4504. Rhouphos

Lexical Summary

Rhouphos: Rufus

Original Word: Ῥοῦφος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Rhouphos
Pronunciation: HROO-fos
Phonetic Spelling: (hroo'-fos)
KJV: Rufus
NASB: Rufus
Word Origin: [of Latin origin]

1. red
2. Rufus, a Christian

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Rufus.

Of Latin origin; red; Rufus, a Christian -- Rufus.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Latin origin
Definition
"red," Rufus, a Christian at Rome
NASB Translation
Rufus (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4504: Ῥοῦφος

Ῥοῦφος, Ῥούφου. ὁ, Rufus (i. e. 'red', 'reddish'), a Latin proper name of a certain Christian: Mark 15:21; Romans 16:13. (B. D. under the word .)

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Background

Rufus is a personal name of Latin origin meaning “red-haired” or “ruddy.” Though borne by many in the Roman world, its appearance in Scripture always signals a believer whose household played a notable role in the earliest spread of the gospel.

Biblical References and Context

1. Mark 15:21 – “Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.”
2. Romans 16:13 – “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.”

Historical Setting

Mark, writing predominantly for Roman readers, identifies Simon of Cyrene by the names of his sons, Alexander and Rufus. Such a detail presumes that these men were well-known among the congregation in Rome. Roughly two decades later, Paul closes his Letter to the Romans with personal greetings that include Rufus and his mother. The convergence of Mark’s Roman audience and Paul’s Roman recipients has persuaded most commentators that the same Rufus is in view on both occasions. If so, a family that once witnessed Christ’s sufferings in Jerusalem had, by divine providence, become firmly planted in Rome, the empire’s capital and a strategic hub for gospel advance.

Family Contributions to Early Church Ministry

• Simon of Cyrene’s Forced Service – Though compelled by Roman soldiers, Simon’s carrying of the cross placed his family at the heart of redemptive history.
• Rufus’s Mother – Paul testifies that she had shown him motherly care, hinting at a household renowned for hospitality and practical love toward traveling missionaries (Romans 16:13).
• Rufus Himself – Paul calls him “chosen in the Lord,” a phrase that underscores God’s electing grace while commending Rufus’s proven faithfulness within the Roman assembly. His mention among twenty-six personal greetings indicates active participation in ministry circles that spanned Judea, Asia Minor, and Italy.

Ministry Significance

1. Eyewitness Bridge – The family linked the events of the crucifixion to later congregations, providing living testimony that reinforced apostolic preaching.
2. Cross-Cultural Unity – Originating from Cyrene in North Africa, settling in Jerusalem, and later residing in Rome, they embodied the multicolored tapestry of the church described in Acts 2:10–11 and Ephesians 2:19.
3. Model of Household Discipleship – The mother’s nurturing influence reached beyond her biological children to Paul himself, illustrating how ordinary homes became centers of Christian formation and missionary resupply.
4. Encouragement to the Persecuted – Knowing that one who had watched the Lord bear His cross had remained steadfast encouraged Roman believers facing their own trials under Nero’s rule.

Theological Implications

• Divine Sovereignty in Seeming Accidents – What began as forced labor for Simon yielded spiritual fruit in Rufus’s salvation and service. The narrative aligns with Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28, showing God’s redemptive purpose in human events.
• Election and Human Response – Paul’s designation “chosen in the Lord” pairs divine initiative with Rufus’s lived faith, harmonizing the doctrines of election and perseverance.
• Spiritual Kinship – The description of Rufus’s mother as Paul’s own speaks to the creation of a new family in Christ that transcends ethnic and social boundaries (Mark 3:35).

Lessons for Today

1. No encounter with Christ is incidental; even an unexpected burden can birth generations of ministry.
2. Hospitality remains a vital, God-honoring service that nurtures leaders and advances the gospel.
3. Believers are called to adopt one another in genuine familial love, reflecting the household of God.

Summary

Rufus stands as a quiet yet potent witness to the far-reaching impact of Christ’s cross. From Jerusalem’s sorrowful way to Rome’s burgeoning church, his story—and that of his family—demonstrates how God weaves personal histories into the larger tapestry of salvation, encouraging every household to open its doors to Christ and His servants.

Forms and Transliterations

Ρουφον Ῥοῦφον Ρουφου Ῥούφου Rhouphon Rhoûphon Rhouphou Rhoúphou Rouphon Rouphou

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 15:21 N-GMS
GRK: Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ῥούφου ἵνα ἄρῃ
NAS: of Alexander and Rufus), to bear
KJV: of Alexander and Rufus, to bear
INT: of Alexander and Rufus that he might carry

Romans 16:13 N-AMS
GRK: ἀσπάσασθε Ῥοῦφον τὸν ἐκλεκτὸν
NAS: Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord,
KJV: Salute Rufus chosen in
INT: greet Rufus the chosen

Strong's Greek 4504
2 Occurrences

Ῥοῦφον — 1 Occ.
Ῥούφου — 1 Occ.