Epaenetus Series

Epaenetus

Epenetus ("praised") or Epaentus: is a saint in the Greek Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church, considered one of the seventy disciples, and may have been the first Bishop of Carthage or Cartagena. All that is known of him is told here.

Epaenetus is a personal Christian friend of Paul's at Rome to whom Paul sent his salutation in Romans 16:5, "Greet also the Church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia." He is spoken of as "the first fruits of *Achaia" (was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia." R.V., "of Asia," i.e., of proconsular Asia, which is probably the correct reading). As the first convert in that region, he was particularly dear to the apostle. He calls him his "well-beloved" (my dear friend).

*Achaia - Achaia was a senatorial province, thus free from military men and legions, and one of the most prestigious and sought-after provinces for senators to govern.

The *Textus Receptus of the New Testament has "firstfruits of Achaia," but this wrong reading is due to 1 Corinthians 16:15-16 (NIV). He was one of the first Christians in the Roman province of "Asia. "You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord's people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it." (NIV)

* The Textus Receptus (Latin for "Received Text") is a Greek New Testament that provided the textual base for the vernacular translations of the Reformation Period.

An exciting discovery was made in Rome of an inscription in which was the name of Epenetus, an Ephesian. This salutation, 1 Corinthians 16:15-16, designated "Textus Receptus" (Latin for "Received Text"), is a Greek New Testament that provided the textual base for the vernacular translations of the Reformation Period.

Prisca and Aquila had once dwelt in Rome (Acts 18:2), and there is nothing unusual in an Ephesian dwelling in the empire's capital. The designation Textus Receptus brings up the question of the destination of Romans 16:3-16, for it is argued that the passage is addressed to the Church in Ephesus because Prisca, Aquila, and Epenetus are known to have dwelt in Asia. On the other hand, more than 20 others on this list are not known to have spent any time in Asia.