Template:PudensPaul
Pudens and Paul
Clement, presented as the third bishop of Rome, claimed "St. Paul came to Britain and preached in the extremity of the West." When Saul's Father died Prassede married, Pudentinus, a high Roman official stationed in Cilicia who Fathered Rufus Pudens, born in Umbria.
Paul the Apostle was born Saul the son of Prassede, his mother, and a wealthy Benjaminite of the republic of Tarsus, whose father had purchased the status of Rhomaios (a high sui juris status of Rome) for himself and his descendants.
It is believed by many that Rufus met and married a beautiful British Princess Gladys who was renamed Claudia by the Emperor Claudius when he adopted her as his own daughter.
She was the daughter of Caratacus or Caractacus, also known as Caradoc, Caradog who was quartered in the Plautium Britannicum during the time Paul visited Rome.
Paul makes mention of his half brother in Romans 16:13 “Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” Rufus Pudens and Claudia had at least two daughters Prassede and Pudenziana named after their grand parents.
The church of Santa Prassede and Santa Pudenziana still stand in Rome. The church of Santa Pudenziana, "the most sacred and most ancient of churches," bears the second century inscription "known as that of the Pastor, dedicated by Sanctus Pias Papa, formerly the house of Sanctus Pudens, the Senator, and the Home of the Holy Apostles."
Family of Paul
- Prassede, Paul's mother a Benjaminite>> Saul/Paul
Prassede's husband died and She married Pudentinus
- Prassede, Paul's mother >> Pudentinus, Who Fathered Rufus Pudens who would marry Claudia, also known as Gladys, daughter of King Caratacus or Caradoc.
- Caradoc, King in Britain >> daughter Gladys/Claudia-Rufina married Rufus Pudens.
- Claudia and Rufus Pudens had a Son Linus, (Bishop), two daughters Prassede and Pudentiana
Paul the Apostle was their uncle who knew them as they grew up.
Paul used his status as both of Rhomaios, a wealthy Jew from Celicia and Tarsus. His wealth and high status of Rhomaios allowed him some immunity to administrative law. But also his relationship with a high Roman official who was his step father Pudentinus, his half brother Rufus Pudens and his imperially favored royal in-laws Claudia and whose husband was Rufus Pudens and their son was Linus who all together gave Paul a level of protection from the corruption and intrigue which was rampant in the courts and governments of Rome.
Also, Rufus Pudens and Claudia were the parents of Paul's devout and courageous nieces, Prassede and Pudenziana who would collect the bodies of Christians to be buried after persecutions under Nero.
- “Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.” 2 Timothy 4:21
See http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle