Lexicon :: Strong's G4990 - sōtēr

σωτήρ, σωτῆρος, ὁ (σῴζω), from Pindar and Aeschylus down, the Sept. for יֶשַׁע, יְשׁוּעָה (מושִׁיעַ ), savior, deliverer; preserver; (Vulg. (except Luke 1:47 (where salutaris)) salvator, Luth. Heiland) (cf. B. D., under the word, I.); (Cicero, in Verr. 2:2, 63 Hoc quantum est? Ita magnum, ut Latine uno verbo exprimi non possit. Is est nimirum 'soter', qui salutem dedit. The name was given by the ancients to deities, especially tutelary deities, to princes, kings, and in general to men who had conferred signal benefits upon their country, and in the more degenerate days by way of flattery to personages of influence; see Passow (or Liddell and Scott), under the word; Paulus, Exgt. Hdbch. üb. d. drei erst. Evang. i., p. 103f; (Wetstein on Luke 2:11; B. D. as above)). In the N. T. the word is applied to God — Σωτήρ μου, he who signally exalts me, Luke 1:47; ὁ σωτήρ ἡμῶν, the author of our salvation through Jesus Christ (on the Christian conception of 'to save', see σῴζω, b. (and on the use of σωτήρ cf. Westcott on 1 John 4:14)), 1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:3; Titus 1:3; Titus 2:10; Titus 3:4; with διά Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ added, Jude 1:25 (Rec. omits διά Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ); σωτήρ πάντων, 1 Timothy 4:10 (cf. Psalm 23:5 (Ps. 24:5); Psalm 26:1 (Ps. 27:1); Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 17:10; Isaiah 45:15, 21; Micah 7:7, etc.); — to the Messiah, and Jesus as the Messiah, through whom God gives salvation: Luke 2:11; Acts 5:31; Acts 13:23; ὁ σωτήρ τοῦ κόσμου, John 4:42; 1 John 4:14; ἡμῶν, 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:4; Titus 2:13; Titus 3:6; σωτήρἸησοῦς Χριστός, 2 Peter 1:11 (2 Peter 1:1 (where Rec.bez elz inserts ἡμῶν)),11; 2 Peter 2:20; 3:18; ὁ κύριος καί σωτήρ, 2 Peter 3:2; σωτήρ τοῦ σώματος, universally ('the savior' i. e.) preserver of the body, i. e. of the church, Ephesians 5:23 (σωτήρ ὄντως ἁπάντων ἐστι καί γενέτωρ, of God the preserver of the world, Aristotle, de mundo, c. 6, p. 397{b}, 20); σωτήρ is used of Christ as the giver of future salvation, on his return from heaven, Philippians 3:20. ("The title is confined (with the exception of the writings of St Luke) to the later writings of the N. T." (Westcott as above.))

BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's