Rufus
Summary
Rufus was a son of Simon of Cyrene who carried Christ's cross, and likely the same believer whom Paul greets in Romans 16:13 as "chosen in the Lord."
☩Son of Simon the Cyrenian
Rufus is mentioned in Mark 15:21 as a son of Simon the Cyrenian, along with his brother Alexander. Their father was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus on the way to Golgotha. The fact that Mark identifies Simon by reference to his sons indicates that Rufus and Alexander were well-known figures among the Christians for whom Mark wrote his Gospel. Since Mark likely wrote for the Roman Christian community, Rufus and Alexander were probably prominent members of the church in Rome at that time.
☩The Rufus of Romans
In Romans 16:13, Paul sends greetings to "Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine." Most scholars believe this is the same Rufus mentioned by Mark, since both references point to Rome. The designation "chosen in the Lord" may indicate that Rufus was distinguished among his fellow Christians for his character and usefulness, or that his conversion involved a particularly striking work of divine grace. Paul's reference to Rufus's mother as also his own suggests that this woman had shown maternal kindness to the apostle on some occasion, perhaps during his missionary travels.
☩Family Connections
Some have conjectured that one of the two spies whose life Rahab saved, perhaps Salmon himself, later married her, gratitude leading to affection. Similarly, some suggest that Rufus's father Simon may have become a believer through his experience of carrying Christ's cross, and that the entire family came to faith. The fact that Paul sends greetings to both Rufus and his mother at Rome, while the father is not mentioned, has led some to suppose Simon had died or was elsewhere. The name Rufus means "red" in Latin and was one of the most common slave names, though the man himself was likely of Hebrew origin.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Rufus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Rufus," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Rufus," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Rufus," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 5.George Morrish, "Rufus," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 6.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Rufus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).