Abistobulus
Abistobulus
(, a Greek name frequently adopted by Romans and Jews, and borne by several members of the Maccabaean and Herodian families)
In Rom 16:10 St. Paul salutes them which are of the household of Aristobulus ( ), i.e. the Christians in his familia or establishment of freedmen and slaves (perhaps known as Aristobuliani, for which the Greek phrase would be equivalent). Lightfoot thinks that Aristobulus was a grandson of Herod the Great, and brother of Agrippa and Herod. This Aristobulus lived and died in Rome in a private station (see Jos. Bellum Judaicum (Josephus) ii. xi. 6, Ant. xx. i. 2). After his death it is supposed that his household passed over to the Emperor, but retained the name of their former master. The household of Aristobulus would naturally include many Orientals and Jews, and therefore probably some Christians. The name Herodion (q.v. [Note: quod vide, which see.] ), which immediately follows, suggests a connexion with the Herodian dynasty. If Lightfoot is right, the reference to the household of Aristobulus is strong evidence for the Roman destination of these salutations. The Christians in the household would naturally form one of the distinct communities of which the Church at Rome was apparently made up (cf. Rom 16:11 and the phrases in Rom 16:5-15). We have no knowledge as to whether the master himself was a convert. See Lightfoot, Philippians4, 1878, p. 174f.
T. B. Allworthy.