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Rufus

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Early Christian in Rome, possibly son of Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross

Detailed Definition
Rufus is greeted in Romans 16:13; Mark 15:21 names Simon’s sons Alexander and Rufus, suggesting prominence. In poetry, Rufus symbolizes the legacy of cross-bearing families, the honor of being “chosen in the Lord,” and how incidental mentions hint at deeper gospel narratives.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Romans 16:13, Rufus is called “chosen in the Lord”—a line inspiring devotional poetry about divine election; Early church tradition links Rufus to Simon of Cyrene’s son (Mark 15:21); Contemporary poems honor Rufus as leader in Roman congregation; In poems about family faith, Rufus embodies generational blessing; Some liturgical laments include Rufus in greetings that build early church unity; Educational poems cite Rufus to teach about personal relationships in Paul’s letters.
Additional Notes
Rufus, mentioned in Mark 15:21 as Simon of Cyrene’s son and possibly the same Rufus greeted in Romans 16:13, may have been a notable early Christian; his mother is praised for her care; such figures represent the familial networks underpinning the early church—ideal for poems on legacy and community.
Also Known As
Rufus the Chosen Rufus son of Simon of Cyrene
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