When Your Name Is a Number - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians.

I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
Acts 20:4; Romans 16:22-23

When Your Name Is a Number
Sad to say, in the ancient Roman Empire and in many cultures and societies of old, slavery was commonplace. God made human beings in His own image and set them over all His creation on earth. He gave them life and dignity and blessed them. Centuries later, men fought wars and made slaves of the prisoners they took, or of those who could not pay their debts, or the children of such. Slaves had no dignity but were bought and sold like animals although sometimes they were far more capable than their masters. Masters named their slaves whatever they wished. Sometimes they simply gave them numbers, like prisoners often are given today.

Many early Christians were slaves, and parts of epistles are addressed to them, with parts also addressed to their masters. Secundus (Number 2) was a trusted Thessalonian brother, part of a group of brothers accompanying Paul as he carried a financial gift from the Greek and Macedonian assemblies to needy saints in Judea. Tertius (Number 3), the secretary to whom Paul dictated the epistle to the Romans, adds his personal greetings to it. Paul wrote this epistle from Corinth. Gaius, Paul's host, at whose home the assembly met, and Erastus the city treasurer added their greetings. So did Quartus (Number 4), evidently a slave. What a lovely title grace gives him—Quartus, a brother!

The name Primus (Number 1) is never found in Scripture. Our Lord Jesus, who "made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant," in all things must have the preeminence—here also!

Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.