πρώτως (prōtōs)
prōtōs
originally
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb prōtōs means "originally" or "at first," describing a prior state that has since changed. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 11:26, where it clarifies the history of the church in Antioch. The text notes that the disciples were called Christians there first, implying that this label was not immediate but developed over time as the community grew.
This single usage highlights how prōtōs marks a specific point in a timeline rather than a general order. It distinguishes an earlier phase from what followed, helping readers understand that the identity of "Christians" emerged gradually in Antioch. Some manuscripts substitute prōton for this form, but the sense remains focused on that initial period before the name became widely recognized.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word prōtōs points to beginnings that are not always obvious at first glance. In Acts 11:26, it marks the moment when followers of Jesus in Antioch received a new name. This small detail reminds us that identity often grows slowly. The label 'Christian' did not appear overnight but emerged as the community lived out their faith together.
For your own life, this offers comfort. You do not need to have everything figured out right away. Growth takes time, and God works patiently in the background. Just as the disciples in Antioch discovered who they were through shared experience, you too can trust that your spiritual identity unfolds gradually. There is no rush to define yourself perfectly; simply stay open to how God shapes you day by day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- first1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πρώτως1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 11:26
When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
This verse uses prōtōs to highlight the specific historical moment when the term 'Christian' was first applied to believers in Antioch, marking a shift in how the group was perceived by outsiders.