Use of Theos Hypsistos in Acts

[rgprice]

Paul Trebilco notes in Jewish Communities, that the term Theos Hypsistos is used by Luke (across both the Gospel and Acts) 7 times, by Mark 1 time and once in Hebrews.

Can anyone point me to those instances, particularly in Mark and Acts?

[Ben C. Smith]

Paul Trebilco notes in Jewish Communities, that the term Theos Hypsistos is used by Luke (across both the Gospel and Acts) 7 times, by Mark 1 time and once in Hebrews.

Can anyone point me to those instances, particularly in Mark and Acts?

The adjective ὕψιστος used of God in the NT:

Mark 5.7; Luke 1.32, 35, 76; 6.35; 8.28; Acts 7.48; 16.17; Hebrews 7:1.

(The noun θεός is not always present.)

The adjective ὕψιστος used of the heavens in the NT:

Matthew 21.9; Mark 11.10; Luke 2.14; 19.38.

[rgprice]

Awesome, thank you.

[MrMacSon]

FWIW,

... the term Hypsistos (Greek: Ὕψιστος, the "Most High" God) has been linked to a body of inscriptions that date from around 100 AD to around 400 AD,[1] mostly small votive offerings, but also including altars and stelae, dedicated to Theos Hypsistos, or sometimes simply Hypsistos, mainly found in Asia Minor (Cappadocia, Bithynia and Pontus) and the Black Sea coasts that are today part of Russia.

History
The name Hypsistarioi [for worshippers of a/the Hypsistos] first occurs in Gregory of Nazianzus (Orat., xviii, 5) and the name Hypsistianoi in Gregory of Nyssa (Contra Eunom., II), about 374 CE. Gregory of Nazianzus describes a syncretic Jewish-pagan group that does not worship idols, reveres lamps and fire, and worships the Almighty (Pantokrator). They keep Sabbath and adhere to dietary restrictions, but they do not circumcise. Gregory of Nyssa adds that they refer to God as the Highest (Hypsistos) or Almighty (Pantokrator). Gregory of Nazianzus' description of this cult occurs in his eulogy for his father, who was a Hypsistarian before his conversion to Christianity ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsistarians

There's as a list of early CE inscriptions with imbedded links here, http://philipharland.com/greco-roman-as ... hypsistos/

HYPSISTOS CULTS IN THE GREEK WORLD DURING THE ROMAN IMPERIUM

ABSTRACT: Between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD, there was a rise in inscriptions dedicated to gods given the epithet hypsistos (“most high”). This growth raises questions about the beliefs and composition of the cult or cults that set up these dedications. The answers to these questions shed light on the construction and spread of monotheism in the pagan world as well as the context in which early Christianity spread and attracted followers. Many scholars, from Schürer in 1897 to Mitchell in 2010 have interpreted the Hypsistos inscriptions as evidence of a widespread pagan cult that practiced a syncretic Jewish-pagan religion and worshiped the Jewish god.

In this essay, I examine Hypsistos inscriptions from the Bosporan kingdom, Anatolia, and Athens. Where possible, I infer the beliefs of the groups or persons that set up dedication, compare the iconography of the dedications, identify the gods of the inscriptions, often hidden behind a guise of anonymity, and explore the demographic composition of the groups that set up these shrines and dedications. I find that a variety of groups set up dedications to the Most High God, and that hypsistos connotes a number of different meanings. The beliefs of the worshipers that set up these dedications range from pagan polytheism to an extreme henotheism almost indistinguishable from monotheism. In some cases these worshipers may associate themselves with the Jewish religion, in other cases they do not. https://macsphere.mcmaster.ca/bitstream ... perium.pdf

[MrMacSon]

There's as a list of early CE inscriptions with imbedded links here, http://philipharland.com/greco-roman-as ... hypsistos/

A list of the early ones in chronological order (as best as I can determine) -


1. [295] Regulations of an Association of Zeus Hypsistos (69-58 BCE) ║ Philadelphia - Fayum region >>

(front [recto]) Horion son of Haryotes . . . thirty two. Total: 32. For good fortune! The law which those belonging to the synod (synodos) of Zeus Hypsistos (“Highest”) devised jointly to be binding. Acting in the prescribed manner, they first chose for themselves Petesouchos the son of Teephbennis as their leader (hēgoumenos), a learned man, worthy of the place and of the banqueting hall (andrōn), for a year from the month and day written above. You shall arrange one banquet a month in the sanctuary of Zeus for all the contributors, at which they should in a common banqueting hall pour libations, pray, and perform the other customary rites on behalf of the god and lord, the king. Further everyone must obey the leader and his assistant in matters concerning the association (koinon) and they shall be present for all occasions that have been prescribed for them, at meetings (synlogous), gatherings (synagōga), and outings (apodēmia). It is not lawful for any one of them to . . . (unknown verb), or to establish factions, or to depart from the brotherhood (phratra) of the leader to join another brotherhood, or for men to argue about one another’s genealogies at the banquet (symposion) or to abuse one another verbally at the banquet, or to chatter or to indict or accuse another, or to resign for the course of the year, or to be absent from the banquet, or . . . , or to steal the wife of another member, or to obstruct the leader (?) . . . public . . . at the marriages and… each shall contribute their dues (?) . . . and if any of them becomes a father (?), he shall receive (?) . . . (back [verso]) Pnepheros 2 for ?: 1200; 3 Apollonios: 800; Sokrates 3 for the current year (?): 1200; 4 Petosiris: 1200; Petesouchos, 2 for ?: 1200; 3 . . . Kaleibis: 1100.

(recto) Ὡρίων̣ Ἁρυώτου αγελ( ) αι̣ ̣ ̣ | τριάκοντα δύο (γίνονται) λβ | ἀγαθῆι τύχηι. | νόμος ὃν ἔθεντο [κα]τὰ κοινὸν οἱ ἐκ τῆς τοῦ Διὸς Ὑψίστου συνόδου τοῦτον εἶναι κύριον, || καὶ ποιοῦντες καθι διαγ̣[ορ]εύει πρῶτον μὲν προχειρισάμενοι ἐπʼ ἑαυτῶν | ἡγούμενον Πετεσοῦ[χον] Τ̣εεφβέννιος, ἄνδρα λόγιον, τοῦ τόπου καὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν | ἄξιον, εἰς ἐ[ν]ι̣α̣υ̣τὸν [ἀπὸ τοῦ] προ̣[γ]ε̣γ̣[ρ]αμένου μηινὸς καὶ ἡμέρας συνει̣σ̣|φ̣[ό]ρ̣[οι]ς δ̣ὲ̣ πᾶσι π[οιεῖσθ]ε κατὰ μ̣ῆινα πόσι[ν] μίαν α ἐν τῶι τοῦ Διὸς | ἱερ̣ῶ̣ι ἐ̣ν̣ αἷς ἐν ἀνδ[ρῶνι] κοινῶι σ̣π̣έν̣δοντ̣ες εὐχέσθωισαν καὶ τἄλλα τὰ νο||μιζ̣ό[μεν]α ὑπὲρ τε τ[ο]ῦ θ̣εο(ῦ) κ̣αὶ κυρίο(υ) βασ̣ιλ̣έ̣ω̣ς̣· ὑπακούσειν δὲ πάντας τοῦ τε ἡγουμ̣έ̣|νου κ̣α̣ὶ̣ τ̣[οῦ] τούτου ὑπηρέτου ἔν τε τοῖς ἀ̣ν̣ήκουσι τῶι κοινῶι καὶ παρέσονται ἐπὶ τὰ̣[ς] | δοθει[σομ]έναις αὐτοῖς παραγγελίας κ̣α̣ὶ̣ [σ]υνλ̣όγους καὶ συναγωγὰς καὶ ἀποδημί̣[ας] | καὶ μ[η]ι[δ]ενὶ αὐτῶν ἐ̣ξ̣έ̣στωι συντευ̣μ̣αταρχήισειν μηιδὲ σχίματα συνίστασ[θαι] | μηιδ̣ʼ ἀπ[ο]χ̣ωρήισε[ιν ἐκ] τ̣ῆς τοῦ ἡγ[ου]μ̣ένου φράτρας εἰς ἑτέραν φράτραν || καὶ μὴι γ̣[ε]ν̣εαλογ[ήσειν ἕ]τερος τὸν ἕτ̣ε̣ρ̣ον ἐν τῶι συμποσίωι μηδὲ κακο|λογ[ήσειν] ἕτερος [τὸν] ἕτερον ἐν τῶ̣ι̣ συμποσίωι μηιδὲ λαλήσειν μηι|δὲ ἐπ̣[ικα]λήσειν καὶ̣ μ̣ὲ̣ κατηιγορή[σ]ε̣ι̣ν̣〚α〛τοῦ ἑτέρου μηιδὲ ἀπόρρηισιν | διδ[όναι] ἐ̣πὶ τὸν ἐνι[αυτ]ὸν καὶ μηιδʼ ἀ[φα]ν̣ιεῖν τὰς συμποσίας μηιδὲ ἐπείγεσ|θα̣[ι ἀ]ε̣ὶ̣ τ̣[ό]πον εκ τόπ(ου) [μη]ι̣δʼ ἀποκλέ̣ψει̣ν̣ τ̣[ὴ]ν̣ ἑτέραν καὶ μὴι κωλύσειν τὸν || [- ca.19 - δη]μοσίω[ι] κα̣ὶ ἀ̣[ντ]ὶ τ̣ο̣[ῦ] πρός τε τὰς συμβολ(ὰς) καὶ τἄλλα ἐπὶ | [- ca.28 -]ηπει καὶ εἰσενεγκεῖν ἕκαστος αὐτῶ̣ν̣ | [- ca.35 -] ε̣[ ̣ ̣ ̣] ἐὰν δέ τις αὐτῶν πατὴρ | [γένηται [- ca.37 -] η̣[ ̣]χ̣[ ̣]κ̣η | (verso) Πνεφερῶ(ς) β τῆς ἀνὰ χειρο̣( ) Ασ || γ Ἀπολλώνιο(ς) ω | Σωκράτης γ τῆς ἐ̣ν̣ε̣σ̣τ̣(ώσης) Ασ̣ | δ Πετοσεῖρις Ασ | Πε̣[τ]εσ̣ο̣ῦχο(ς) β τῆς ἐπὶ χει̣( ) Α̣[σ] || γ [ ̣ ̣] ̣ρ̣ Κα̣λεῖβις

2. [110] Dedication to Zeus Hypsistos for an Association or Village (I BCE-II CE) ║ Kyzikos area [Panormos] - Mysia and the Troad

3. [51] Dedication to Theos Hypsistos by an Association of Banqueters (late I CE) ║ Thessalonike - Macedonia >>

This is dedicated to Theos Hypsistos (“Highest God”) on behalf of Titus Flavius Euktimenos son of Amyntas, head of the banquet (trikliniarchos), by the fellow-banqueters (synklitai) recorded below: Titus Flavius Amyntas son of Euktimenos, . . . Name son of Dioskourides, . . . Name son of Neikopolis, . . . Name son of Name, Theodas . . . son of Dioskourides, Theodoros son of Epeimenes, Lucius Festus (?; Fesius) Alimos, Marcus Vibius Onesimos, Lucius Atellius Secundus, Euboulides son of Hyakynthos, Tiberius Claudius Agathopous, Moschos son of Moschos, Dionysios son of Kleopatras who is also called Geminos, Asiatikos son of Philas, Gnaius Octavius Eumeros, Quintus Minucius Rufus who is also called Hermes, Marcus Hermeros, Theodes son of Protas the Thessalonikan, Tiberius Claudius Aigyptos, Antiphanes son of Epikrates, Lucius Trabius Preimgenes, Lucius Petronius Vales, Philippos son of Epigenes, Quintus Pomponius Sosibius, Paramonos son of Paramonos and natural son of Kertimmos, Marcus Herennius Zosimos, Marcus Herennius Romanus, Lucius Minatius Byblos, Marcus Antonius Potitus, Kassandros Axioma, P. Publius Balbus, Gaius Julius Reglus, Marcius Serulius Kreskes, Tiberius Claudius Kerdon, Marcus Mutilius Thyrsos, Tiberius Claudius Agathopes, Aulus Avius Laetus

Θεῶι | Ὑψίστωι | ὑπὲρ | Τ(ίτου) ∙ Φλαουίου || Εὐκτιμένου ∙ υἱοῦ | Ἀμύ̣[ν]τ̣α τοῦ | [τρικλει]νάρχου | [οἱ ὑπογε]γραμμένοι | [συνκλ]ίται || [Τ(ίτος) ∙ Φλαούιος ∙ Εὐ]κ̣τιμένου υἱὸς Ἀμύντας | [․․․․c.12․․․․ Δ]ιοσκουρίδου | [․․․c.10․․․ Νεικ]οπόλεως | [․․․․․c.15․․․․․․]ρ̣α̣ς̣ | Λ[․․․․․c.14․․․․․]Σ̣ΟΣ || Θεοδᾶς ΕΛ[․c.5․ Διο]σ̣κουρίδου | Θεόδωρος Ἐπειμένους | Λ(ούκιος) Φήσιος Ἅλιμος | Μ(ᾶρκος) Οὐιούιος Ὀν{ι}ήσιμος {Ὀνήσιμος} | Λ(ούκιος) Ἀτέλλιος Σεκοῦνδος || Εὐβουλίδης Ὑακύνθου | Τι(βέριος) Κλαύδιος [Ἀ]γαθόπους | Μόσχος Ͻ | Διονύσιος Κλεοπάτρας ὁ καὶ Γέμινος | Ἀσιατικὸς Φίλας || Γν(αῖος) vac. Ὀκταούιος Εὐήμερος | Κ(όϊντος) Μινούκιος ∙ Ῥοῦφος ὁ καὶ Ἑ̣ρμῆς | Μ<ᾶ>ρκος Ἑρμέρωτος | Θεοδῆς Πρωτᾶ Θεσσ(αλονικεύς) | Τι(βέριος) ∙ Κλαύδιος Αἴγ{ι}υπτος {Αἴγυπτος} || Ἀντιφάνης Ἐπικράτους | Λ(ούκιος) Τρέβιος Πρειμγένης | Λ(ούκιος) Πετρώνιος Οὐ<ά>λης | Φίλιππος ∙ Ἐπιγένους | Κ(όϊντος) Πομπώνιος Σωσίβιος || Π<α>ράμονος Ͻ φύ(σει) ∙ Κερτίμμου | Μ(ᾶρκος) Ἑρέννιος Ζώσιμος | Μ(ᾶρκος) Ἑ̣ρέννιος Ῥωμανός | Λ(ούκιος) Μεινάτιος Βύβλος | Μ(ᾶρκος) Ἀντώνιος Ποτεῖτος || Κάσσανδρος Ἀξιώματος | 〚Π〛 ∙ Ποπίλλιος Βάλβος Γ(άϊος) ∙ Ἰούλιος Ῥῆγλος | Μ(ᾶρκος) Σερουίλιος ∙ Κρήσκης | Τ(ιβέριος) Κλαύδιος Κέρδων || Μ(ᾶρκος) Μουτίλιος Θ<ύρ>σος | Τι(βέριος) ∙ Κλαύδιος Ἀγαθώπους {Ἀγαθόπους} | Α(ὖλος) ∙ Ἀούϊος Λαῖτος.

4. Dedication to God Hypsistos by Brothers (I-II CE) ║ Sinope - Pontus >>

To good fortune. The vowing brothers (or: The brothers who have made a vow), Aelius Threption Pontianus and Severus Macer, dedicated this to god Hypsistos (“Highest”)

ἀγαθῆι τύχηι vac. | θεῷ Ὑψίστῳ | Α̣ἴλιος Θρεπτίων || Ποντιανὸς Σεου|ῆρος Μάκερ οἱ | ἀδελφοὶ εὐξάμενοι

5. [38] Dedication to Zeus Hypsistos by a Group of Attendants under Erotas (II-III CE) ║ Beroia - Macedonia

6. [83] Dedication of Chrysa the Manumitted Slave to Theos Hypsistos (41 CE) ║ Gorgippia - Bosporan region >>

This was dedicated to Theos Hypsistos (“Highest god”), all–powerful, blessed. During the reign of king Mithridates (erased), friend of Germanicus (?) and friend of the homeland, in the 338th year in the month of Deios, Pothos son of Strabon dedicated a house–bred slave, who is named Chrysa, to the prayer–house (proseuchē) in accordance with a vow, so that she will not be hindered or bothered by any heir, under Zeus, Ge (“Earth”), and Helios (“Sun”).

Θεῶι Ὑψίστωι παντοǀκράτορι εὐλογητῷ, βαǀσιλεύοντος βασιλέǀως [[Μ̣ι̣θ̣ρ̣ι̣δ̣ά̣τ̣ο̣υ̣]] φιλοǀǀγερμα<νί>κου (Latyshev) καὶ φιλοπάτǀριδος ἔτους ηλτʹ, μηǀνὸς Δείου, Πόθος Στǀράβωνος ἀνέθηκεν ǀ τ[ῆι] προ̣σ̣ευχῆι κατ’ εὐχ[ὴ]ǀǀν θ[ρ]επτὴν ἑαυτοῦ, ᾗ ὄνοǀμα Χ[ρ]ύσα, ἐφ’ ᾧ ᾖ ἀνέπαǀφος καὶ ἀνεπηρέαστο[ς] ǀ ἀπὸ παντὸς κληρον[όμ]ǀου ὑπὸ Δία, Γῆν, Ἥλιο[ν].

7. Dedication to Zeus Hypsistos by Associates (52 CE) ║ Edessa - Macedonia

8. [90] Dedication of a Relief of a Figure Mounted on a Horse (104 CE) ║ Tanais - Bosporan region

9. [36] Dedication to Zeus Hypsistos by a Group of Attendants (100-150 CE) ║ Beroia - Macedonia

10. [182b] Honors by Fishermen for Ulpius Karpos (ca. 130 CE) ║ Miletos - Ionia >>

Ulpius Karpos, a prophet of the most holy god Hypsistos (“Highest”). The fleet (stolos) of shell–fish (or: razor–fish) fishermen honoured their own benefactor because of everything.

Οὔλπιον Κάρπον ǀ τὸν προφήτην τοῦ ǀ ἁγιωτάτου θεοῦ ǀ vac. ὑψίστου, ǀǀ ὁ στόλος τῶν σωληνοǀκεντῶν τὸν ἴδιον εὐǀεργέτην διὰ πάντων

11. [182a] Honors by Gardeners for Ulpius Karpos (ca. 150-200 CE) ║ Miletos - Ionia

12. Dedication and Vow to Theos Hypsistos by a Synod Around Phannes (155 CE) ║ Tanais - Bosporan region >>

To good fortune. This was dedicated as a vow to Theos Hypsistos (“God Most High”), who hears, during the reign of king . . . Tiberius (?) . . . Julius Eupator, friend of Caesar and friend of the Romans, pious one, in the 452nd year . . . on the xth of the month of . . . by the synod (?) . . . which is gathered around Phannes son of Stratoneikos the priest, . . . Name the synagogue-leader (synagōgos), . . . Name the goodness-loving official (philagathon) (?) . . . and Juliades son of Herakleides (?) the assistant to the goodness-loving official (paraphilagathos) (?) . . . . The rest of the society-members (thiasitai) are: Dadas II, . . . Name son of Amarthastos, Demetrios II, . . . Name son of Chariton, Atarbas son of Zabargos (?), Amarthastos II, Dadas son of Theangelos, Ardaros son of Myron, Athenodoros son of Menophilos, Eros son of Parthenokleus, Achaimenes son of Theangelos (?), Ompsalakos son of Phidas, Synekdemos (?) son of Name . . . , Myreinos II, (column I) Herakleides (?) son of Name . . ., Name son of Chariton (?). . . Name son of Philotos. . . , Name son of Pappos, Menestratos (?) II, and Zenon (?) son of Phaneus. (column II) Phannes son of Stratoneikos, the priest who vows, set up the monument (telamōn; or: base) from his own resources.

[ἀγα]θ̣ῆι τ[ύχηι]. | Θεῷ | Ὑψίστῳ ἐπη̣|κόῳ εὐχή. || βασιλε̣ύον[τ]ο̣ς βασιλέ̣ως [Τιβερίου] | Ἰουλίου Εὐπ̣[άτ]ο̣ρος, φ̣ιλοκ[αίσαρος] | καὶ φιλο̣ρωμα[ίου, ε]ὐ̣σε̣βοῦς, [ἐν τῶι ἔτει] | βνυ [κ]α̣ὶ μηνὶ [— — — —. ἡ σύνοδος] | ἡ π̣[ερὶ ἱε]ρέα Φά̣[ννην Στρατονείκου] || [καὶ συναγ]ωγὸ[ν — — —] | [καὶ φιλάγα]<θ>ο[ν? — — —] | [— — καὶ παραφιλάγαθον? Ἰο]υλιάδ̣[ην] | [Ἡρακ]λείδ̣[ου καὶ οἱ λ]οιποὶ θ̣[ι]α|σ[ῶ]ται. vac. || [Δά]δας βʹ [— — — — —]ω̣ν Ἀμαρθά̣στου, | [Δ]η̣μήτριος βʹ, [— — —]α̣κος Χ[α]ρίτωνος, | [Ἀ]τάρβας Ζαβά̣[ργου?, Ἀμ]ά̣ρθα̣σ̣τ̣ος βʹ, | [Δ]άδας Θεαγ[γέλο]υ̣, Ἄρδαρος [Μ]ύρωνος, | [Ἀ]θηνόδωρος Μη̣[νοφί]λ̣ου, Ἔρως Παρ[θ]ενοκλέου[ς], || [Ἀ]χ̣αιμένη̣ς̣ Θ̣[εαγγέ?]λ̣ου, Ὀμψάλακος Φίδα, | [Συν]έκδημ̣ος Ἀρ[— —]ου, Μυρεῖν̣ος βʹ, | (column I, beginning at line 22) [Ἡρακ]λεί̣δη̣[ς — —] | [— —]λ̣[․․ Χα]ρίτω|[νος, ὁ δεῖνα — —]κ̣ου, || [— — —]ο̣ς Φιλ[ώ]του, | [— — —]ο̣ς Πάπ̣<π>ου, | [Μενέ?]σ̣τρατος βʹ, | [Ζήνω?]ν Φάννεως. (column II, beginning at line 22) Φάννης Στ[ρα]|τονείκου ἱε̣|[ρ]ε̣ὺς εὐξ[ά]||μενος ἀπε|κατέστησε τ̣[ὸν] | τελαμῶνα̣ | ἐκ τῶν ἰδίω[ν].

13. Dedication (frag.) to Theos Hypsistos by a Synod (154-173 CE) ║ Tanais - Bosporan region

14. Dedication to Theos Hypsistos by a Synod Around Julius (173-211 CE) ║ Tanais - Bosporan region

15. Dedication (frag.) to Hypsistos by an Association (ca. 200 CE) ║ Serdica - Thrace

16. Dedication (frag.) to Theos Hypsistos by the “Adopted Brothers” (210-227 CE) ║ Tanais - Bosporan region