SOSTHENES sŏs’ thĭ nez (Σωσθένης, G5398). 1. Ruler of the synagogue at Corinth during Paul’s first visit there (Acts 18:17). Successor to Crispus who had become a Christian, Sosthenes was seized and beaten by the crowd before the tribunal after Gallio, proconsul of Achaia, had dismissed a Jewish prosecution of Paul (18:17). He was the victim either of an anti-Sem. demonstration by Greeks (KJV) or Jewish spite against an unsuccessful spokesman.

2. Co-sender of 1 Corinthians (1:1) with Paul. He is prob. known to the Corinthians. If by “brother,” Paul means that Sosthenes is now a Christian, and if “our” means “one of you, belonging to both of us,” it may be that he is identical with 1 above, and that two former persecutors are now enjoying the fellowship of the Gospel. If they are not the same, this Sosthenes is otherwise unknown in the NT.