Βιθυνία G0978
Bithynia, a Roman province in northwestern Asia Minor on the Black Sea coast
This proper noun designates Bithynia, a prosperous Roman province occupying the northwestern corner of Asia Minor along the Black Sea. The region had significant Jewish and later Christian populations. In Acts, the Holy Spirit prevents Paul from entering Bithynia during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:7), redirecting him toward Macedonia instead. Yet 1 Peter's opening greets believers scattered throughout Bithynia among other provinces (1 Pet 1:1), showing the gospel eventually reached there. The name appears in genitive form in both occurrences, indicating either destination ('toward Bithynia') or origin ('of Bithynia').
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 16:7 records Paul and his companions attempting to enter Bithynia but being prevented by the Spirit of Jesus, a divine redirection that led to the Macedonian vision and the gospel's entry into Europe. 1 Peter 1:1 addresses elect exiles 'of Bithynia' (among other provinces), confirming that Christianity did establish itself there despite the earlier divine prohibition. Spanish 'Bitinia/de Bitinia', French 'Bithynie', and German 'Bithynien' maintain standard geographical transliteration. The two references show God's sovereignty: temporarily redirecting mission strategy while ensuring the region eventually received the gospel message. 2×
AR["بيثينيَّةَ", "بيثينِيَةَ"]·ben["বিথুনিয়ায়", "বিথুনিয়ার"]·DE["Bithynien", "Βιθυνίαν"]·EN["Bithynia", "of-Bithynia"]·FR["Bithynie", "Βιθυνίας"]·heb["בִּיתוּנְיָא", "בִּיתוּנִיָּה"]·HI["बिथुनिया", "बिथुनिया-के"]·ID["Bitinia"]·IT["Bitinia", "bithunias"]·jav["Bitinia", "Bitinia,"]·KO["비두니아로", "비두니아의"]·PT["Bitínia", "Bitínia,"]·RU["Вифинии,", "Вифинию"]·ES["Bithynía", "de-Bitinia"]·SW["Bithinia"]·TR["Bitinya", "Bitinya'ya"]·urd["بِتھینیہ", "بِتھینیہ-کی،"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Βιθυνία, -ַας, Bithynia, a province in Asia Minor: Act.16:7, 1Pe.1:1.† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)