16:10a

Apelles, who is approved in Christ: The words who is approved in Christ further describe Apelles. To make it a description, some languages must avoid the word who. For example:

Apelles. He is approved in Christ

Apelles: This name refers to a man.

who is approved in Christ: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

whom ⌊God⌋ approved in Christ
-or-
Apelles. ⌊God⌋ approved him in Christ

approved in Christ: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as approved refers to accepting something as genuine or good based on testing it. The words in Christ probably imply that Apelles was tested in his faith in Jesus and stayed faithful to him and so God approved of him. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

tested and approved in Christ (New International Version (1984))
-or-
who was tested and proved that he truly loves Christ (New Century Version)

16:10b

those who belong to the household of Aristobulus: The Greek is more literally “the ones of the ones of Aristobulus.” This refers to his family, but probably not Aristobulus himself. For example:

who belong to the family of Aristobulus (English Standard Version)
-or-
the household of Aristobulus (Revised English Bible)

Aristobulus: This name refers to a man.

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