Κούαρτος (Kouartos)
Kouartos
Quartus
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Kouartos is simply the Greek form of the Latin word Quartus, which means "fourth." In the New Testament, it appears only once as a proper noun in Romans 16:23, where Paul sends greetings from Corinth to the believers in Rome. The text identifies this man as a host to Paul and to the entire church, suggesting he was a person of some means or standing who opened his home for their gatherings.
Unlike many biblical names that carry deep theological meaning, Kouartos is a common Roman family name derived from birth order. Its presence in Scripture highlights the widespread nature of the early Christian movement, which included people from various cultural backgrounds living in major urban centers like Corinth and Rome. The fact that Paul mentions him alongside Erastus, a city official, points to the diverse social levels within the early church.
While some later traditions speculate about his role as a bishop or disciple, the biblical text itself offers no such details beyond his hospitality. The name serves as a reminder that ordinary individuals played crucial roles in supporting the spread of the gospel through practical acts of kindness and shelter.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Quartus is a name that appears just once in the New Testament, yet it carries a quiet weight for our understanding of community. It is simply the Greek version of the Latin word for 'fourth,' likely indicating birth order rather than spiritual status. In Romans 16:23, Paul includes him among those greeting the church in Rome, noting that he was a brother in Christ.
What stands out is not his title or his theology, but his hospitality. The text identifies him as part of the welcome sent from Corinth, alongside Erastus, a city official. This detail reminds us that the early church was woven together by people from different social backgrounds. Quartus’s name suggests he was an ordinary person who opened his life to others.
His inclusion in Paul’s letter shows that God uses everyday acts of kindness to build His kingdom. We do not need a special title to serve; we only need a willing heart. This story invites us to look at our own homes and relationships as places where grace can be shared simply by being open to others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Quartus1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Κούαρτος1×
Key Verses
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Romans 16:23
Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother.
This verse highlights Quartus’s role in the early church network by placing him alongside Gaius and Erastus, showing how hospitality connected believers across different social strata.