Rufus (Rufus, 'Ροῦφος)

RUFUS (Rufus, 'Ροῦφος). - A name common among slaves and, generally, among persons of humble condition; it occurs twice in the New Testament: Mk. 15:21; Rom. 16:13, though it remains doubtful whether one or two persons are meant.

In the first text R. is mentioned, with his brother Alexander, as the son of Simon of Cyrene, whom the Roman soldiers pressed into service to carry the cross of Jesus; many Jews lived in Cyrene (v.). In the second text a R. is greeted as an eminent person (ἐκλεκτός does not mean "Christian," but indicates either the qualities or the position of R.) of the community of Rome; and there is also greeted his mother, called by Paul his mother as well. This woman had therefore taken particular care of Paul, either during a period of his life that could be that spent in Jerusalem "at the feet of Gamaliel" (Acts 22:3), or on other unspecified occasions. This would argue for the identity of R. the son of Simon and R. the member of the community of Rome. St. Mark's care in mentioning the two brothers Alexander and R. suggests that one of them, at least, was known to the Christian community of Rome, for which the Evangelist was writing.

Teodorico da Castel San Pietro