Lives of Scripture

Fortunatus (rendered "Forunatus" in this dataset) is named once, near the close of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, as one of three men -- alongside Stephanas and Achaicus -- whose arrival brought Paul real encouragement: "I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours, therefore acknowledge such men" (1 Corinthians 16:17-18). The phrase "supplied what was lacking" suggests these three traveled from Corinth to wherever Paul was writing from (likely Ephesus), carrying either material support, news, or simply their own presence in place of the whole congregation Paul could not see in person. Paul's request that the Corinthians "acknowledge such men" indicates he wanted this kind of faithful, practical service publicly recognized and valued by the church. Nothing else is recorded of Fortunatus -- no words, no further travels -- but his brief, concrete act of showing up for Paul when the wider church could not is treated by Paul as worth commending by name.