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Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Some Christians stand out as \u201cchoice\u201d within the church.<\/p>\n The name \u201cRufus<\/span>\u201d is of Roman (Latin) origin, meaning \u201cred.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChosen<\/span>\u201d is translated from the noun eklektos<\/em><\/span>, which is based on the verb eklegomai<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto select\u201d or \u201cto choose.\u201d Eklektos<\/em> <\/span>primarily refers to one or the thing which has been chosen, but it can just as well be a reference to quality, as we might refer to a \u201cchoice piece of fruit.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cmother<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word m\u0113t\u0113r<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cmother\u201d either literally or figuratively.<\/p>\n The Apostle Paul now sends greetings to a man named Rufus. Although we don\u2019t know anything for sure about this man other than what we are told here, there has been a great deal of conjecture over the years. Before we look at conjecture, though, let\u2019s see what Paul says about him. We are told here that Rufus is \u201cchosen in the Lord.<\/span>\u201d As we pointed out above, \u201cchosen<\/span>\u201d is from eklektos<\/em><\/span>. So, what Paul could be saying is that Rufus is one of the elect, one of the chosen ones. The problem with that is that this same Apostle Paul teaches us in his letter to the Ephesians that all Christians are chosen:<\/p>\n just as He chose<\/strong> us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,<\/span> (Ephesians 1:4<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Although none of us can fully comprehend how God can say \u201cYou I have chosen\u201d and at the same time proclaim \u201cWhosoever will may come,\u201d they are both true nonetheless. And since all believers are \u201cchosen,\u201d it doesn\u2019t make sense that Paul would single out Rufus as a chosen one in his personal greetings. Therefore, it makes more sense that what he is telling us is that Rufus is a \u201cchoice\u201d Christian, one who is exemplary in his words and deeds.<\/p>\n Paul also sends greetings to Rufus\u2019 mother referring to her as \u201chis mother and mine.<\/span>\u201d That does not mean that Rufus was Paul\u2019s brother, for there is no evidence of this anywhere in scripture or secular writing. It is more likely that what Paul means is Rufus\u2019 mother was like a mother to him.<\/p>\n Now, regarding the speculation about Rufus: we read in Mark 15:21<\/strong><\/span> about Simon of Cyrene who was compelled to bear our Lord\u2019s cross. Mark tells us that he was \u201cthe father of Alexander and Rufus.<\/span>\u201d From this it is reasonable to conclude that when Mark wrote his Gospel, Alexander and Rufus may have been well known as Christians. And, since this letter to the Romans was written some twenty-five years after the crucifixion, there is plenty of time for Rufus to have matured into a Christian worthy of note. It is also believed by some that this Rufus is one and the same with the man who became bishop of the church in Thebes. If these things are true, then it is no wonder that Paul greets him as a \u201cchoice\u201d Christian.<\/p>\n We see once again that God, through Paul\u2019s pen, sends special greetings to someone who stands out above the rest in his walk with the Lord. If God were to have such a letter written to your church, would He send special greetings to you?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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