Romans 16:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here again all is good, when such a son has such a mother, a house full of blessing, and a root corresponding to the fruit. The Apostle would not have said without reason, “his mother and mine,” unless by this he bore witness to the many virtues of the woman.

A twofold good is found here: the son is pure, and the mother is blameless. For he certainly would not have said, “his mother and mine,” unless he attributed great virtue to this woman.

Rufus was chosen, that is, brought by the Lord to the fulfillment of His labors. His mother was so righteous that the Apostle also calls her his own mother.

This praise also is most desirable, for many are called, but few are chosen (Mt 20:16). He also glorified the mother of Rufus for her many advances in virtue. Otherwise she would not have been counted worthy to be called Paul’s mother. Nature made her the mother of Rufus, but venerable virtue made her the mother of the divine Paul.

“Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” Rufus is usually regarded as the son of Simon of Cyrene (Mk 15:21). The Apostle calls the mother of Rufus his own mother out of gratitude for the love and care that she once showed Paul. Perhaps this was in the days of his youth, when Saul was brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel and lived in the household of Simon of Cyrene. At the time the Epistle to the Romans was written, this family, or more precisely Rufus and his mother, were already living in Rome. The Apostle sends them his greeting there.

“Such a son, such a mother: a root corresponding to the fruit, and a house full of blessing. For the Apostle did not say without reason, ‘his mother and mine,’ but by this he bore witness to the many virtues of this woman” (Saint Chrysostom).

“Rufus, chosen in the Lord.” This praise too is very desirable, for many are called, but few are chosen (Mt 20:16). He also glorified the mother of Rufus for her many advances in virtue. Otherwise she would not have been counted worthy to be called Paul’s mother. Nature made her the mother of Rufus, but venerable virtue made her the mother of the divine Paul (Blessed Theodoret).

Rufus was an Apostle of the Seventy and served as bishop in Thebes of Hellas. His commemoration is April 8 (21).