Eubulus

Eubulus (meaning prudent or of good counsel) was a Christian at Rome, one of Paul's companions during his final imprisonment, who sent greetings to Timothy in the closing words of 2 Timothy: "Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers" (2 Timothy 4:21). Paul's second letter to Timothy — widely regarded as his last surviving correspondence, composed shortly before his execution — conveys both pastoral urgency and personal warmth. The greeting from Eubulus and his companions underscores the contrast between Paul's isolation at his first defense ("no one came to stand by me," 4:16) and the continuing loyalty of those who remained faithful.

Eubulus is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament, and his subsequent history is not recorded. His name appears in Roman inscriptions and was common in the Hellenistic world. Notably, he is listed alongside Linus, whom early church tradition unanimously identifies as the first bishop of Rome after Peter and Paul, suggesting Eubulus was a recognized member of the Roman church's leadership circle. His brief appearance at the very end of Paul's final letter is a small window onto the community of faith that sustained Paul in his last days and maintained the church's life in the imperial capital during the apostolic generation.