First, the proper (ancient) Greek spelling of Epaphras is actually Ἐπαφρᾶς, not Ἐπαφράς.Second, you should seriously consider the possibility that Epaphras is actually a contraction of Epaphroditos, in the same way that the following names are contractions of longer names:• Annas (from Ananias, both are in the main database) • Kleopas (from Kleopatros, both are in the main database) • Olympas (from Olympiodoros, one is submitted and the other is main) • Patrobas (from Patrobios, both are currently submitted names) • Silas (from Silouanos/Silvanus, all are in the main database)Also, it so happens that all contractions are biblical names from the New Testament - just like Epaphras!Sources used: - https://biblehub.com/greek/1889.htm (in English; derives the name from Epaphroditos) - https://www.trismegistos.org/name/9269 (in English; this is about the name) - https://lsj.gr/wiki/Ἐπαφρᾶς (in English; this is about the name) - https://el.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ἐπαφρᾶς (in Greek; this is about the name) - http://greekdoc.com/bible/names/ep.html#επα (in English) - Epaphras at the Lexicon of Greek Personal Names (LGPN): http://clas-lgpn2.classics.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/lgpn_search.cgi?namenoaccents=Επαφρας (in English; features 148 results) - https://glg.csic.es/NombresGriegosDePersona/ListasNombres/NombresDePersona_E.html (in Spanish) [noted -ed]
Second, you should seriously consider the possibility that Epaphras is actually a contraction of Epaphroditos, in the same way that the following names are contractions of longer names:
• Annas (from Ananias, both are in the main database)
• Kleopas (from Kleopatros, both are in the main database)
• Olympas (from Olympiodoros, one is submitted and the other is main)
• Patrobas (from Patrobios, both are currently submitted names)
• Silas (from Silouanos/Silvanus, all are in the main database)
Also, it so happens that all contractions are biblical names from the New Testament - just like Epaphras!
Sources used:
- https://biblehub.com/greek/1889.htm (in English; derives the name from Epaphroditos)
- https://www.trismegistos.org/name/9269 (in English; this is about the name)
- https://lsj.gr/wiki/Ἐπαφρᾶς (in English; this is about the name)
- https://el.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ἐπαφρᾶς (in Greek; this is about the name)
- http://greekdoc.com/bible/names/ep.html#επα (in English)
- Epaphras at the Lexicon of Greek Personal Names (LGPN): http://clas-lgpn2.classics.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/lgpn_search.cgi?namenoaccents=Επαφρας (in English; features 148 results)
- https://glg.csic.es/NombresGriegosDePersona/ListasNombres/NombresDePersona_E.html (in Spanish) [noted -ed]