Romans 16:1-16

Romans 16:1-16

I commend Phoebe, our sister, to you all while being a servant to the church in Cenchreae in order that you all should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy ones and that you all should assist in supplying her need in whatever she should need from you all.  For she also became a patron helper of many and even of myself.  Greet Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who for the sake of my life exposed themselves to great danger.  To whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the Gentiles.  Greet also the church – the one according to their house.  Greet Epaenetus my beloved, who is a first fruit of Asia in Christ.  Greet Mary, who worked much in you all.  Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and fellow prisoners who are well known in the apostles and they became in Christ before me.  Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.  Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and Stachus my beloved.  Greet Apelles, the genuine one in Christ.  Greet the ones out of Aristobulus.  Greet Herodion, my kinsman.  Greet the ones out of Narcissus who are in the Lord.  Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord.  Greet Persis the beloved, who worked much in the Lord.  Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother – and a mother of mine.  Greet Asynchritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.  Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and all the holy ones with them.  Greet each other in a holy kiss.  All the churches of Christ greet you.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul gives us the identity of the person who is carrying this letter to Rome: Phoebe.  First of all, note that he commends her to their care and tells them that they should help her in any way that they can.  Second, note that Paul sends this very important letter to Rome with a woman as his personal agent.  It certainly does not seem as though Paul has an issue with women in authority – at least not in the context of Rome.  I believe that this is an important verse for understanding Paul’s position on authority in the church.  God will equip and use anyone who is willing regardless of their gender or other qualifications.

Do you think that it is important to note that Paul sends this very important letter to Rome through a woman?  In what ways would this act put her in a leadership position in Rome?

Second Thought:

Paul then greets Prisca and Aquila.  This is a ministry couple that Paul meet in Corinth and who proceeded before him to Ephesus to continue the ministry that had begun there.  They were a powerful couple devoted to the ministry of the Gospel and they have preceded Paul to Rome.  Paul wants to make sure that their position in the growing church is lifted up because he knows and he trusts their leadership.  Paul is attempting to support the work that is going on in Rome.  Also notice that this ministry couple is having church in their house.  They are giving quite personally in the cause of the Gospel.

What does it say to you that in the midst of a pagan Roman Empire that this couple is having Christian worship in their own home?  Why do you think Paul is so willing to give them his support?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul goes through a long list of people to greet.  There are many people on this list – far too many to take individually.  However there is one thing that stands out rather boldly.  None of these people are on this list because of their connection to Paul.  These people are on this list – and thus connected to Paul – because of their relationship with Christ.  This is a list of hard workers.  These are evangelists.  These are Paul’s fellow apostles.  There are pastors here.  These people are teachers.  There are prophets on this list.  These are the people who are spreading the word of God and having church in their own houses in the example of Prisca and Aquila.  This is what it is like to be church.  We surround ourselves with fellow workers in Christ and go forth into the world to do his will.  What an inspiring list of names.  What an incredible community that must have been!

Do you belong to a community of faithful devotees to Christ?  Is your worship community devoted to God’s work as the people listed here in this chapter?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 16:17-23