'Synagogue of the Hebrews' Lintel (Corinth)
Marble doorway block from a Jewish meeting house in Paul's Corinth
Found 1898 — American School of Classical Studies at Athens (early forum excavations under Rufus B. Richardson)
Where Ancient Corinth, Lechaion Road (Greece)
Dates from c. 3rd–5th century CE (dating debated; many place it in the 4th–5th century) · Roman Imperial · Paul's preaching in the Corinth synagogue
Now at Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth, Greece
How 'Synagogue of the Hebrews' Lintel (Corinth) was found
Found reused in later masonry near the foot of the Lechaion Road, the paved street running north from the forum to the harbour.
What it is
A broken white marble lintel, roughly 90 cm long, with crudely cut Greek letters reading [ΣΥΝΑ]ΓΩΓΗ ΕΒΡ[ΑΙΩΝ], '[Syna]gogue of the Hebr[ews].' The lettering is poor, suggesting a modest community.
Why it matters for the Bible
Acts 18 says Shaul (Paul) argued every Sabbath in the synagogue at Corinth and that Crispus, its leader, believed. This lintel is the only physical trace of that Jewish community, though it is probably a century or more later than Paul. It shows the community continued and used the term 'Hebrews' for itself, the same word Paul uses of his own heritage.
The Hebrew word: eev-REEM
עִבְרִים
עִבְרִים is pronounced eev-REEM and means Hebrews (Greek Hebraioi) (Strong's H5680 / G1445).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (Shah-OOL) — asked for (Greek Paulos)
- Crispus — קְרִיסְפּוֹס (KREES-pos) — Latin Crispus, 'curly-haired'
Places
- Corinth — קוֹרִינְתּוֹס (ko-REEN-tos) — Greek Korinthos
Events
Paul teaches in the Corinth synagogue · Crispus the synagogue ruler believes
'Synagogue of the Hebrews' Lintel (Corinth) in Scripture
Acts 18:8 Crispus, ruler of the synagogue, believed with his household.
1 Corinthians 1:14 One of only 2 verses that name Crispus.
Questions people ask
What is 'Synagogue of the Hebrews' Lintel (Corinth)?
A broken white marble lintel, roughly 90 cm long, with crudely cut Greek letters reading [ΣΥΝΑ]ΓΩΓΗ ΕΒΡ[ΑΙΩΝ], '[Syna]gogue of the Hebr[ews].' The lettering is poor, suggesting a modest community.
When was 'Synagogue of the Hebrews' Lintel (Corinth) discovered?
It was found in 1898 by American School of Classical Studies at Athens (early forum excavations under Rufus B. Richardson), at Ancient Corinth, Lechaion Road.
Where is 'Synagogue of the Hebrews' Lintel (Corinth) today?
Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth, Greece.
Which Bible verses does 'Synagogue of the Hebrews' Lintel (Corinth) relate to?
Acts 18:8, 1 Corinthians 1:14.
Related discoveries
- שׁוּקCorinth Meat Market (Macellum) InscriptionLatin stone naming the market where meat 'sold in the shambles' came from
- סוֹכֵןErastus Inscription (Corinth)Pavement laid by an aedile named Erastus — possibly Paul's friend the city treasurer
- תֵּאַטְרוֹןTheater of CorinthRoman theater beside the Erastus pavement, seat of the city's public life
- בֵּימָהGallio Inscription (Delphi)Letter of Emperor Claudius naming Gallio proconsul of Achaia — the anchor date for Paul's ministry
- בֵּימָהThe Bema at CorinthThe judgment platform in the forum where Paul stood before Gallio
- מְנוֹרָהJewish Catacombs of Rome and the Synagogue InscriptionsVigna Randanini and Villa Torlonia — the graves of the community Paul wrote to
Sources
- B. Powell, 'Greek Inscriptions from Corinth', AJA 7 (1903), no. 40
- J. Murphy-O'Connor, St. Paul's Corinth: Texts and Archaeology (3rd ed., 2002)
- HolyLandPhotos, "Synagogue Inscription — Corinth" (found on Lechaion Road; probably 5th century)
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