The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Claudius Ephebus
fl. c. 96 (death unrecorded) · Envoy of the Roman church to Corinth · Rome → Corinth
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Claudius Ephebus was
First-named of the envoys who carried the Roman church’s letter — our 1 Clement — to the sedition-torn Corinthians: “faithful and prudent men, that have walked among us from youth unto old age unblameably.” His names mark a freedman of the imperial Claudian house; “from youth to old age” places his conversion in the 40s or 50s, within hailing distance of Paul’s Corinth. Rome sent, in other words, its living memory. The envoys were to stay as witnesses until peace was restored — the first recorded mediation mission between churches.
1 Clement 63–65 only (one letter, one embassy).
Common questions
When was Claudius Ephebus active?
Claudius Ephebus is dated fl. c. 96 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Claudius Ephebus in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Claudius Ephebus?
Claudius Ephebus is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Clement of Rome. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Claudius Ephebus from?
The archive associates Claudius Ephebus with Rome, Corinth. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Claudius Ephebus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Claudius Ephebus to 3 other figures, including Valerius Bito, Fortunatus of Corinth and Clement of Rome. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
1 Clement 63, 65
c. AD 96We have sent faithful and prudent men, that have walked among us from youth unto old age unblameably, who shall also be witnesses between you and us.Clement of Rome · 65 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Claudius Ephebus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.