from μήτηρ and πόλις; a mother city, i.e. "metropolis":--chiefest city.
Transliteration:mētrópolis
Pronunciation:may-trop'-ol-is
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term G3390 (mētrópolis) is a compound noun formed from two distinct elements: `{{G3384}}` (mētēr), meaning "mother," and `{{G4172}}` (pólis), meaning "city." Etymologically, it signifies a "mother-city." Semantically, this refers to the principal city of a region, a colony, or a province. It denotes the foundational city from which other settlements originated, or a city that holds a dominant position over surrounding areas, serving as their administrative, cultural, economic, or religious center. The definition "chiefest city" accurately captures this sense of preeminence, origin, and central authority. In the Greco-Roman world, a metropolis was the seat of government, a hub of commerce, and often a center of intellectual and religious life, exerting significant influence over its affiliated communities.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
It is important to note that the specific Greek word G3390 (mētrópolis) does not appear in the Greek New Testament. While the term itself is absent, the concept of a "chief city" or "mother city" was profoundly relevant to the biblical world and the context in which early Christianity developed. Cities such as Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome functioned as de facto metropolises in various capacities, even if the New Testament authors did not use this precise term to describe them.
Jerusalem, for instance, served as the religious and national metropolis for Judaism, the spiritual "mother city" from which the gospel spread forth ([[Acts 1:8]]). Antioch became a significant missionary metropolis for the early church, serving as a launching point for Paul's journeys ([[Acts 13:1-3]]). Rome was undeniably the political and administrative metropolis of the vast Roman Empire, a center of power and influence that the Apostle Paul felt compelled to visit ([[Romans 1:10-11]]). The absence of the specific word does not diminish the pervasive reality of metropolises shaping the social, political, and religious landscape of the New Testament era. Understanding this concept helps to grasp the strategic importance of early Christian missions targeting these influential urban centers.
### Related Words & Concepts
The components of G3390 are themselves significant:
* `{{G3384}}` (mētēr): "mother," often used metaphorically to denote origin, source, or nurturing influence (e.g., the church as a mother, [[Galatians 4:26]]).
* `{{G4172}}` (pólis): "city," a frequent term in the New Testament, referring to various urban centers, both earthly and heavenly (e.g., the city of God, [[Hebrews 11:10]]).
Related concepts include:
* **Capital City:** A city serving as the seat of government for a nation or empire.
* **Colony:** A settlement established by a "mother city" in another territory, maintaining ties to its origin (e.g., Philippi as a Roman colony, [[Acts 16:12]]).
* **Urbanization:** The increasing prominence and influence of cities as centers of population, commerce, and culture.
* **Spiritual Centers:** Places that hold particular religious significance or serve as hubs for spiritual activity, such as Jerusalem for Judaism and early Christianity.
### Theological Significance
Though G3390 is not found in the biblical text, the theological implications of the "metropolis" concept are profound.
1. **Earthly vs. Heavenly Metropolises:** The New Testament often contrasts earthly cities, which can be centers of human power, sin, and opposition to God (e.g., "Babylon" as a symbolic metropolis of evil in [[Revelation 17:18]]), with a divinely ordained heavenly city.
2. **The New Jerusalem as the Ultimate Metropolis:** The concept of a "mother city" finds its ultimate theological fulfillment in the "New Jerusalem" described in Revelation ([[Revelation 21:2]], [[Revelation 21:10]]). This heavenly city is depicted as coming down from God, serving as the ultimate spiritual metropolis for God's people. It is the true home, the origin of their spiritual citizenship, and the eternal dwelling place where God's presence is fully manifested. This eschatological metropolis transcends all earthly limitations, representing the perfection and consummation of God's redemptive plan.
3. **The Church as a Spiritual "Mother":** In a metaphorical sense, the church can be seen as a spiritual "mother" (cf. [[Galatians 4:26]] referring to "Jerusalem above"), nurturing believers and serving as a spiritual center from which the gospel emanates to the world, much like an ancient metropolis sent out colonists.
### Summary
The Greek word G3390 (mētrópolis) literally means "mother-city" or "chiefest city," denoting a principal urban center from which other settlements originate or which holds a dominant position. While this specific term does not appear in the Greek New Testament, the concept it describes was a fundamental aspect of the Greco-Roman world that shaped the context of early Christianity. Cities like Jerusalem and Rome functioned as de facto metropolises, influencing the spread and development of the early church. Theologically, the idea of a "mother city" finds its ultimate and most glorious expression in the "New Jerusalem," the heavenly metropolis that descends from God, representing the eternal home and ultimate spiritual origin for all believers, a city of divine perfection and eternal communion with God.
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