Secundus

Biblical Record

Secundus is named only once in the entire Bible, in Acts 20:4. This verse lists, in order, the seven men who set out with Paul: Sopater of Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. The Greek text groups Aristarchus and Secundus together as "Thessalonians." This record shows that Secundus came from the church established in Thessalonica, a city in the region of Macedonia.

This episode took place near the end of Paul's third missionary journey. After the uproar in Ephesus, Paul traveled through Macedonia to Greece, where he stayed three months. Then, because of a plot by the Jews, he abandoned his plan to sail and returned by way of Macedonia instead, accompanied by the group that included Secundus (Acts 20:1-4). The following verse, Acts 20:5, records: "These going before tarried for us at Troas." Scripture says nothing about Secundus's later activities.

Significance in Scripture

Secundus is one of the names showing that Paul's mission was not a solitary undertaking but a work carried out together with laborers from various local churches. Paul founded the Thessalonian church during his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-9), and it was the church addressed in 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians. Secundus's presence shows that a few years later this church sent people to take part in Paul's ministry.

Interpretation and Issues

• The collection-bearer view: Many commentators regard the seven men of Acts 20:4 as delegates carrying the relief offering (the collection) that various churches had gathered for the saints in Jerusalem. In 1 Corinthians 16:3-4, Paul says he will send those whom the church approves along with the gift. Second Corinthians 8:1-5 and Romans 15:26 record that the churches of Macedonia took part in the collection. However, because Acts 20 does not directly state why these men were traveling with Paul, this interpretation is treated as an inference.
• Who went ahead: Interpreters differ on whether "these" in Acts 20:5 refers to all seven men or only to Tychicus and Trophimus, who are named immediately before.
• The name: "Secundus" is a Latin name meaning "second." It was a common name in the Roman world of the time. The name alone does not reveal his social status or family relationships.
• The biblical text gives no account of whether he went as far as Jerusalem or of any ministry he carried out afterward.

In the Korean Church

Secundus is rarely the subject of a sermon in his own right. He is generally mentioned only as one member of Paul's traveling party in expositions of Acts 20 or in sermons and Bible studies on Paul's coworkers.