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Quartus (Greek form transliterated as Koo-ar-tos) appears once in the New Testament, in Paul’s closing greetings to the believers in Rome (Romans 16:23).

Biblical Occurrence and Immediate Context

Romans 16:23: “Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and our brother Quartus greets you.”

Paul is dictating the epistle from Corinth (cf.Romans 16:1,1 Corinthians 1:14), lodging with Gaius. In this setting he adds salutations from fellow workers and local believers. Quartus, called “our brother,” therefore belonged to the Corinthian congregation and was sufficiently known to the Roman Christians to warrant individual mention.

Historical and Cultural Background

1. Roman naming convention: Quartus is a Latin numeral meaning “Fourth.” It was common in Roman society to use ordinal numbers (Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus) as given names or surnames, sometimes assigned to slaves or freedmen. Tertius, Paul’s amanuensis (Romans 16:22), and Quartus may have been related socially or biologically, perhaps even literal brothers, though Scripture is silent on that point.
2. Urban leadership: The group greeting the Romans includes Gaius, a homeowner practicing hospitality, and Erastus, a public official. Quartus stands alongside them, implying his recognized standing within the assembly.

Early Church Tradition

Later Christian writers identify Quartus as one of the Seventy whom Jesus sent out (Luke 10:1), and as the first bishop of Berytus (modern Beirut). These traditions are not canonical but show how the early Church esteemed him as a foundational missionary leader.

Theological Significance

1. Unity across regions: Quartus’s greeting symbolizes the fellowship uniting Corinth and Rome. Paul’s epistle itself is an appeal for mutual acceptance (Romans 15:7); including Quartus models that impulse.
2. Equality in the body: The list intertwines people of various social ranks—city treasurer, host, numeral-named brother—underscoring that status distinctions dissolve “in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
3. Named remembrance: Scripture’s deliberate inclusion of otherwise unknown believers teaches that God values individual faithfulness; “the Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19).

Ministry Lessons and Applications

• Value every believer. Quartus receives a place in God-breathed Scripture though no deeds of his are recorded. Ministry should honor quiet faithfulness.
• Foster inter-church relationships. Quartus’s greeting encouraged the Roman church; modern congregations likewise strengthen one another through intentional connection.
• Embrace diverse backgrounds. Whether Quartus was a former slave or a free citizen, his partnership with leaders like Paul and Erastus demonstrates the gospel’s power to transcend societal boundaries.

Summary

Quartus’s single appearance offers a snapshot of first-century Christian community life in which ordinary yet faithful believers were knit together across cities for the advance of the gospel. His brief greeting inRomans 16 stands as a perpetual testimony that the Lord memorializes every act of brotherly love within the household of faith.