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Our last lesson in the Book of Romans is called "Final Thoughts". I have divided it up into 4 parts.
First a word of recommendation from a friend, verses 1 thru 16. Here Paul greets 28 individuals by name. First there was Phebe. Most believe that Paul sent his letter to Rome by Phebe. She was a woman of great means who probably had business to take care of in Rome. This appears to have been her first visit to Rome as Paul suggests that she look up the brethren there and here in the letter, he suggests that the believers in Rome welcome this lady and make her stay fruitful.
Now, what place did Phebe have in the life of Paul? Well she was his Sister, by Grace. This was no small pronouncement on Paul's part. Remember the position of women in those days. Here, Paul acknowledges her help to him and others both financially and otherwise. She lived in Cenchreae, a small seaport town near Corinth. Now what was Phebe's job in the church? The R.S.V. calls her a Deaconess. The K.J. calls her a Servant. The Living Bible calls her a "dear Christian woman". The New Am. Std. calls her a servant. The Williams translation calls her a Deaconess. The Beck translation calls her a worker. The Greek word is "diakonos". It has many meanings. It means any or all of the following, an attendant, a waiter, a teacher, a deacon, a pastor, a minister or servant. This gives you an idea how difficult it is to translate Greek to English. Matthew Henry says this of Phebe. "She was a servant in the church, not by office but by her acts of charity and hospitality."
However, the word used here, "diakonos", is the same word used in Acts to denote the establishment of the office of Deacon, a job created to help in the matter of dispensing charities among the members, but sense it was unlawful, in the early church, for women to hold office it is unlikely that Phebe was a Deacon. Certainly she was an important member of her church as Paul makes note of her as using her means to help those in need. Paul recommends her to the church at Rome.
Note what he says. "Receive her into your homes and into your hearts." "Assist her in any way you can in the business that has brought her to Rome." "Rejoice in that you have the opportunity to help one who has helped so many."
Then Paul turns to a special greeting to some special people there in the church in Rome. Aquila and Priscilla, originally from Rome, banished from Rome by the Emperor Claudias, they went to Corinth. It was here that Paul became acquainted with them. There, they and Paul made tents together. Later, they returned to Rome. IN Corinth they sheltered Paul one time at the risk of their own lives. Needless to say, Paul loved them very much.
Then he mentions others who had accepted Christ during his ministry at Corinth. Mary, who labored and bestowed much honor upon them, Andronicus and Junia, probably husband and wife like Aquila and Priscilla, who had shared in Paul's imprisonment. They and Herodion were Paul's cousins. These three were well known among the Apostles. They had been ordained by the Holy Spirit with many gifts. They had accepted Christ before Paul did and Paul acknowledged this.
Then there was Apelles. He was a Christian by trial. Perhaps much as Paul was in the 7 years following his conversion. He had been tried and found to be one who could be trusted and therefore he was accepted by the church at Rome.
Then Paul speaks of another couple, Aristobulus and Narcissus. They apparently had a large household as Paul makes mention of this in his greeting.
Then Paul mentions Rufus. Paul found in this man a special calling from God, whether it was by gifts or revelation, Paul does not say. Then Paul sends his love to Rufus' mother who, at some time, had been like a mother to Paul.
Then to all the rest of the believers at Rome, Paul sends his best. "I salute
you", Paul says, but more importantly, "You salute one another." Love from afar is
great to receive but love from the close "fellowship" is more important. Paul was
limited by time and space but they had the benefit of one another day by day.
Warning About Trouble Makers
["Click here for Romans 16:17-20"]
Then Paul sends greetings to at least a dozen others there at Rome, recommends a friend, and then offers a word of caution (verses 17 thru 20). A word of caution, "Beware of those principals and practices that destroy Christian Love." Notice how he writes this, "I beseech you, I appeal to you,".... notice he did not command them but, out of love, pleaded with them to be careful about false teachings. "There are those who would teach a doctrine contrary to that which you have learned." Now what was this false doctrine that was infiltrating the church at Rome? Well, the Jews (Judaizers) were at work in Rome, as they were in most of the other churches, teaching the need for obedience to Jewish customs. This bothered the Gentiles and caused divisions in all of the other churches and was bound to do the same at Rome if it was not checked. Paul believed that recognizing and acknowledging a problem was the best way to prevent it or at least correct it.
Notice what he suggested. "Avoid them." Avoid those who were teaching this false doctrine. Refrain from communicating or fellowshipping with them. "Otherwise," Paul says, "You will be infected by their words." Notice these false teachers served themselves and not the Lord. They satisfied their own ambitions, not seeking to glorify God nor the good of the whole church.
These Judaizers had a problem that was the result of their past. As God's chosen people, they could not help but look upon the Gentile are inferior or, at the very least, new and ignorant in the household of God. Paul says beware of their flattering words for they will deceive the hearts of the un-educated, those who are not knowledgeable of the word of God.
But notice, Paul was optimistic, he rejoiced over what he had heard and believed about their prospects. "I want you to be wise and knowledgeable as to what is good and not guilty as to what is evil, and soon the God of Peace will crush Satan under your feet."
Paul believed that there is victory over Satan for the Christian, all we need is
patience and perseverance, which incidentally, is one of the "crowns" to be given
at the Judgment to those who achieve it.
Timothy, Tertius and Gaius
["Click here for Romans 16:21-24"]
So having warned them of the evil that was within their church, Paul now remembers some mutual friends. (Verses 21thru 24) Paul became very close to two young men in his lifetime. He called them both his "sons". One is here spoken of, a man called Timothy, the other was John Mark. Timothy was more than a son to Paul, he was his co-worker, equal in every way. Then he sends greetings from Lucius, from the church at Antioch and Sosipater, from the church at Berea, both of which were kinsmen of Paul's.
Then we see who actually "pinned" (took the words from Paul and wrote them down) this letter. A Man by the name of Tertius, who was a scribe with a "good hand", he could write and it was easy to read. We know that Paul could never write very well, not for lack of education, but simply a characteristic of his, plus, as he grew older his hands began to shake and this to made his handwriting difficult. He apologized for this in his letter to the Galatians.
Then Paul speaks of a man by the name of Gaius who was Paul's host when he stayed
at Corinth. It appears that at that time, the church also met in this man's
house. He speaks of Erastus who was the Treasurer for the city of Corinth, a man
of high position and great wealth. Matthew Henry says that not many "mighty" and
not many "noble" are called, but some are. These men along with a man by the name
of Quarus sent their greetings along with Paul's to the church at Rome.
Benediction
["Click here for Romans 16:25-27"]
Then Paul closed by glorifying God (verses 25 thru 27) Note how he does this. He declares to them that God is able to strengthen them in two ways. First, according to the Gospel of Paul and secondly, according to the preaching of Jesus. For a moment, when I read this, I thought that the two were the same. Then I realized that in all of Paul's letters and I'm sure in his teachings also, he strived to do two things, both of which had the leading of the Holy Spirit. First, he addressed the problems that the church faced. These instruction and words of help and comfort were Paul's gospel. Secondly, he taught the teachings of Jesus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power unto salvation.
This Gospel, Paul says, which was kept a secrete for so long, is now known and is now strengthened because of the power of its revelation. This revelation will bring about faith, because of the command of the Eternal God.
"To the only wise God, be glory for ever more, through Jesus Christ, Amen.
Remember the theme of the Book of Romans, "Justification by Faith."
THE END
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