Rom 16:13 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 13. Rufus, chosen in the Lord ] τονεκλεκον, one of great excellence in Christianity; a choice man, as we would say. So the word εκλεκτος often signifies. : They smote τουςεκλεκτους, the chosen men that were of Israel . So εκλεκταμνημεια are choice sepulchres , : εκλεκτα τωνδωρων choice gifts , ; and ανδρεςεκλεκτοι, choice men , . By the same use of the word, the companions of Paul and Barnabas are termed chosen men , εκλεξαμενουςανδρας, persons in whom the Church of God could confide. See Whitby . His mother and mine. ] It is not likely that the mother of Rufus was the mother of Paul; but while she was the natural mother of the former, she acted as a mother to the latter. We say of a person of this character, that she is a motherly woman. Among the ancients, he or she who acted a kind, instructing, and indulgent part to another, was styled the father or mother of such a one. So Terence :- Natura tu illi pater es, consiliis ego. Adelphi , Act. i. scen. 2, ver. 47. Thou art his father by nature, I by instruction.

‏ Romans 16:13

Verse 13. Rufus, chosen in the Lord] τονεκλεκον, one of great excellence in Christianity; a choice man, as we would say. So the word εκλεκτος often signifies. Ps 78:31: They smote τουςεκλεκτους, the chosen men that were of Israel. So εκλεκταμνημεια are choice sepulchres, Ge 23:6: εκλεκτα τωνδωρων choice gifts, De 12:11; and ανδρεςεκλεκτοι, choice men, Jud 20:16. By the same use of the word, the companions of Paul and Barnabas are termed chosen men, εκλεξαμενουςανδρας, persons in whom the Church of God could confide. See Whitby.

His mother and mine.] It is not likely that the mother of Rufus was the mother of Paul; but while she was the natural mother of the former, she acted as a mother to the latter. We say of a person of this character, that she is a motherly woman. Among the ancients, he or she who acted a kind, instructing, and indulgent part to another, was styled the father or mother of such a one. So Terence:-

Natura tu illi pater es, consiliis ego. Adelphi, Act. i. scen. 2, ver. 47.

Thou art his father by nature, I by instruction.