Paul's Letters

Nero

Architect of the first imperial persecution of Christians and the figure associated with the number 666

Nero was the fifth Roman Emperor, whose reign is marked by the first state-sponsored persecution of Christians and the backdrop for the final ministries of Paul and Peter.

Abraham

Patriarch who is the father of the nation of Israel and an exemplar of faith

The first of the three biblical patriarchs and the father of the nation of Israel, known for his unwavering faith and his covenant relationship with God.

Achaicus

Member of the Corinthian delegation who visited Paul in Ephesus

A 1st-century Christian leader from Corinth who, along with Stephanas and Fortunatus, represented the Corinthian church to the Apostle Paul in Ephesus.

Adam

First human being associated with the fall of man

Adam is the first human being created by God, the husband of Eve, and the progenitor of the human race in the book of Genesis.

Alexander the Coppersmith

Apostate who opposed the Apostle Paul and was handed over to Satan for blasphemy

An opponent of the Apostle Paul who committed blasphemy and caused the early church significant harm during the mid-first century AD.

Ampliatus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Andronicus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Apelles

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Apollos

Eloquent Alexandrian preacher and colleague of the Apostle Paul

An eloquent Jewish Christian from Alexandria known for his deep knowledge of the Scriptures and his significant ministry in the early churches of Ephesus and Corinth.

Apphia

Christian woman at Colossae addressed by Paul as 'our sister' in the Letter to Philemon

A prominent female leader in the early Colossian church and a core recipient of Paul’s letter to Philemon, likely the wife of Philemon.

Aquila

Jewish Christian coworker of Paul who hosted house churches and instructed Apollos

A Jewish Christian from Pontus who, alongside his wife Priscilla, became a vital coworker of the Apostle Paul and a leader in the early church.

Archippus

Minister in the Colossian church who was exhorted by Paul to fulfill his service

Archippus was a first-century Christian leader in Colossae or Laodicea, addressed by the Apostle Paul as a 'fellow soldier' and exhorted to complete his divinely appointed ministry.

Aretas

King living at the time of the New Testament

Aristarchus

Companion of Paul who was seized during the Ephesian riot and later became Paul's fellow prisoner in Rome

A faithful Macedonian Christian from Thessalonica who served as a devoted traveling companion and 'fellow prisoner' of the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys.

Aristobulus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Artemas

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Asyncritus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Barnabas

Prophet and leader in the Antioch church who mentored the Apostle Paul

A Levite from Cyprus and prominent early church leader recognized by the Holy Spirit as a prophet and teacher within the Christian community at Antioch.

Benjamin, Son of Jacob

Youngest son of Jacob and the full brother of Joseph whose presence in Egypt led to his family's reconciliation

The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, Benjamin was the beloved patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel and a central figure in the narrative of Joseph's rise in Egypt.

Carpus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Chloe

Christian woman whose household reported the divisions in the Corinthian church to the Apostle Paul

A prominent Christian woman in the 1st century AD whose household reported the internal divisions of the Corinthian church to the Apostle Paul.

Claudia

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Clement

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Crescens

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Crispus

Synagogue ruler in Corinth who converted to Christianity

Crispus was a prominent Jewish leader in Corinth who, as the ruler of the synagogue, converted to Christianity under the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

David

King of Israel who defeated Goliath and established the Davidic dynasty

The second king of the United Monarchy of Israel, a shepherd-warrior and psalmist known as a man after God's own heart.

Demas

Companion of Paul who abandoned him for love of the world

A companion and fellow-worker of the Apostle Paul who ultimately abandoned the Christian ministry because of his love for the present world.

Elijah the Tishbite

Prophet who called down fire from heaven and was taken to heaven in a whirlwind

A foundational prophet of the Divided Monarchy known for his confrontation with Baal worship and his departure from earth in a whirlwind.

Epaenetus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Epaphras

Minister who founded the church at Colossae and served as a fellow prisoner with Paul

A faithful minister and founder of the church at Colossae who served as a fellow prisoner with the Apostle Paul and a persistent intercessor for the Lycus Valley congregations.

Epaphroditus

Messenger of the Philippian church who nearly died serving the Apostle Paul

A dedicated messenger and fellow worker of the Apostle Paul who nearly died while delivering a gift from the church at Philippi.

Erastus

City treasurer of Corinth and ministry companion of the Apostle Paul

High-ranking civic official in Corinth and a Christian convert who served as a prominent supporter of the Apostle Paul's ministry.

Esau

Patriarch who sold his birthright for lentil stew and founded the nation of Edom

The firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, a skillful hunter and the progenitor of the Edomites, known for selling his birthright for a bowl of stew.

Eubulus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Eunice

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Euodia

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Eve

The first woman who ate the forbidden fruit

Eve is the first woman mentioned in the Bible, considered the mother of all living and the wife of Adam in the Genesis creation narrative.

father_of_Barnabas

Levite living at the time of the New Testament - unnamed father of Barnabas

father_of_Eunice

Man living at the time of the New Testament - unnamed father of Eunice

Fortunatus

Member of the Corinthian delegation who visited Paul at Ephesus

A member of the church at Corinth who accompanied Stephanas and Achaicus to visit the Apostle Paul in Ephesus, carrying news and support.

Gaius, Host of the Corinthian Church

Host of the Apostle Paul and the entire Corinthian church

A prominent Christian in Corinth known for his hospitality to the Apostle Paul and for being one of the few individuals personally baptized by him.

Hagar

Mother of Ishmael and the first woman to receive a divine revelation in the wilderness

An Egyptian woman who served as Sarai’s maidservant and became the mother of Ishmael, Abraham’s firstborn son.

Hebrews

Covenant people of God descended from Abraham

The Hebrews represent the covenant people descended from Abraham, serving as the primary ethnic and spiritual identity of God’s chosen nation throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Hermas

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Hermes

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Hermogenes

Professor of faith who deserted the Apostle Paul

A believer in Roman Asia who abandoned the Apostle Paul during his final imprisonment in Rome, becoming a symbol of apostasy and desertion.

Herodion

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Hosea

Prophet who married an unfaithful woman to symbolize Israel's relationship with God

A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC, known for his symbolic marriage to Gomer and his message of God's enduring love for a faithless people.

Hymenaeus

False teacher who claimed the resurrection had already occurred

Hymenaeus was a prominent false teacher in the first-century Ephesian church who abandoned his faith and distorted the doctrine of the resurrection.

Isaac

Patriarch who was the son of Abraham and the father of Jacob and Esau

The miracle son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac was the second Hebrew patriarch and the child of promise through whom the covenant of God was established.

Isaiah

Prophet who advised King Hezekiah and foretold the coming of the Messiah

Isaiah, the son of Amoz, was a major prophet in Judah whose ministry spanned the reigns of four kings and who is widely quoted in the New Testament for his messianic and redemptive visions.

Israel

Patriarch who wrestled with God and fathered the twelve tribes

The third patriarch of the covenant, formerly known as Jacob, who received his name after wrestling with God and became the father of the twelve tribes.

Jambres

Man living at the time of the New Testament

James, Brother of Jesus

Brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church who presided over the Council of Jerusalem

A brother of Jesus Christ who became a central leader of the Jerusalem church and a prominent pillar of the early Christian movement.

Jannes

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Jason

Host of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica who was dragged before city officials for his hospitality

A prominent early Christian in Thessalonica who hosted the Apostle Paul and faced legal persecution as a result of his hospitality.

Javan

Patriarchal ancestor of the Greeks and Mediterranean seafaring nations

Javan was a son of Japheth and a grandson of Noah, recognized in the Table of Nations as the foundational patriarch of the Greek people and various maritime nations.

Jesse

Patriarch of the house of David and ancestor of Jesus Christ

The father of King David and a resident of Bethlehem, Jesse is a pivotal link in the genealogy of the Davidic dynasty and the Messianic line.

Jesus

Messiah and central figure of the New Testament whose life, death, and resurrection form the basis of the Christian faith

The central figure of the New Testament, Jesus was born of Mary in Bethlehem, performed numerous miracles, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate before rising from the dead.

John, Son of Zebedee and Apostle

Apostle and brother of James who received the visions of Revelation

One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, a son of Zebedee, and a key leader in the early Church who received the vision recorded in Revelation.

Judah, Son of Jacob

Patriarch who received the blessing of the scepter and whose lineage produced King David and Jesus Christ

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of the Tribe of Judah and the Davidic line, known for his leadership and pivotal role in the preservation of his family.

Julia

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Junia

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Justus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Linus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Lois

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Lucius of Cyrene

Prophet and teacher at Antioch who was among the leaders who commissioned Paul's first missionary journey

A prophet and teacher in the first-century church at Antioch and a close associate of the Apostle Paul.

Luke

Physician and loyal companion to the Apostle Paul during his imprisonments

A companion of the Apostle Paul, described as a beloved physician and a faithful fellow worker during Paul’s imprisonments and missionary travels.

Mark

Missionary companion of Paul and Barnabas whose departure caused a rift between the two leaders

An early Christian missionary and companion of Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, whose departure from a mission caused a significant rift between Paul and Barnabas.

Mary

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Moses

Prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments

The preeminent prophet and lawgiver of Israel who led the Hebrews out of Egyptian bondage and mediated the Covenant at Mount Sinai.

Narcissus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Nereus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Nympha

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Olympas

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Onesimus

Runaway slave whose reconciliation with his master Philemon is the subject of a New Testament epistle

An enslaved man who fled from his master Philemon and was later converted to Christianity by the Apostle Paul, becoming a beloved brother and ministry assistant.

Onesiphorus

Ephesian believer who diligently searched for and refreshed the Apostle Paul during his final Roman imprisonment

A devoted Christian from Ephesus known for his courageous hospitality and unwavering support of the Apostle Paul during his final Roman imprisonment.

Patrobas

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Paul

Apostle to the Gentiles who wrote much of the New Testament

An apostle and missionary who transitioned from a persecutor of the early church to its most prolific evangelist and theologian in the first century AD.

Paul the Apostle

Apostle to the Gentiles who wrote the majority of the New Testament epistles

A pivotal apostle and theologian who converted from Judaism to Christianity, authored much of the New Testament, and pioneered the mission to the Gentiles.

Persis

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Peter

Apostle who served as the spokesman for the Twelve and the leader of the early Church in Jerusalem

The leader of the twelve apostles, known for his confession of Christ, his denial and restoration, and his foundational role in the early Christian church.

Pharaoh, King of the Exodus

Egyptian king who opposed Moses and was defeated at the Red Sea

The stubborn monarch of Egypt who resisted the divine command to release the Israelites, ultimately succumbing after ten plagues and the destruction of his army.

Philemon

Host of the Colossian house church and recipient of Paul’s letter regarding Onesimus

A wealthy Christian resident of Colossae and slave owner whose gracious response to a runaway slave became a centerpiece of New Testament ethics.

Philetus

False teacher who claimed the resurrection had already occurred

Philetus was an early Christian heretic in Ephesus who, along with Hymenaeus, taught that the resurrection had already occurred, thereby subverting the faith of some believers.

Philologus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Phlegon

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Phoebe

Servant of the church in Cenchrea and patron of the apostle Paul who delivered the Epistle to the Romans

A respected deacon of the church in Cenchrea and a patron of the apostle Paul, likely the bearer of his Epistle to the Romans.

Phygelus

associate of Paul who deserted him during his final Roman imprisonment

A believer in Asia Minor who deserted the Apostle Paul during his final imprisonment in Rome, becoming a symbol of apostasy and the fear of persecution.

Pilate

Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus and ordered His crucifixion

The Roman governor of Judea during the reign of Tiberius Caesar who presided over the trial of Jesus Christ and ordered His crucifixion.

Priscilla

Early church leader and teacher who hosted a house church and mentored Apollos

A prominent female leader in the early church, fellow worker of the Apostle Paul, and wife of Aquila, noted for her hospitality and theological instruction.

Pudens

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Quartus

Christian brother in Corinth who sent greetings to the Roman church in Paul's epistle

A Christian brother in the first-century Corinthian church who joined the Apostle Paul in sending greetings to the believers in Rome.

Rebekah

Matriarch of Israel and wife of Isaac who secured the patriarchal blessing for her son Jacob

The wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob, Rebekah was a central matriarch of Israel known for her hospitality, her role in the patriarchal succession, and her divine oracle regarding her sons.

Rufus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Sarah

Matriarch of Israel and mother of Isaac who conceived in her old age

The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, recognized as the primary matriarch of the Hebrew people and a recipient of God's covenantal promise.

Scythians

People living in Scythia

Silas

Prophet and companion of Paul who sang in the Philippian jail

A prominent leader and prophet in the early Jerusalem church who accompanied the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey and served as a crucial bridge between Jewish and Gentile believers.

Sopater

Berean Christian who accompanied the Apostle Paul on his third missionary journey

A Christian from Berea and son of Pyrrhus, Sopater was a loyal travelling companion of the Apostle Paul during his third missionary journey.

Sosthenes

Synagogue leader in Corinth who was beaten by a crowd and later became Paul's co-author

Sosthenes was a leader of the synagogue in Corinth who experienced a public beating and later became a trusted colleague and co-author of the Apostle Paul.

Stachys

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Stephanas

First convert in Achaia who ministered to the Apostle Paul and led the Corinthian church

A prominent Greek convert and the first believer in the province of Achaia who served as an ambassador for the Corinthian church to the Apostle Paul.

Syntyche

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Tertius

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Timothy

Protégé of the Apostle Paul and recipient of the two Pastoral Epistles who led the church in Ephesus

A prominent first-century Christian leader, missionary, and the loyal younger protégé of the Apostle Paul who served as the overseer of the church in Ephesus.

Titus

Greek companion of Paul who organized the church in Crete and mediated the Corinthian crisis

Titus was a Greek convert, a trusted companion of the Apostle Paul, and a leader tasked with organizing the church on the island of Crete.

Trophimus

Ephesian companion of Paul whose presence sparked the Jerusalem riot

A Gentile Christian from Ephesus and loyal companion of the Apostle Paul, whose presence in Jerusalem inadvertently sparked the riot leading to Paul's multi-year imprisonment.

Tryphaena

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Tryphosa

Woman living at the time of the New Testament

Tychicus

Minister from Asia who delivered Paul's letters to the Ephesians and Colossians

A faithful companion of the Apostle Paul and a prominent leader within the early Asian church, specifically known for his mission to and ministry within Ephesus.

Urbanus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Wife of Peter

wife of the Apostle Peter who accompanied him on his missionary travels

The wife of the Apostle Peter, who traveled with her husband during his ministry and whose mother was healed by Jesus.

Zenas

Man living at the time of the New Testament