Romans 16

posted by brenc1 on June 16th, 2008 print No Comments type: Bible passages

Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:

This part of Romans is often “passed over” since it contains mostly personal greetings from Paul to the Christians in Rome. But, this is a mistake because it contains a wealth of information about Paul, the early church, and the importance of Christian community. As Warren Wiersbe states:

“What a remarkable chapter! In it Paul greeted at least twenty-six people by name, as well as two unnamed saints; and he also greeted several churches that were meeting in homes. He closed with greetings from nine believers who were with him in Corinth when he wrote the letter. What is the significance of this? It shows that Paul was a friend maker as well as a soul winner. He did not try to live an isolated life; he had friends in the Lord, and he appreciated them. They were a help to him personally and to his ministry. In my own reading of Christian biography, I have discovered that the servants whom God has used the most were people who could make friends. They multiplied themselves in the lives of their friends and associates in the ministry. While there may be a place for the secluded saint who lives alone with God, it is my conviction that most of us need each other. We are sheep, and sheep flock together.”

Another important thing to notice in this passage is the diversity of names which are mentioned. It shows that the early church in Rome was made up of Christians of many different ethnic groups and social classes. As Takao Kiyohiro states:

“Several things are clear as we look at the names inscribed here. First, there were Jews and Gentiles there. With reference to the Jews, we understand [they were present] when Paul dared calling them “my fellow countrymen and women.” For example, there were Andronicus and Junias. It says [people like] Herodian. It doesn’t say in the text that they were fellow countrymen, but Priscilla and Aquila were a Jewish couple. On the other hand, they think that Epenetus was a native of Asia Minor and that he was a Gentile. The others, where the text doesn’t say they were fellow countrymen, were probably mainly Romans and Greeks.

Secondly, we can picture from that text that there were persons who belonged to the various social classes back in that time. The kind of language used here with reference to Priscilla and Aquila is given as “the people of the church who gathered in their house.” This language says, “a church in a house.” Not limited to the church at Rome but through out the land, the homes of mostly prosperous Christians were offered as places of worship. It is believed that even the home of Priscilla and Aquila, who moved to Rome, was such a house church. There are examples offered up in the Bible of such Christians, for instance, like Philemon who was the master of the slave Onesimus, (Philemon 1:2). On the other hand, among the names listed some typical slave names can be found. It has [slave] names like Ampliatus, Persis, and Phlegon. We know from a letter directed to the church at Corinth that in the early church there were quite a few slaves.”

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Romans 16

Personal Greetings

¹I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant^[a] of the church in Cenchrea. ²I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. ³Greet Priscilla^[b] and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. ⁴They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. ⁵Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. ⁶Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. ⁷Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. ⁸Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. ⁹Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. ¹⁰Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. ¹²Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. ¹³Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. ¹⁴Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. ¹⁵Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. ¹⁶Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

¹⁷I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ¹⁹Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

²⁰The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

²¹Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.

²²I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

²³Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.
Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.^[c]

²⁵Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, ²⁶but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— ²⁷to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Footnotes:

Romans 16:1 Or deaconess

Romans 16:3 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla

Romans 16:23 Some manuscripts their greetings. 24 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International Bible Society.