The Bible contains lots of names. I own a book called All the People in the Bible that’s 578 pages thick. Another called Who’s Who in the Bible weighs in at 626 pages. I find lists of names in the Scriptures especially fascinating. Rather than skim down the page, I’ve learned to pay attention to odd names and the descriptors that follow.

Paul greeted a number of the believers in Rome by name. Here’s an example: Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.

Who was Apelles and what test did he stand?

We don’t know. Apelles was a common name at the time, so it yields few clues. The testing he endured remains buried.

But a line of greeting from Paul reveals some things. Paul suffered through shipwrecks, beatings, mocking, scourges, and stoning. He ran with a resolute crowd. Paul understood fidelity and used that word sparingly. To point out Apelles for his faithfulness and loyalty underscored the man’s character lived out over years of service.

I hope in heaven to visit with all the people found in the Bible. Time will be no more, so no hurry. I imagine a crowd around Apelles, finally hearing his story of faith. I plan to camp there awhile and tease out the details.

Then after him, I’ll continue down a line of saints whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test, those whom we’ve never heard of and whose names grace no list save the one the Lord keeps. For people like Apelles blessed the church down the centuries and exist among us even today. When you notice them (they tend to stay quiet as they work), thank them.

Because you and I and the world around us need such solid people.

Romans 16 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Dorothy Lin