Introduction to Simon of Cyrene

Tales of the Bible often revolve around the actions and encounters of familiar figures. One such figure in the narrative of the crucifixion of Jesus is Simon of Cyrene. In the Gospels, particularly the accounts found in the books of Mark and Luke, Simon of Cyrene appears as a significant but somewhat enigmatic character. This article explores the role and implications of Simon of Cyrene, focusing on the intricate details found in Mark's Gospel and suggestions that tie him to Paul's epistle to the Romans.

Meeting Simon of Cyrene

As Mark and Luke recount the story, Simon of Cyrene meets Jesus in an unexpected and unusual manner. According to the Gospel of Mark, Simon of Cyrene was returning from the country to the city when he was seized by the Roman soldiers to carry the cross for Jesus (Mark 15:21). Much like Matthew and Luke, Mark too includes the detail about Simon being from Cyrene, but what sets Mark’s account apart is the extra information he adds about Simon’s sons, Alexander and Rufus.

Mark’s specific mention of Simon's sons has sparked considerable scholarly debate. Why does Mark include these extra details?

Why Include Simon's Sons?

Mark’s naming of Simon’s sons, Alexander and Rufus, raises questions about the specificity of this detail. Richard Bauckham offers a plausible explanation. According to him, Mark uses these names to reference a record of eyewitness testimony within the early Christian community. This means that Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, might have initially hesitant about his sons joining the movement, or perhaps he passed away at an early stage, leaving his sons as the key narrators of the crucifixion story. By naming the sons, Mark may have been responding to a necessary process within the early Church to verify accounts of the crucifixion.

Even still, the point is notjust historical but also contextual. Mark’s mentioning of Simon’s sons provides a link to the audience and suggests that these names should be familiar to them, which indeed sets the Gospel apart from purely fabricated stories.

Paul and Rufus: A Possible Connection

While the sons themselves might not be as famous as their father, there is a fascinating intersection between Simon of Cyrene’s sons and a character mentioned in Paul's epistle to the Romans. In Romans 16:13, Paul greets a Rufus "chosen in the Lord" and mentions his mother, a figure who was supportive of Paul.

Some scholars, like Lydia McGrew, propose that Mark’s mention of a Rufus could be linked to this Rufus named by Paul. Such a suggestion adds another layer of complexity to understanding the connections within early Christian communities. The coincidence is striking, especially given the detailed tradition suggesting that Mark’s Gospel was initially addressed to the Christian community in Rome.

Supporting this notion, Bauckham draws attention to two significant points. On one hand, Paul’s relationship to Rufus and his mother implies that Rufus had a history with Rome and possibly his journey from the eastern side of the Mediterranean to Rome, where Paul was writing. This background fits with a scenario where Mark also wrote his Gospel in Rome. On the other hand, Bauckham also notes that Rufus was not an unusual name, which complicates the argument but does not entirely negate it.

Historical Reliability and Eyewitness Testimony

The detailed names and contexts in Mark's Gospel suggest that these narratives have roots in firsthand accounts. These accounts are not just historical but also serve to validate the authenticity of the message. By linking the story of Simon of Cyrene and Rufus with the earliest Christian communities in Rome, Mark’s Gospel offers a window into the early Church and its methods of verifying and passing on important historical information.

Conclusion

Simon of Cyrene, a name that appears in Mark’s Gospel as a fleeting narrative detail, becomes a rich subject for historical and theological exploration. Through the lens of Mark’s narrative and the suggestion of early Christian traditions, we gain a deeper understanding of the context and purpose of this account. The inclusion of Simon’s sons, Alexander and Rufus, and their potential connection to Paul’s Rufus, opens up new avenues of study into the early Christian narrative and the ways in which these stories were verified and passed down through the generations.