Strong’s G4504: A proper noun of Latin origin (Rufus, meaning “red”), referring to one of the sons of Simon of Cyrene and a prominent member of the early Christian community. His mention in Mark’s Gospel and Paul’s greetings suggests he and his family were well-known figures in the early church.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ῥοῦφος represents an important connection between Simon of Cyrene’s forced service in carrying Jesus’s cross and the subsequent impact on his family’s faith. In the New Testament, he appears both as Simon’s son and as a distinguished member of the Roman church. Early church traditions often highlighted how one family’s encounter with Christ’s suffering led to generational faith. Today, his story illustrates how seemingly chance encounters with Christ’s cross can transform entire families.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥοῦφος, Rhouphos, /hroo-fos/
• Detailed pronunciation: HROO-fos (with emphasis on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (masculine)

Etymology:

• Latin origin: Rufus (red)
• Hellenized form of Roman name
• Common among slaves and freedmen
• Possibly referring to red hair or complexion

D – Defining Meanings

• Son of Simon of Cyrene
• A prominent Christian in Rome
• A member of the early church community

For compound words:
This is not a compound word but a simple transliteration.

Translation Options:

• “Rufus” – traditional English rendering
• “Rufo” – Spanish/Italian form
• “Rhouphos” – closer to Greek form

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Ἀλέξανδρος (Alexandros) /al-ex-an-dros/ – his brother’s name
  See G223
• Σίμων (Simōn) /see-mohn/ – his father’s name
  See G4613

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular only (as a proper name)
• Gender: Masculine
• Second declension

Though a proper noun, it follows regular Greek masculine declension patterns.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies him as Simon’s son and a Roman Christian. Thayer’s notes his dual appearance in Mark and Romans. LSJ provides background on the name’s Latin usage. Vine’s connects him to the early church. Strong’s relates the meaning to “red.” Moulton and Milligan document the name’s frequency in Roman-era documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and [Ῥοῦφος] Rufus, to carry his cross.” Mark 15:21

Additional References:
Romans 16:13

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ῥοῦφος represents how encountering Christ’s cross can transform generations. His story proclaims the good news that King Jesus’s suffering draws people to Himself, even through unexpected circumstances. From his father’s forced cross-bearing to his family’s faithful service in the church, we see how God providentially uses seemingly random events to build His kingdom.

D – Did You Know?

1. The mention of Rufus in Mark suggests the family was well-known to the Gospel’s Roman audience.
2. His mother was so nurturing to Paul that the apostle called her “his mother.”
3. Early church tradition suggests he became a leader in the Roman church.

Strong’s G4504: A proper noun of Latin origin (Rufus, meaning “red”), referring to one of the sons of Simon of Cyrene and a prominent member of the early Christian community. His mention in Mark’s Gospel and Paul’s greetings suggests he and his family were well-known figures in the early church.

Part of speech: Proper Noun (masculine)

Tags: Rufus, Simon of Cyrene, cross-bearing, Roman church, Paul’s associates, Mark’s Gospel, early church, family faith, providence, conversion, Christian community​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​