Origins & Early Life

Silas or Silvanus (; Greek: Σίλας/Σιλουανός; fl. 1st century AD) was a leading member of the Early Christian community, who according to the New Testament accompanied Paul the Apostle on his second missionary journey. Silas is traditionally assumed to be the same as the Silvanus mentioned in four epistles. Some translations, including the New International Version, call him "Silas" in the epistles.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Paul, Silas, and Timothy are listed as co-authors of the two New Testament letters to the Thessalonians, though the authorship is disputed. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians mentions Silas as having preached with Paul and Timothy to the church in Corinth (1:19), and the First Epistle of Peter describes Silas as a "faithful brother" (5:12). There is some disagreement over the original or "proper" form of his name: "Silas", "Silvanus", "Seila", and "Saul" seem to be treated at the time as equivalent versions of the same name in different languages, and it is not clear which is the original name of "Silas", and which is a translation or equivalent nickname, or whether some references are to different persons with equivalent names. He is consistently called "Silas...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Barnabas — Contemporary (Born in 1) (1): Prominent early Christian disciple, Levite, and companion of Paul the Apostle.
• Garab Dorje — Contemporary (Born in 1) (1): Purported founder of the Dzogchen tradition in Tibetan Buddhism.
• James the Great — Contemporary (Born in 1) (1): One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, martyred in Jerusalem around 44 AD.
• Charaka — Contemporary (Born in 50) (50): Principal contributor to Ayurveda, author of the foundational medical text, Charaka Samhita.
• Epictetus — Contemporary (Born in 50) (50): A foundational Greek Stoic philosopher whose teachings emphasized self-control and accepting fate.
• Philo — Contemporary (Died in 50) (50): Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who synthesized Platonic thought with Second Temple Judaism.
• Saint Peter — Contemporary figure (Born in -1) (-1): Apostle of Jesus, founder of the early Christian Church, and first Bishop of Rome.
• Phraates IV — Contemporary figure (Died in -2) (-2): King of Kings of the Parthian Empire, ruling from 37 BC to 2 BC.
• Hyeokgeose of Silla — Contemporary figure (Died in 4) (4): Founding monarch of Silla, progenitor of the Bak (Park) clans in Korea.
• Paul the Apostle — Contemporary figure (Born in 5) (5): A foundational Apostle who spread Christianity from Judaism to the Gentile world.
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