In Romans 16, Paul mentions various names of Christians in Rome. Of that list was Apelles, a man who is only mentioned once in the entire Bible, but we are informed that he was approved in Christ:
Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. (Rom 16:10)
We need to be like Apelles in that way – approved in Christ, but what does that mean and how did he get approved? If we consider James 1:12, we will get more insights:
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Apelles underwent some sort of trial or adversity for being a Christian, maybe unusual since Paul referred to it. He could never have been approved without first being tested. What that adversity was is unknown, but it is most significant that he persevered under trial, as we must. James 1:12 states the crown of life will be given to those who stand the test and are approved in the end. The same crown of life is promised to those who love God, which is a salvation issue. In Rev. 2:10,11, it is given to those who overcome.
The Christian needs to constantly remember that this life is a battlefield with many crushing problems, disappointments, sufferings and temptations. We must persevere under the trials and be like good soldiers of Christ Jesus, which will surely come, to be approved, which many won’t be:
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 2:3)
