Aristobulus

Ἀριστόβουλος/air-ih-STOB-yoo-lus/

“Best counselor”

Summary

A resident of Rome whose household is greeted by Paul, possibly a grandson of Herod the Great.

☩Identity

Aristobulus is mentioned by Paul in his greetings at the end of Romans. Paul salutes 'those of the household of Aristobulus,' suggesting that Aristobulus himself may not have been a Christian or was absent from Rome. Some scholars identify him as a grandson of Herod the Great and brother of Herod Agrippa, a man of great wealth and intimate with the emperor Claudius.

Key verses:Romans 16:10

☩His Household

The 'household of Aristobulus' likely refers to his slaves. If Aristobulus had died, his slaves may have become the property of the emperor but retained the name of their former master. Among these were Christians to whom Paul sends greeting.

☩Tradition

Tradition makes him one of the seventy disciples and reports that he preached the gospel in Britain.

Related Verses1 mention

Romans· 1 verse

16:10

References

1.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Aristobulus," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
2.James Orr (ed.), "Aristobulus," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Aristobulus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).