Stephanas | |
|---|---|
| Born | unknown |
| Died | c. 1st century |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | January 4 |
Stephanas (Greek: Στεφανᾶς, Stephanas, meaning "crowned", from Greek: στεφανόω, stephanoó, "to crown") was a member of the church at Corinth, whose family were among the limited number of believers whom Paul the Apostle had baptized there and whom Paul refers to as the “first-fruits of Achaia”.
He is mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:17:
Teignmouth Shore, writing in Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers, suggests that Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus had come from Corinth to Ephesus, probably with the letter from the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 7:1) to which Paul was sending a response. Paul urged the church in Corinth to "be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labours" and to "acknowledge such men".