For the audio of this message, go to: www.LivingWatersWeb.com and look for the study on Romans 16.
In Chapter 16 we see how chapters 12-15 are worked out practically – real people doing real work – and warnings that not everyone is out for the good of the church.
Paul had never been to Rome – here is greets 26 people. Some scholars argue that Paul did not even send this chapter to Rome but somewhere else. But probably Paul knew these individuals through association in other areas – he knew so few in fact that he could send personal greetings to everyone he did know!
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I 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.
Cenchrea was a city 9 miles from Corinth. It was the Corinthian port city on the east. Small ships were carried across the isthmus to the west to Corinth, where they could put back into sea and sail around Greece. Large ships were unloaded and their cargo hauled over land. So Cenchrea was a busy port town with lots of commerce.
Phoebe was probably a deacon in the church there – the word “servant” is the word diakonos – the word used for deacon. She was most probably a wealthy businesswoman who benefited and served the church. She is about to travel to Rome, so Paul wants the Roman church to help her. That’s the way it was done back then – you didn’t have travel agents or Motel 6, you went to a place and found lodging, etc from people you knew or by references from others.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Priscilla and Aquila are the famous couple found in Acts 18. They fled Rome to Corinth during the persecution there from Emperor Cluadius. They were, like Paul, tentmakers. They also took Apollos aside and gave him some better instruction in the Lord Jesus. Apollos became one of the early churche’s best apologists. Notice too, that they had a church in their house. In the early church, many if not most churches met in homes. There is evidence in fact of remodeling when a church took over a home and they broke out walls, etc, to make it into a church. Notice too the courage – Paul says this couple risked their lives for him.
We’ll read through this list – not a lot is known about the folks on it.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
Epenetus is unknown apart from this reference.
6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
Mary was a common Jewish name – unlikely one of the Mary’s we know from the gospels.
7 Greet 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.
A lot of controversy swirls around these two. Most likely they were husband and wife – related to Paul somehow. Notice they became believers before Paul. It also says they were “outstanding among the apostles.” Probably doesn’t mean THE Apostles – but Paul uses the term elsewhere to suggest “missionary”.
8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.
Basically, we don’t know how these people were – but
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
Aristobulus was the name of the brother of Herod Agrppa I who died in Rome in A.D. 48 or 49. It’s possible that these men were slaves in his household.
11 Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Most likely these were freed slaves – we know that Narcissus was a slave of Emperor Claudius – but Narcissus himself was probably not a Christian.
12 Greet 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.
We don’t know these women either, except that they were hard workers.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
Rufus is most likely the son of Simon of Cyrene. You’ll remember him from Mark 15 – the man the Romans pressed into carrying Jesus’ cross.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.
Again – no record at all of who these people were.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
A kiss on both cheeks was a common greeting at this time. By the second century, the “kiss of peace” was a common practice in the church – so Paul may just be encouraging it for the Roman Christians as well.
So now Paul moves from speaking blessings to specific individuals – to warnings about general groups of people.
17 I 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.
“watch out” comes from skopos or scope – the idea of spying or focusing on someone.
Now I’m not suggesting that we go around spying on each other – in fact the King James says “mark”. The idea is to be aware of those that cause division, and, if necessary, identify them as such. What kind of people are these?
“divisions” “twice stationary” “twice” and “stasis”
Obstacles: scandalon – trap stick or snare
People that cause divisions are either trying to rip communities or believers or relationships between believers apart – or they are trying to cause people to stumble or trip up in their walk with the Lord. This could be through sin, or through bad doctrine. We get our word “scandal” from scandalon.
How do we spot them? 1. Their focus is not on the Lord, but on church politics or why so and so is sooo bad. 2. They try to draw you off into doctrine that is contrary to the basic message of the gospel.
What are we to do with them in addition to marking them?
“Keep away” two words: “to shun” and “off”
So it’s a pretty powerful statement – pushing them off, shoving them away. Division has ripped so many churches to pieces and ruined so many relationships – and its so unnecessary. Many times someone becomes this way because they don’t get their way, their pride is hurt, so they attack. It happens when people stop focusing on their relationship with the Lord and start focusing on all the imperfect humans in the church. Tend to your walk with the Lord, and then how He can use you to build up others.
As far as churches go – in chapter 15 Paul talks about a spirit of unity so that with one mouth and one heart we can glorify God. The idea there is “like passion”. Churches often gather around a similar flavor or passion for a similar thing. At Calvary Chapel its around teaching the Word of God and worship – other fellowships love a more liturgical or evangelical seeker-service kind of approach. None of those flavors are wrong if they preach the gospel – but if we go to a chocolate church and are mad because its not vanilla then we are in the wrong place, not the church.
Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church: 1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
The words: “agree with one another” are from two Greek words, Autos (owtos) and Lego. In essence they mean “to say the same thing.”
If we find ourselves in a place where we don’t like the flavor – where we can’t “say the same thing” with the leadership of that church, we should find a church with a flavor we do like. Some people purposefully, though maybe not consciously, go to a church and try to change it or subvert it for selfish reasons.
18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
There are a lot of men and women out there today – many of them on TV, that sound great – and appear to have great works of God flowing through them – but I’m telling you that if they stray from the gospel as revealed in our Bible’s then we should shun them – and many many naïve people who aren’t paying attention are being sucked into that falsehood.
Scholars suggest two possibilities for the people Paul referred to. Either they were Judaizers who wanted to rope gentiles into following the strict Jewish dietary laws – or they were what were known as libertines – those that wanted to use the gospel as an excuse to live a licentious lifestyle. Neither undue regulation or anarchy are correct – and we need to watch out for both, using the gospel as our guide.
Paul said to the Galatians: Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
Pretty strong words. Paul describes their motivation as an “appetite.”
Ecclesiastes 6:7 “All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.”
If we are somewhere for ourselves – looking for power or position – once we get it, we won’t be satisfied. That’s why people who blow apart churches don’t become people who edify and build up people – they just go on to blow up more churches.
Being a sniper is very intoxicating. Power and pride are enticing – but never satisfying. Be on guard – for yourself – and for others. I don’t mean you can never question anything – but what is the motivation behind it – the good of the body or the good for you?
19 Everyone 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.
The Roman Christians were obedient to the gospel – but Paul wants them to keep that focus and not get caught up in all the hoopla over the latest revelation.
It happens over and over – Mohammed thought he had a new revelation from God, and Islam was born. Joseph Smith thought an angel gave him new insight from God and the cult of Mormonism was born – false, both of them.
The last phrase there reminds me of what Jesus said Matthew 10:16
16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Paul changes it a bit here – he wants us to be wise about what is good. The idea is to be clear – practically and spiritually wise. Just obeying the gospel won’t necessarily keep you from being drawn away by those who cause dissension. Be clear on what you believe and why – then be innocent about evil – unmixed is the word – the same Jesus used in Matthew 10.
Don’t get mixed up in division and dissension – steer clear of it.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
In the end it is Satan who is at the root of division – but the God of peace will quell that rebellious attitude – that should be our prayer that God will do that soon in times when Christians are fighting amongst themselves.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
And that too should be our prayer – peace, and grace. We don’t merit God’s favor and forgiveness, yet He gave it. He forgave us, so we should forgive others when show they aren’t perfect.
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.
Timothy, of course – is the young man Paul took under his wing and discipled him and he became a pastor. Lucius: we really aren’t sure who he is – Jason may be the man who gave Paul hospitality during his stay in Thessalonica in Acts 17. Sosipater is probably Sopater of Berea mention in Acts 20.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Paul must not have had his laptop with him in Corinth – actually they used scribes in those days – Tertius was the guy who Paul sat down to take transcribe what Paul said onto a scroll. Here is just saying “hi – its me!”
23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.
Gaius, along with Sopater and others were with Paul as he made his travels through Macedonia in Acts 20.
Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.
They’ve actually found a paving stone in Corinth that bears this guy’s name as the Director of Public Works – another proof of the accuracy of the Bible.
25 Now 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, 26 but 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- 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
So Paul finishes Romans with a mini recitation of its purpose: You are established by the gospel of Jesus – a mystery that has been made known through prophecies about the Messiah so that everyone, including the gentiles and the Jews, would believe and obey – and the whole thing is designed to bring God the glory – not us – through Jesus.
1. Look at who Paul made special mention of:
Phoebe: A wealthy businesswoman (a servant)
Aquila & Priscilla: tentmakers (married couple, courageous)
Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, and Apelles (slaves – tested, dear)
Three women, mentioned apart from their husbands (hard workers)
Rufus – son of the man who carried Jesus’ cross (through trauma)
Jason – friend in time of trouble, hospitable – ministry partner
Gaius – ministry partner (Acts 17)
No matter who you are, you can serve God effectively.
2. Which will you be? A worker, or a worrier?
