Romans 16

Romans 16:1-2

Romans 16:1-2 : I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchrea: that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the mints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you: for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self. Cenchrea was the home of Phoebe. It was the eastern seaport of Corinth, a few miles across the Isthmus from Corinth. There has been much said for and against the possibility that Phoebe was an official deaconess of her home church. But the use of the word diakonos, here translated servant, does not prove that she occupied an official position. In these letters to the churches the word is used a number of times, but not in any official sense, unless in this one place.

We let our minds run to officialism too much. On account of the social condition of women of that age, aged women of experience, piety and ability were needed to teach, encourage, and otherwise help young women. On this point see 1 Timothy 5:3-16; Titus 2:3-6. To select a person for a certain work does not necessarily make him an officer in the common acceptation of that term. To select a man to hold a series of meetings does not make him an officer, and no one thinks so. Selecting a song-leader does not make him an officer.

Selecting certain women to attend to certain duties does not make them deaconesses in any official sense. Diakonos therefore had no official significance. It is thought by some that she was the bearer of Paul’s letter to Rome, but that is not certain. She evidently went to Rome on certain business, for Paul urges the brethren to “assist her in whatever matter she may have need.” To receive her in the Lord was to treat her as a worthy Christian should be treated “for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self.” Those who help others always commend themselves to the Lord.

Romans 16:3-4

Romans 16:3-4 : Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Prisca is short for Priscilla. This good woman and her husband first joined in work with Paul at Corinth (Acts 18:1-3). They next appear in active service to the Lord at Ephesus (Acts 18:24-26). Just when they endangered their own lives–“laid down their own necks”–for the life of Paul we are not informed. Probably it was during that uproar at Ephesus (Acts 19:33-41).

Paul and all the churches of the Gentiles gave thanks to them for what they had done for him. The many that Paul mentions by name were people he had worked with, who had gone to Rome from points where Paul had preached. One wonders how he had kept track of them in that day of inconvenient communications.

Romans 16:5-16

Romans 16:5-16 : And salute the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ. Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on you. Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who have also been in Christ before me. Salute Ampliatus my beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbanus our fellow-worker in Christ and Stachys my beloved.

Salute Apelles the approved in Christ. Salute them that are of the household of Aristobulus. Salute Herodion my kinsman. Salute them of the household of Narcissus, that are in the Lord. Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.

Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Herman, and the brethren that are with them. Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you. “Salute the church that is in their house.” This evidently refers to a group of Christians who met for worship in the house of Priscilla and Aquila. In those days a large place was not always available in which a large group of Christians could meet.

Several groups met in the homes of various members. It will be noticed that each group was called a church.

 

In these salutations the outstanding traits of some of them are mentioned. Epaenetus, the first fruits of Asia had endeared himself to Paul. Mary had been a good worker in the church at Rome. Andronicus and Junias, Paul’s kinsmen, who had been converted to Christ before Paul was, had rendered such devoted service to the Lord as to become noted among the apostles. Ampliatus had made himself very dear to Paul. At some place Urbanus had been a fellow-worker with Paul, and may have been with him in some of his journeys.

And Apelles was an approved servant of Christ. Tryphaena and Tryphosa were laborers in the Lord; and Persia the beloved labored much in the Lord. “Salute Rufus the chosen of the Lord, and his mother and mine.” The mother of Rufus had been a mother to Paul at some place where he preached. The common method of salutation there was the kiss. Paul demanded that the kiss be holy. From Paul’s list we learn that the church at Rome had in it many faithful workers likely there were many such whom Paul did not know.

Romans 16:17-18

Romans 16:17-18 : Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent. Not all was smooth sailing in that church. Some there were stirring up trouble–causing divisions and occasions of stumbling–contrary to the gospel. Judaizing teachers were the main trouble makers in the territory of Paul’s labors; they were determined to convince all Gentile Christians that they had to be circumcised and keep the law, or they could not be saved. They were professed Christians.

Likely they had gained some Gentile Christians as helpers. If these disturbers had not reached Rome, Paul knew they would be there.

Even today advocates of a modified form of this same theory of Jewish supremacy are troubling churches all over the country. Said Paul, “mark them”–eye them closely. Do not shut your eyes to what they are doing, nor make excuses for them, nor for any others who cause divisions and occasions of stumbling contrary to the gospel, but turn away from them. This means that the brethren should have no fellowship with them. “Contrary to the doctrine which ye learned” covers a wide field, such as mechanical music in the worship, the organization of societies to do the work of the church, and various schemes to raise money. The man who causes divisions in the Lord’s church by the introduction of things not taught is an enemy of Christ, even though he may not think so. His interest is in self, and not in Christ. “They that are such serve not our Lord, but their own belly.” The more a man appears to be interested in people the more he can deceive–“by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the simple”–the trusting and unsuspecting are more easily deceived.

The word translated simple does not mean weak minded, but rather, unsuspicious. The deceiver knows how to get the unsuspicious to follow him.

People seem never to learn that smooth and fair speech is “the stock in trade” of a deceiver. If he were to announce that he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing and that he had come to destroy and not to feed, he would not deceive even the simple. “For even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Paul warned the Colossians against being deluded by “persuasiveness of speech” (Colossians 2:4). “And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (2 Peter 2:3). From all such we should turn away.

Romans 16:19-20

Romans 16:19-20 : For your obedience is came abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. The church at Rome was old enough and active enough for the report of its obedience to become widely circulated. This was a source of joy to Paul.

He would have them to sustain that reputation by continued obedience. If they allowed false teachers to cause divisions and scandals, they would have a bad influence over churches that had cause to regard them so highly. He would have them to be wise to that which was good, so as to be able to distinguish between the good and the evil. People do not have to indulge in evil things in order to know what is evil–be “simple unto that which is evil.” People who are wise unto the good know evil. Only the person who knows what is good has a clear idea of what is evil. The writer of Hebrews speaks of “those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

Living in sin and ignorance so blinds a person that he can not see what is good or evil. “Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bit-ter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:20-21). Paul gives them the comforting assurance that, if they would turn away from evil and be wise unto that which was good, they would soon triumph over that which was evil–bruise Satan under their feet. “Shortly”–that could not refer to things yet future they were to accomplish this while they lived.

Romans 16:21

Romans 16:21 : Timothy my fellow-worker saluteth you; and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. Timothy was with Paul at Corinth when this letter was written, and joined in saluting the Roman brethren. He was Paul’s beloved son in the gospel and a fellow-worker with him in many hard places. It is possible, though not certain, that Lucius was the Lucius of Act 13:1. And Jason may have been the Jason mentioned in Acts 17:7-9. And it is thought, that Sosipater was the Sopater of Act 20:4. Paul refers to others in these salutations as his kinsmen. Some think he referred to them as kinsmen just as he referred to all Jews as kinsmen in Romans 9:1-3; but there are Jews in these salutations to whom he did not refer as his kinsmen.

Romans 16:22-23

Romans 16:22-23 : I Tertius, who write the epistle salute you in the Lord. Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartos the brother. It was not Paul’s custom to write his epistles with his own hand; he had a secretary to write as he dictated. Tertius wrote this letter at Paul’s dictation. He joins in saluting the saints in Rome. It is possible, as some think, that Romans 16:23 are the words of Tertius. It is hardly possible that the whole church at Corinth met in the home of Gaius; rather, it seems that his doors were open to any saint that needed shelter.

It is hardly possible that a large church could all use the house of Gaius as a place to meet for worship. This Gaius must have been the Gaius whom Paul baptized in the early days of his preaching at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14). He was therefore a citizen of Corinth, and owned a home there. The Gaius mentioned in Acts 20:4 was a citizen of Derbe. And a Gaius of Macedonia, one of Paul’s companions in travel, is mentioned in Acts 19:29. I cannot make all these passages refer to the same man. And the name Erastus occurs three times–Acts 19:22; Romans 16:23; 2 Timothy 4:20. The Erastus mentioned in Acts and Second Timothy was one of Paul’s fellow-travelers.

It has been assumed, but not by all, that the three passages refer to the same man, and that therefore, while traveling so extensively, he could not have been the treasurer of the city government, but must therefore have been the treasurer of the church in Corinth. But would not his extensive traveling interfere as effectively with his being treasurer of the one as of the other? Paul’s statement to Timothy that “Erastus remained at Corinth,” was made several years after Paul wrote to the Romans. It is very likely that there were at least two men named Erastus. It does not seem that a man would be designated as the treasurer of a city, if he were only the treasurer of the church in that city. Any way we look at the matter there are some difficulties, but it is usually safest to take a statement of fact at its face value. Quartus is named only in this place.

Romans 16:25-27

Romans 16:25-27 : Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which bath been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith: to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. A-men. These verses were written with Paul’s own hands. It was his custom to write with his own hands the closing part of each let-ter as a means of showing the letter to be his. “The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand” (Colossians 4:18). “The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle” (2 Thessalonians 3:17).

 

“My gospel” was the gospel which Paul preached, and not the perverted gospel of the Judaizers; and “the preaching of Jesus Christ” was the preaching Jesus Christ commanded, and which had him as its center. And that was the gospel of salvation for all men with-out distinction as to races. Paul would have all Chris-tians established in the gospel he preached, and not in the perverted gospel of the Judaizers. Paul had quoted many prophecies to prove that Gentiles were to share in the promise made to the fathers but how either Jews or Gentiles were to enjoy the blessings of the Messiah had not been revealed by the prophets.

 

A mystery is a thing not understood. Neither Jew nor Gentile had grasped the idea that Gentiles were to be fellow-citizens in the kingdom of the Messiah. It seems that this truth had been more fully revealed by Paul than by any other apostle or prophet (Ephesians 3:1-8). Where this truth was clearly revealed, it could then be seen how this truth had been manifested in the scriptures of the prophets. It could also then be seen that it was all according to the commandment of God when the great commission was given. “Go ye there-fore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18; Mark 16:15-16). The prophets had foretold, and Jesus had commanded, “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations (Luke 24:46-47).

But for quite a while the apostles did not grasp the significance of the command to preach to all nations. But these commands were made known to all nations that they might become obedient to the faith –obedient to the gospel. Notice how Paul begins and ends his commendation. “Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel–to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”