Nicopolis, meaning "City of Victory," is a location mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. The Apostle Paul references Nicopolis in his epistle to Titus, indicating its significance in early Christian history and missionary activity. In Titus 3:12 , Paul writes, "As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there."

Geographical Context

Nicopolis was a common name for cities in the ancient world, often founded to commemorate military victories. The Nicopolis mentioned by Paul is traditionally identified with the city located in the region of Epirus, in the northwestern part of present-day Greece. This city was founded by the Roman Emperor Augustus to celebrate his victory at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. Its strategic location on the western coast of Greece made it an important hub for travel and communication in the Roman Empire.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The city of Nicopolis in Epirus was a significant urban center during the Roman period. It was known for its impressive architecture, including theaters, temples, and public baths, reflecting the Roman influence on the region. The city hosted the Actian Games, similar to the Olympic Games, which were held every four years in honor of Apollo.

For the early Christian community, Nicopolis served as a strategic location for missionary work. Its position along major trade routes facilitated the spread of the Gospel throughout the region. The Apostle Paul's decision to winter in Nicopolis suggests that he saw it as a suitable base for his missionary activities, likely due to its accessibility and the presence of a supportive Christian community.

Paul's Missionary Strategy

Paul's mention of Nicopolis in his letter to Titus provides insight into his missionary strategy. By choosing to spend the winter there, Paul demonstrated his intention to use the city as a center for evangelism and teaching. The winter months, when travel was more difficult, would have provided an opportunity for Paul to focus on strengthening the local church and preparing for future missionary journeys.

The reference to sending Artemas or Tychicus to Titus indicates Paul's reliance on trusted co-workers to continue the work of ministry in his absence. This reflects the collaborative nature of early Christian missions and the importance of leadership development within the church.

Theological Implications

Nicopolis, as mentioned in the New Testament, underscores the theme of strategic planning in the spread of the Gospel. Paul's decision to winter there highlights the importance of selecting key locations for ministry efforts, ensuring that the message of Christ could reach as many people as possible. It also illustrates the interconnectedness of the early Christian communities, as leaders like Paul, Titus, Artemas, and Tychicus worked together to advance the mission of the church.

In summary, Nicopolis serves as a testament to the early church's commitment to evangelism and the strategic efforts of its leaders to establish and nurture Christian communities across the Roman Empire.Nicopolis

the city of victory

Nicopolis

(city of victory) is mentioned in (Titus 3:12) as the place where St. Paul was intending to pass the coming winter. Nothing is to be found in the epistle itself to determine which Nicopolis is here intended. One Nicopolis was in Thrace, near the borders of Macedonia. The subscription (which, however, is of no authority) fixes on this place, calling it the Macedonian Nicopolis. But there is little doubt that Jerome's view is correct, and that the Pauline Nicopolis was the celebrated city of Epirus. This city (the "city of victory") was built by Augustus in memory the battle of Actium. It was on a peninsula, to the west of the bay of Actium.

Nicopolis

A city where Paul spent probably the last winter of his life, having previously written to Titus, at Crete, to meet him there, Ti 3:12. He is supposed to refer to the Nicopolis of Thrace, situated on the river Nestus, near the borders of Macedonia, and hence called, in the subscription to the epistle, Nicopolis of Macedonia. Others, however, suppose him to have meant Nicopolis in Epirus, which stood near the mouth of the Ambracian gulf, opposite to Actium, and which was built by Augustus in honor of his decisive victory over Antony.

City of victory, where Paul intended to winter (Titus 3:12). There were several cities of this name. The one here referred to was most probably that in Epirus, which was built by Augustus Caesar to commemorate his victory at the battle of Actium (B.C. 31). It is the modern Paleoprevesa, i.e., "Old Prevesa." The subscription to the epistle to Titus calls it "Nicopolis of Macedonia", i.e., of Thrace. This is, however, probably incorrect. NICOPOLIS

ni-kop'-o-lis (Nikopolis): A city in Palestine, half-way between Jaffa and Jerusalem, now called Ammas, mentioned in 1 Maccabees 3:40, 57 and 9:50. The earlier city (Emmaus) was burnt by Quintilius Varus, but was rebuilt in 223 A.D. as Nicopolis.

The Nicopolis, however, to which Paul urges Titus to come (pros me eis Nikopolin, ekei gar kekrika paracheimasai (Titus 3:12)) is probably the city of that name situated on the southwest promontory of Epirus. If this view is correct, the statement made by some writers that from Eastern Greece (Athens, Thessalonica, Philippi, Corinth) Paul's labors extended to Italy, that he never visited Western Greece, requires modification. It is true that we do not hear of his preaching at Patras, Zacynthus, Cephallenia, Corcyra (the modern Corfu), which, as a way-station to and from Sicily, always held preeminence among the Ionian islands; but there can be little doubt that, if his plan of going to Nicopolis was carried out, he desired to evangelize the province of Epirus (as well Acarnania) in Western Greece. Indeed, it was in this very city of Nicopolis, probably, that he was arrested and taken to Rome for trial-during one of the winters between 64-67 A.D.

Nicopolis was situated only a few miles North of the modern Prevesa, the chief city of Epirus today, the city which the Greeks bombarded in 1912 in the hope of wresting it from the Turks. The ancient city was founded by Augustus, whose camp happened to be pitched there the night before the famous fight with Antony (31 B.C.). The gulf, called Ambracia in ancient times, is now known as Arta. On the south side was Actium, where the battle was fought. Directly across, only half mile distant, on the northern promontory, was the encampment of Augustus. To commemorate the victory over his antagonist, the Roman emperor built a city on the exact spot where his army had encamped ("Victory City"). On the hill now called Michalitzi, on the site of his own tent, he built a temple to Neptune and instituted games in honor of Apollo, who was supposed to have helped him in the sea-fight. Nicopolis soon became the metropolis of Epirus, with an autonomous constitution, according to Greek custom. But in the time of the emperor Julian (362) the city had fallen into decay, at least in part. It was plundered by the Goths, restored by Justinian, and finally disappeared entirely in the Middle Ages, so far as the records of history show. One document has Nikopolis he nun Prebeza, "Nicopolis, which is now Prebeza." In the time of Augustus, however, Nicopolis was a flourishing town. The emperor concentrated here the population of Aetolia and Acarnania, and made the city a leading member of the Amphictyonic Council. There are considerable ruins of the ancient city, including two theaters, a stadium, an aqueduct, etc.

LITERATURE.

Kuhn, Ueber die Entstehung der staate der Alten.

J. E. Harry

3533. Nikopolis -- "victorious city," Nicopolis, a city in Achaia
... "victorious city," Nicopolis, a city ... Word Origin from nikos and polis Definition
"victorious city," Nicopolis, a city in Achaia NASB Word Usage Nicopolis (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3533.htm - 6k

Letter ccxxxviii. To the Presbyters of Nicopolis.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CCXXXVIII. To the
presbyters of Nicopolis. I have received your letter, my ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxxxviii to the presbyters.htm

Letter ccxxx. To the Magistrates of Nicopolis.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CCXXX. To the
magistrates of Nicopolis. The government of the Churches ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxxx to the magistrates.htm

Letter ccxl. To the Presbyters of Nicopolis.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CCXL. To the Presbyters
of Nicopolis. 1. You have done quite right in sending ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxl to the presbyters.htm

Letter ccxxix. To the Clergy of Nicopolis.
... Letter CCXXIX. To the clergy of Nicopolis. I am sure that a work done by one or
two pious men is not done without the cooperation of the Holy Spirit. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxxix to the clergy.htm

Letter cxxx. To Theodotus Bishop of Nicopolis.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CXXX. To Theodotus
bishop of Nicopolis. 1. You have very rightly and properly ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cxxx to theodotus bishop.htm

Letter cxxi. To Theodotus, Bishop of Nicopolis.
... Letter CXXI. To Theodotus, bishop of Nicopolis. The winter is severe and protracted,
so that it is difficult for me even to have the solace of letters. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cxxi to theodotus bishop.htm

Letter ccxxvii. Consolatory, to the Clergy of Colonia.
... the ordinance of God. [2932] Do not enter into a dispute with your Mother
Church at Nicopolis. Do not exasperate yourselves against ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxxvii consolatory to the.htm

Epistle viii. To Boniface, Deacon.
... no effect, and the dispute between the parties remaining undecided, he gave another
order to our late brother Andrew, then Metropolitan of Nicopolis, to the ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle viii to boniface deacon.htm

Origen's Earnest Study of the Divine Scriptures.
... [1889] 2. Since he did not know the authors, he simply stated that he had found
this one in Nicopolis near Actium [1890] and that one in some other place. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xvi origens earnest study of.htm

Letter Xcix. To Count Terentius.
... I know not; but my right reverend brother Theodotus, who promised from the beginning
to act with me, had cordially invited [2349] me from Getasa to Nicopolis. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter xcix to count terentius.htm

Nicopolis (1 Occurrence)
... It is the modern Paleoprevesa, ie, "Old Prevesa." The subscription to the epistle
to Titus calls it "Nicopolis of Macedonia", ie, of Thrace. ...NICOPOLIS. ...
/n/nicopolis.htm - 10k

Zenas (1 Occurrence)
... Epistle to Titus. But he directs Titus to come to him to Nicopolis, where
he had resolved to spend the ensuing winter. And he adds ...
/z/zenas.htm - 10k

Titus (15 Occurrences)
... were wanting." Thence he went to Ephesus, where he left Timothy, and from Ephesus
to Macedonia, where he wrote First Timothy, and thence to Nicopolis in Epirus ...
/t/titus.htm - 29k

Nicop'olis (1 Occurrence)
Nicop'olis. Nicopolis, Nicop'olis. Niger . Multi-Version Concordance
Nicop'olis (1 Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Nicopolis, Nicop'olis. Niger . Reference
/n/nicop'olis.htm - 6k

Tychicus (5 Occurrences)
... or Tychicus to him, so as to take the oversight of the work of the gospel in that
island, that Titus might be free to come to be with the apostle at Nicopolis. ...
/t/tychicus.htm - 14k

Nicola'us (1 Occurrence)
Nicola'us. Nicolaus, Nicola'us. Nicopolis . Multi-Version Concordance
Nicola'us (1 Occurrence). ... Nicolaus, Nicola'us. Nicopolis . Reference Bible.
/n/nicola'us.htm - 6k

Joining (43 Occurrences)
... Titus 3:12 After I have sent Artemas or Tychicus to you, lose no time in joining
me at Nicopolis; for I have decided to pass the winter there. (WEY). ...
/j/joining.htm - 19k

Winter (22 Occurrences)
... Titus 3:12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come
to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there. ...
/w/winter.htm - 14k

Tych'icus (5 Occurrences)
... Titus 3:12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come
unto me to Nicopolis, for there to winter I have determined. (See RSV). ...
/t/tych'icus.htm - 7k

Emmaus (1 Occurrence)
... In the 3rd century it was called Nicopolis and was an episcopal see; in early Christian
times it was famous for a spring of reputed healing qualities. ...
/e/emmaus.htm - 10k

Summary of the Book of Titus - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

What happened on Paul's fourth missionary journey? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Titus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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