Sosthenes

Two persons of this name are reported in the New Testament, though there is a high historical probability the they may be the same person.

1) A leader of the synagogue in Corinth (Acts 18:17), possibly having recently replaced Crispus in the office (v8). Paul had stayed a year and a half in Corinth that made up the remainder of his Second Missionary Journey and had a rather succeessful ministry there; among those who came to faith in Christ was Crispus, another leader of the synagogue there ("and his entire household," v8). When Gallio was appointed proconsul of the province, the Jews raised a complaint to him about Paul and his preaching. Gallio, however, dismissed their complaint:

"If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanour or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things."

Thereupon, the Jews, in frustration, turned on Sosthenes and beat him up in front of the court. One explanation was that Sosthenes, like Crispus, had become a Christian, and he was there happenstance. A more likely explanation is that Sosthenes was the instigator of the complaint; having failed in his plan to raise an issue about Paul, his fellow-conspirators took it out on him. These are mere surmises; we will never be sure.

2) A Christian whom Paul calls simply "our brother" who shared in sending greetings to the congregation when Paul wrote them the letter we now call 1 Corinthians (1 Cor 1:1). We know nothing else about him. The fact that he is not mentioned again in the remainder of the letter, and especially in the concluding well-wishes, suggests that he is not to be perceived as co-author of the letter.

Some commentators have suggested that this may be the same Sosthenes who was beaten up but had eventually come to faith in Christ. It was in this capacity that he served as a companion (though we cannot be precise about what this means) to Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He was, however, well-known enough to the Corinthians that Paul could refer to him simply as ho adelphos, "the brother." (For more on this see commentary on 1 Cor 1:1 ☰)

Concordance (NIV):

Sosthenes appear only twice in the NT.

Acts 18:17 — Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

1 Cor. 1:1 — Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,