Τιβέριος (Tiberios)
Tiberios
Tiberius
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Tiberios refers to Tiberius Caesar, the second ruler of the Roman Empire who reigned from AD 14 to 37. In the New Testament, this proper noun appears only once, anchoring the Gospel narrative in a specific historical moment. Luke uses it to date the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry, noting that it occurred during the fifteenth year of Tiberius’s reign (Luke 3:1).
Etymologically, the name derives from Latin, likely meaning "from the Tiber," referencing the river sacred to Rome. Its inclusion in Scripture serves as a chronological marker, linking the spiritual events of Jesus’ life to the political timeline of the known world. By mentioning this emperor, the text situates the gospel within real history rather than myth.
Though the word itself carries no theological verb or adjective meaning, its presence highlights the intersection of divine purpose and imperial power. The evangelist chooses to remember Tiberius not for his deeds, but as a fixed point in time when God’s message began to spread under Roman authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Tiberius appears just once in the New Testament, yet it carries significant weight. Luke places it at the very beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry, anchoring the gospel story in a specific moment of human history. By naming the Roman emperor, the text reminds us that God’s work does not happen in a vacuum or a mythological realm, but within the real political and social structures of the world.
This historical detail offers comfort to believers today. It shows that divine purpose intersects with earthly power. Even under rulers who may not share our faith, God is at work preparing the way for His message. The gospel is not confined to religious settings; it enters the public square and touches every level of society.
When we read this verse, we are invited to see our own lives in that same light. Our personal stories are part of a larger narrative where God’s truth meets historical reality. We can trust that He is present in our specific time and place, working through ordinary moments to bring about His purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of Tiberius1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Τιβερίου1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 3:1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
This verse uses Tiberius as a precise chronological marker to date the start of John the Baptist's ministry alongside other contemporary political leaders.