Romans

Paul's greetings; a final warning against those who cause division.

Paul wrote this letter to the church between 56 and 58_AD from Corinth.  Rome had conquered all the prominent civilizations of the world at that time.  In the city of Rome you could find many languages and man cultures represented.  Rome was a large city with over a million people, somewhere around half of which were slave.  Tacitus, a historian and senator in Rome, saw "all things vile and shameful" flow to Rome, as if it were a common sewer of the Roman Empire" but along with the vile and shameful, there were some good things of the world that flowed to Rome also. 

One writer said Rome was 'a world in miniature'.  Indeed, it was the world in miniature; a fallen and sinful world.  What a great place for a church to grow and thrive and minister.  No one knows exactly when this church was planted but it must have been right after Pentecost.  It had become large enough that it was scattered throughout Rome and the surrounding regions and meeting in numerous places. 

We could easily get the impression that Paul was the loner; a man too busy with important matters to have friends.  He seemed to always to be about the business of ministry; but the business of ministry is about people.  The old Paul had gone many miles and to great lengths to persecute and harm Christians.  The new Paul had now been many years, going many miles and to great lengths make everyone a brother or sister in Christ.  And even though he'd not been to Rome at this point, he had friends and acquaintances there.

 

Romans 16:1-2

Paul dealt with some heavy things in this letter; things that had eternal significance.  Now we see Paul greeting those he knew in the church.  Paul names 26 people he wants to acknowledge or greet in some way.  We can only imagine what this meant to these folks; they were probably touched that Paul remembered them but also encouraged. 

Now, here we are reading about these people.  Famous, not for what they had done, or because of who they were, not in heritage, education, money or anything else we would normally associate with fame.  These were normal people with families and troubles and problems not much different from us.  But here they are, named in the eternal word of God. 

Phoebe's name meant 'the bright one' or 'Beautiful goddess.'  It's the feminine form of a title given to the god Apollo.  Apollo was the Greek & Roman God.  He was said to be the son of Zeus and twin of Artemis (or Diana).  See Acts 19 for more on the prevalence in the culture.  This faithful servant of God has the name of a pagan god and yet she is listed among the saints in the eternal word of God.  It is believed that Phoebe delivered Paul's letter to Rome.  Imagine that, she was carrying the only copy of this amazing book of the bible.  So many things could have happened to her or that letter and it could have been lost forever.  But God preserved His inspired word by watching over Phoebe in her travels.  In those days women were not respected at all, often abused treated extremely bad.  This was a cultural norm.  For this woman to travel and minster and be important in the church, she must have been tough and determined.  Some believe she was a wealthy gentile, someone with means.  Paul entrusted her with the delivery of his letter.

Paul called her a servant; the word is 'diakonos' of which we get our word deacon.  This word originated in the church.  It essentially means a table waiter.  We can see this in John 2:5 when the wine ran out at the wedding.  Mary told the servants (diakonos) to do whatever Jesus told them.  They were serving tables to the wedding guests.  Likewise, we remember in Acts 6:

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. ² Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables (diakonein). Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  (Acts 6:1-3)

Cenchrea was a neighboring port city to Corinth.  The church in Cenchrea was a sister church to the church of Corinth.  Phoebe was apparently a deacon at this church.  This word 'diakonos' is used to speak of both women and men and that causes some debate regarding the role of women in the church.  Paul wrote in Timothy saying a diakonos should be the husband of one wife.  Many believe this clearly makes it so this office is only inhabited by a man.  Yet, here Paul speaks of Phoebe as a diakonos. 

In the church at that time the role of a woman servant was to care for the sick believers, poor strangers and those in prison.  They also instructed women and children.  She was clearly a deaconess in some capacity but we don't know if she was given an official title of deaconess.  She played an important and major role in that church.  And you get the feeling that 'official titles' aren't all that important to God and to his faithful servants.

Paul sent Phoebe with this advance team that would go ahead of him to Rome.  She had his commendation.  This was important in those days.  She was an extension of Paul's authority and she was moving and acting at his will.  She was to be given full cooperation in whatever she needed.  They were instructed to receive her in a manner worthy of a Saint.  Then, they in turn would see that she was exactly as Paul described her; a helper and servant; one who would help them also.

 

Romans 16:3-7

Again, we see the prominence of the women in the work of the church when Priscilla is listed first when she is named with her husband.  This happens in three other places pertaining to this couple.  Priscilla and Aquilla were originally from Rome but when Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome they moved to Corinth.  It is there thy became friends with Paul.  They moved from Corinth to Ephesus where they lived for a while before returning to Rome.  It was there they ran across Apollos who knew only the baptism of John.

When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:26)

Paul said Priscilla and Aquilla actually risked their lives for him.  No one really knows the details of this but it must have significant and left a lasting impression on Paul.  It also lets us know there are many more adventures in ministry that were never written about.  Paul was thankful for them and expressed the gratitude of the gentile churches to their service also.

At the time Paul wrote this, Priscilla and Aquila were back in Rome and they had a church in their house.  There weren't church buildings then.  These fellowships met in the home of one of their members.

Paul greets Epaenetus who was one of the first converts in the church in Achaia.  This was the region where Corinth was located.  He was the first fruits of this region implying there were many after him who would follow.  Mary was an anonymous soul who labored much.  Her name reveals she was Jewish.  This 'labored much' is to work to the point of exhaustion.  Mary was working hard in the church and Paul remembered her.

Andronicus and Junia were probably a married couple.  They were Jews and Paul knew them for having been fellow prisoners.  They were also in Christ before Paul so they were the seasoned saints among this growing church.  Paul said they were noted among the apostles.  We can only wonder what they had done to make Paul consider them noteworthy.

 

Romans 16:8-11

Amplias was a common name among the emperor's household slaves.  He may have been one of those in Caesars household that was saved as Paul mentions in Philippians 4:22.  There's a tomb in the early Christian catacomb of Rome with the name AMPLIAS on it.

Urbanus and Stachys are greeted.  Urbanus is a Roman name used among slaves. It means 'city bred'.  Stachys means 'ear of corn' and was a Greek name used among the imperial household.

Apelles was a Jewish name.  It says he was approved.  This implies he was tested and approved.  I think that means he's been through some stuff as a Christian.

Paul greets the household of Aristobulus.  This guy was likely the grandson of Herod the great.  It appears quite a few of those surrounding the men of power at that time were now saved.

Paul goes on to greet Herodion his countryman.  This guy was probably related to Herod also.

Paul greets some of the household of Narcissus.  He was quite the freed slave who served Emperor Claudius as his secretary. 

 

Romans 16:12-16

Tryphena and Tryphosa were probably twins.  Their names mean dainty & delicate but Paul knew them as those who labored hard for the Lord.  They weren't dainty and delicate in service.

Persis was spoken about in past tense so he was probably older and not as active now; though she was noted to have labored much in the Lord.

Rufus is an interesting one.  He is quite possibly the son of Simon the Cyrene in Mark 15:21.   Remember Simon the Cyrene was the man who carried the cross of Christ.  Paul said he was chosen in the Lord.  This man was widely known to these Roman Christians as a great believer and one who served among them in notable ways.  The mother of Rufus, the wife of Simon the Cyrene, acted as a mother also to Paul, taking care of him in his travels.  Imagine the memories these two could speak of.

Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas and Hermes are greeted.  This group are mostly unknown and their names were common slave names.  This was quite possibly another home church.

Greet Philologus and Julia were probably husband and wife.  Julia was a common name for slaves in the imperial household because of Julius Caesar. 

Nereus and his sister and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them were also greeted.  These names again seem obscure enough and were quite possibly just some more saints Paul knew.  It's interesting to note though that history records two well-known Romans were condemned for being Christians in 95 _A.D.  This husband was executed and his wife was banished. This couple must have been somewhat prominent for this to have been recorded in history.  And the records say that they had a chief servant by the name of Nereus.  The Nereus Paul greets in verse 15 may be the one who brought the gospel to this couple.

Paul encouraged them to greet one another with a holy kiss.  This was like a handshake or a hug in our day.  It's a show of fellowship, unity and love. 

This is an interesting mix of people.  Of the 24 names here, 13 occur in inscriptions or in documents from the emperor's palace.  These folks left a mark on that place.

When we read the bible, we sometimes pass over these verses that have all the names.  If every word is in there for a reason, that leaves you with a question.  Why did God put all these names in there?

We remember the stories of Moses, Abraham, Noah, Paul and others.  We sometimes look at these men as somehow extraordinary men and of great faith.  But these were just men.  Faith isn't built around these men; faith is built around Jesus Christ.  It's ordinary men and the extraordinary things are from the Lord.  There are millions of great testimonies to the Lord in the lives of the average men and women like you and I.  That's why these people are mentioned.  It's a reminder that we bring nothing to this relationship.  We just come as we are and we live obedient lives and extraordinary things happen.  Not because we are special but because we serve an awesome and extraordinary God!

 

Romans 16:17-20

As Paul worked through his greetings to those in Rome, he suddenly changed his tone.  In the greetings of this church far away, we see fellowship and unity in the body of Christ.  But something or someone came to mind as Paul considered the people.  Someone had left a scar, division or broken fellowship.   There is a reality among sin-fallen mankind that we can't forget.  There is no perfect fellowship of believers.  Wherever people are gathered there will be problems.  Because of that, suddenly, right in the middle of this good-bye, Paul urged the Roman Christians to do three things.

1. Note those who cause division and offenses.  This 'taking note of them' is to 'mark' them for what they are.  Paul preached unity in Christ from the beginning of this letter.
2. Avoid them.  You don't owe them your time.  This is an exception to unity.  Don't be united to those contrary to the gospel.
3. Be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.

Paul wrote this entire letter as a correction to a unity problem.  So, what's the cure to division?  It's the gospel, its Christ Jesus.  With all that said, there will be those who deny Him or follow their own ways.  Paul warns us of those who want no part of unity.  In fact, their agenda is to cause division and offense contrary to the doctrine they've been taught.  Why would anyone do this?  The answers are many but rooted in pride, power or financial gain.   Everywhere Paul went, he taught sound doctrine.  The false teachers, the coat-tailers were always close behind hoping to come in behind him and try to cause offense and division contrary to what they knew to be sound doctrine.  He didn't want this to happen in Rome, but all he would do is warn.  The eyes to see and act had to be the people of the church.  Too many times, people get comfortable in the church and leave the guarding to others.

The men and women that are looking to make trouble by causing offense and division over doctrinal issues are to be marked and avoided.  "Keep away from them" means continue to keep away, every day.  These folks don't serve the Lord.  They aren't humble and don't have the heart of a servant.  Instead, they serve themselves.  They prey on the deception of the naïve or trusting; they'll prey on your desire for unity.  These people must be marked because they aren't easily spotted.  Their smooth words and flattering speech will be deceptive.  Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, they will appear to belong but the fruit of their life is destruction.

¹⁸ Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 John 2:18-19)

The obedience of the Roman Christians in dealing with these people who cause division and offense was well known.  They had a reputation of dealing with these troublemakers.  Paul was happy about that but he wanted to make sure they stayed diligent in this.  He gave the advice to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. The basis for this thought is the antithesis of Jeremiah 4:22 as he speaks of the sorrow of a doomed nation:

²²          "For My people are foolish,

They have not known Me.

They are silly children,

And they have no understanding.

They are wise to do evil,

But to do good they have no knowledge."

Jesus conveyed a similar thought as He sent His disciples out to minister.

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  (Matthew 10:16) 

(Next line: "But beware of men…)

In addition, this may be a veiled reference to Adam and Eve in the garden.  They knew what they supposed to do.  They knew good like we've not yet known, fellowshipping openly with God.  But they wanted to be wise of evil.  In doing so, they were drawn away from God, ultimately destroying their fellowship and sacrificing their righteous standing with Him.

To be wise in what is good is to keep your nose stuck in the bible and not the things of the world.  We ought to be experts in authentic life of Christ; of holiness and fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.   We don't need to know all the bad teachings and be able to refute them all one at a time.  At some point in our life, we will be tested, if not daily.  As a follower of Christ, know what you believe and have a willingness to stand on it.

Paul wasn't at all worried about tolerance when he said God will crush Satan.  God does not owe the wicked powers of the world an opportunity or a voice.  Paul specifically refers to the Father as the 'God of peace' and how will He bring final peace.  He will crush Satan, the adversary, under your feet.  This is a likely reference to Psalm 110, but also with the thought of the prophecy of Genesis 3. 

¹⁵          And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed;

He shall bruise your head,

And you shall bruise His heel." (Genesis 3:15)

The God of Peace, not the God of wrath or the Almighty, all powerful; it's the God of Peace that wants to maintain that peace and unity in His church.  The God of Peace isn't the God of peace because He is tolerant of the all silliness of man, but because He is Just.  He will crush the work of Satan.  It says He will crush Satan under our feet.  God will do the crushing, but does so to put all things under the feet of Christ.  As the body of Christ, Satan will be crushed under our feet.

 

Romans 16:21-24

These are the greetings from those on the originating end of the letter.  These are folks with Paul or near him sending greetings to those in Rome.  Timothy was one of Paul's most trusted friends and co-workers.  Lucious, Jason and Sosipater were with Paul and sent their greetings.  Tertius was the scribe that Paul dictated this letter to.  He's the guy that actually wrote the words down.  Gaius played a prominent role as a host of the entire church.  He must have been well off to do so.  Erastus was the treasurer of the city.    Erastus's name was found in an inscription in stone in Corinth.  They believed he may have paved the roads at his own expense.  Quartus was another brother in Christ.  These are just more average men and women walking with the Lord.  Walking in faith and being obedient.

 

Romans 16:25-27

This mystery that has been kept secret since the world began is the church.  The church was revealed.  It was hidden but now made manifest; revealed now to everyone and through the saints.  These Roman Christians were the church; just average men and woman that were born again and get to be part of this great adventure.

William Tyndale, English martyr (1494–1536), translated the New Testament into English and made God's word readily available to the masses.  Tyndale wrote a prologue to the book of Romans and his conclusion of that prologue is how we want to end our study of Romans.  Tyndale said this:

"Now go to, reader, and according to the order of Paul's writing, even so do thou. First behold thyself diligently in the law of God, and see there thy just damnation. Secondarily turn thine eyes to Christ, and see there the exceeding mercy of thy most kind and loving Father. Thirdly remember that Christ made not this atonement that thou shouldest anger God again: neither cleansed he thee, that thou shouldest return (as a swine) unto thine old puddle again: but that thou shouldest be a new creature and live a new life after the will of God and not of the flesh. And be diligent lest through thine own negligence and unthankfulness thou lose this favour and mercy again" (cited in Bruce, pp. 269–270).^[1]

Amen.

©2008, 2014, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater