in juxtaposition with Ampliatus, in a list of imperial freedmen, on an inscription, 115 A.D." He was a member of the Christian community at Rome to whom Paul sent greetings. Paul calls him "our fellow-worker in Christ" (Romans 16:9). "The `our' (as opposed to `my,' Romans 16:3) seems to suggest that all Christian workers had a common helper in Urbanus" (Denney).

Greek
3773. Ourbanos -- Urbanus, a Christian
... Urbanus, a Christian. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Ourbanos
Phonetic Spelling: (oor-ban-os') Short Definition: Urbanus Definition: Urbanus ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3773.htm - 6k
Library

To Urbanus.
... Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, LXXIV. To Urbanus. It has been granted
to us by our generous Lord once again to enjoy the feast ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/lxxiv to urbanus.htm

The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus
The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus. <. The Extant Writings of Asterius
Urbanus Asterius Urbanus. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/urbanus/the extant writings of asterius urbanus/

The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus
The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus. <. ...
/.../urbanus/the extant writings of asterius urbanus/title page.htm

Introductory Notice
The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus. <. ... the Edinburgh edition:".
Nothing is known of Asterius Urbanus. The name ...
/.../urbanus/the extant writings of asterius urbanus/introductory notice.htm

Elucidation.
The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus. <. ...
/.../urbanus/the extant writings of asterius urbanus/elucidation.htm

The Exordium.
The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus. <. ...
/.../urbanus/the extant writings of asterius urbanus/i the exordium.htm

Origen's Zeal and his Elevation to the Presbyterate.
... 3. While these things were in progress, Urbanus, [1957] who had been for eight years
bishop of the Roman church, was succeeded by Pontianus, [1958] and Zebinus ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxiii origens zeal and his.htm

In the Course of the Second Year, the Persecution against us ...
... And at that time Urbanus [2633] being governor of the province, imperial edicts
were first issued to him, commanding by a general decree that all the people ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/church history/chapter iii in the course.htm

Again, in C??sarea, when the Persecution had Continued to the ...
... time. 5. Urbanus first tested him in rhetorical philosophy and learning;
and afterwards endeavored to compel him to sacrifice. But ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter vii again in caesarea.htm

Translator's Biographical Notice.
... In course of the persecutions of Diocletian he was thrown into prison by
Urbanus, the governor of Palestine. This took place towards ...
/.../pamphilus/the writings of pamphilus/translators biographical notice.htm

Thesaurus
Urbanus (1 Occurrence)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia URBANUS. ur-ba'-nus (Ourbanos; the King James Version
Urbane): A common slave name. ... Multi-Version Concordance Urbanus (1 Occurrence). ...
/u/urbanus.htm - 7k

Urba'nus (1 Occurrence)
Urba'nus. Urbanus, Urba'nus. Urchins . ... Urba'nus (1 Occurrence). Romans 16:9
Give my love to Urbanus, a worker in Christ with us, and to my dear Stachys. ...
/u/urba'nus.htm - 6k

Urban (1 Occurrence)
... Urban (1 Occurrence). Romans 16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and
Stachys, my beloved. (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV). ...
/u/urban.htm - 6k

Urbane (1 Occurrence)
... elegant. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. URBANE. ur'-ban, -ban'. See URBANUS.
Multi-Version Concordance Urbane (1 Occurrence). Romans ...
/u/urbane.htm - 6k

Greet (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Romans 16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker
in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/g/greet.htm - 19k

Worker (36 Occurrences)
... workmen; (BBE YLT). Romans 16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ,
and Stachys, my beloved. (WEB ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV). Romans 16 ...
/w/worker.htm - 20k

Fellow-workman (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fellow-workman (5 Occurrences). Romans 16:9 Salute Urbanus,
our fellow-workman in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. (DBY YLT). ...
/f/fellow-workman.htm - 7k

Fellow-worker (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fellow-worker (5 Occurrences). Romans 16:9 Salute Urbanus
our fellow-worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. (ASV). ...
/f/fellow-worker.htm - 7k

Stachys (1 Occurrence)
... Stachys (1 Occurrence). Romans 16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ,
and Stachys, my beloved. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/stachys.htm - 7k

Consist (7 Occurrences)
... Lightfoot has brought it out in an interesting way (see his Philippians, on 4:22)
that many of the names (eg Amplias, Urbanus, Tryphena) in Romans 16 are found ...
/c/consist.htm - 80k

Resources
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Concordance
Urbanus (1 Occurrence)

Romans 16:9
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
(WEB ASV BBE DBY NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Urbanus

Related Terms

Urbanus (1 Occurrence)

Urchins (1 Occurrence)

Urbanization and Community
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