The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Patrobas
fl. c. 57 (death unrecorded) · Believer of a Roman house circle · Rome
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Patrobas was
A shortened form of Patrobius — a name made notorious a decade later by Nero’s luxurious freedman, executed under Galba. Paul’s Patrobas is the name’s humbler bearer: a brother in Asyncritus’s circle, otherwise unknown, canonized by a greeting.
Common questions
When was Patrobas active?
Patrobas is dated fl. c. 57 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Patrobas 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 Patrobas?
Patrobas is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul, Origen of Alexandria and John Chrysostom. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Patrobas from?
The archive associates Patrobas with Rome.
Who were Patrobas’ contemporaries?
The archive links Patrobas to 2 other figures, including Asyncritus and Philologus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Romans 16:14
c. AD 55Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.Paul · read ↗
Origen, Commentary on Romans X (on Romans 16:14)
c. AD 246Homilies on Romans XXXI
c. AD 391“Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.” … Or rather even this is no slight praise that he even calls them brethren, as also those that are after them he calls saints.John Chrysostom · Homilies on Romans XXXI · 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Patrobas.
- 1Rome