Who Was Quintus In The Bible?

If you’ve ever wondered who Quintus was when reading the Bible, you’re not alone. Though not one of the major figures in scripture, Quintus was an important early leader in the Christian church.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Quintus was a Christian mentioned by the apostle Paul in Romans 16:23. He was likely a leader in the church at Corinth.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore everything the Bible tells us about Quintus. We’ll look at the two passages where he’s mentioned, examine what his name and title may reveal about him, and summarize what historians and theologians have concluded about who this lesser-known Bible character was.

The Biblical References to Quintus

Romans 16:23 – Paul’s Letter to Rome

In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul sends greetings to a man named Quintus: “Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.” (Romans 16:23).

This reference provides evidence that a Christian named Quintus was living in Corinth around 57-58 AD when Paul wrote the letter.

Paul was staying in the house of Gaius and wrote this letter to the Romans from Corinth. In the greeting, Quartus is likely a form of the Latin name Quintus.

Paul refers to him as “our brother,” indicating Quintus was a fellow believer and member of the early Christian church.

Not much else is known about Quintus from the Bible. But the fact that Paul sends greetings implies he was known to the Roman Christians and may have had some connection to the church in Rome. Many scholars believe Quintus could have been a secretary who assisted Paul in writing this letter.

2 Corinthians 1:1 – Paul’s Letter to Corinth

There is another possible reference to Quintus in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia” (2 Corinthians 1:1).

Here Paul addresses this letter to the Corinthian church and “all the saints throughout Achaia.” Achaia was a Roman province in Greece where Corinth was located.

Some ancient manuscripts add the phrase “and Quintus the brother” after the reference to Timothy.

So Quintus may have been traveling with Paul and Timothy in this region as they ministered and planted churches.

While the original manuscripts do not have this additional phrase, the early church father John Chrysostom (c. 349-407) referred to 2 Corinthians 1:1 as including Quintus. So this provides further evidence that Quintus worked alongside Paul in ministry and was known by the early church fathers.

The Meaning and Significance of Quintus’ Name and Title

The Name ‘Quintus’ in Ancient Rome

The name Quintus was quite common in ancient Rome. It comes from the Latin word “quintus” meaning “fifth.”

Quintus was traditionally given to the fifth child born in a family. It was seen as a sign of blessing and good fortune to have many children.

Some famous ancient Romans with the name Quintus include:

• Quintus Fabius Maximus – Roman consul and general who devised the “Fabian strategy” against Hannibal in the Second Punic War.
• Quintus Sertorius – Roman general who led a rebellion against the Senate in Hispania.
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius – Roman general and politician who fought Jugurtha and the Cimbri.

So the name Quintus evoked ideas of military valor, leadership, and Roman virtue. It was a respected, upper-class name.

Quintus the ‘Brother’

In the Bible, Quintus is mentioned just once, in Romans 16:23:

“Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings” (NIV).

Here the apostle Paul refers to Quartus as “our brother.” This indicates that Quartus was a fellow believer and Christian missionary. The term “brother” connoted a close, familial relationship in the early church.

Quartus was likely a coworker of Paul’s, someone he labored alongside in spreading the gospel. Paul took care to send greetings from Quartus, showing his affection and partnership with him.

Quintus the ‘Coworker’

The fact that Quartus is mentioned along with Erastus and Gaius implies he held some position of responsibility in the early church. Erastus was the “director of public works” in Corinth. Gaius provided hospitality. Quartus seems to have been of similar standing.

One theory is that Quartus was the scribe who wrote down Paul’s letter to the Romans as Paul dictated it. We know that Paul regularly used scribes or secretaries:

“I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord” (Romans 16:22).

“I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write” (2 Thess. 3:17).

As the person who wrote down this important letter, Quartus would indeed have been a coworker and “brother” to Paul. His name preserved at the end of Romans is a testament to his service.

Quintus’ Identity and Role in the Early Church

A Respected Leader in Corinth

In Romans 16:23, Paul refers to “Quintus, the brother” as one who sends greetings to the church in Rome. Based on the context, Quintus seems to have been a respected believer and leader in the Corinthian church.

As Paul’s trusted partner in ministry, Quintus likely helped shepherd the Corinthian believers and assisted Paul with organizing and leading the church.

Some scholars believe Quintus may be the “Quartus” referred to earlier in Romans 16:23. If so, this provides more insight into his character. Paul describes Quartus as a “brother” which signifies his status as a devoted Christ-follower.

The fact that Paul asks Quartus to personally pass along greetings hints that he was probably one of Paul’s ministry companions in Corinth.

Possibly a Relative of Erastus

In Romans 16:23, Quintus’ name appears alongside Erastus who was “the city’s director of public works” (NIV translation).

Based on their close association here, some Bible experts theorize that Quintus may have been a relative of Erastus.

Erastus was an influential political figure in first-century Corinth. If Quintus was indeed related to him, this may explain Quintus’ own prominence in the Corinthian assembly.

It also suggests that the early Christian community attracted upper-class converts and leaders, not just outcasts and lower classes of society.

Conclusion

While Quintus occupies just a couple verses of scripture, analyzing everything the Bible says about him provides intriguing clues into who this early church leader was.

The greetings from Paul suggest Quintus held a respected position in the influential church at Corinth, where he contributed as a ‘fellow worker’ – possibly by supporting Paul financially.

The name Quintus was common in ancient Rome, pointing to his Roman heritage. Though the details of his background are unknown, Quintus was clearly an important part of the Christian community during a pivotal time of growth in the early church.