Who were Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, and Hermas mentioned in Romans 16:14? Scriptural Context (Romans 16:14) “Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.” General Note on the Five Men All five are otherwise unknown to the New Testament record, yet their inclusion reveals: 1. Paul’s intimate knowledge of the Roman house–church network c. AD 57. 2. The diversity of ethnic backgrounds in early Christianity, reflected in their Greek and Latin names. 3. The reliability of Romans as an epistolary document rooted in first-century social reality. Patristic Testimony Hippolytus (On the Seventy Apostles, early 3rd cent.) and Dorotheus of Tyre (Synopsis, 4th cent.) list these five among the Lord’s Seventy (Luke 10) and assign each a later episcopal post. While the lists differ in detail, their independent attestation supports the tradition that these men became leaders after Paul’s greeting. Asyncritus • Name meaning: “Incomparable” or “incomparable with.” • Tradition: Hippolytus—bishop of Hyrcania (south-eastern Black Sea region); Dorotheus—bishop of Bethania. • Probable background: A Hellenistic Jew or Gentile convert active in one of the Greek-speaking Roman assemblies. • Early reception: Commemorated in the Byzantine Menologion on 8 April, paired with other members of the Seventy. Phlegon • Name meaning: “Burning,” “Zealous.” • Tradition: Bishop of Marathon in Thrace (Hippolytus). • Noteworthy: The name “Phlegon” is found in first-century inscriptions in Puteoli and Rome, matching the demographic spread of freedmen in the imperial capital. • Liturgical memory: Celebrated 8 April with the other four. Hermes • Name meaning: “Interpreter” (common slave name in Rome). • Tradition: Bishop of Dalmatia (Hippolytus) or Philippopolis (Dorotheus). • Potential confusion: Not the same “Hermes” as mentioned in Shepherd of Hermas (c. AD 95–140), though some fathers conflated them. • Archaeology: A 1st-century graffiti inscription “Hermes Christou” (“Hermes [belonging to] Christ”) in the Catacomb of Priscilla may indicate early veneration of a believer by this name. Patrobas (Patrobas/Patrobus) • Name meaning: “(One) of the father’s counsel.” • Social status: Patrobas was a well-attested cognomen among freedmen of the imperial household (cf. Suetonius, Nero 35); plausible that this believer moved from the court to the church. • Tradition: Bishop of Neapolis (Naples) or Puteoli, critical ports on Paul’s later journey (Acts 28:13). • Historical coherence: Fits Paul’s consistent pattern of greeting believers tied to imperial service (cf. Philippians 4:22). Hermas • Name meaning: same root as Hermes, variant form. • Tradition: Bishop of Philippopolis in Thrace (Hippolytus) or Dalmatia (Dorotheus). • Literary link: Some early sources (Origen, Eusebius) suggest the Shepherd of Hermas was penned by this Hermas, brother of Pope Pius I (c. AD 140). Modern manuscript chronology places the Shepherd later, so identification remains uncertain, yet plausible if Hermas lived into old age. • Pastoral significance: Shepherd of Hermas, while non-canonical, reflects an early Roman concern for post-baptismal sin and church discipline, indicating the formative influence of Roman leaders named Hermas. Collective Ministry and “the brothers with them” Paul’s plural addendum hints that each man hosted or oversaw a separate congregation within Rome’s insula system, likely 20–30 believers per household. By greeting the leaders first, Paul implicitly greets all under their care, showing the early model of decentralized yet coordinated fellowship. Theological Implications 1. Apostolic Succession: The progression from greeted brothers to recognized bishops underlines God’s providential design for church leadership continuity. 2. Unity in Diversity: Greek, Latin, and possibly Jewish backgrounds meet in Christ, fulfilling Isaiah 56:8, “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered” . 3. Historical Reliability: Concrete personal names anchored in corroborated social strata of Nero’s Rome fortify the case for the authenticity of Romans, reinforcing confidence in Scripture’s trustworthiness. Practical Application for the Modern Believer • Obscurity does not negate kingdom impact; five otherwise unknown saints receive eternal mention. • Hospitality and house-church ministry remain timeless avenues for gospel advance. • Faithful service today secures remembrance in God’s ledger, even if earthly records fade. Summary Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, and Hermas were first-century Roman believers, likely leaders of separate house congregations, later honored in church tradition as members of the Seventy and as pioneers of regional episcopacies. Their brief biblical cameo, buttressed by consistent manuscript evidence and early patristic testimony, showcases the historicity of Romans, the continuity of apostolic witness, and God’s practice of weaving ordinary names into His extraordinary redemptive narrative. |
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