Romans Chapter Sixteen

Read Romans 16:1-2

v1. “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:”

The accepted tradition is that this sister in Christ, Phebe carried Paul’s letter to Rome.

Acts 18:18 “And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Where is Cenchrea and what relationship does it have to the Paul’s location when he wrote this letter? This is the city that surrounds the eastern harbor of Corinth; today we would call it a suburb of Corinth. Corinth was the location from which the Paul wrote the Roman letter.

Did Paul’s commendation of Phebe as a servant indicated any special status that she held in the church at Cenchrea? Some would try to make Phebe someone who held a special office such as those appointed by the Catholic Church to special offices to serve the sick and poor in later centuries; those that are called nuns today. However there is no scriptural basis for that contention. She was simply a hardworking lady who did whatever she could to assist those of the Lord’s church. Needless to say we have several ladies present who willingly and unselfishly do the same things that Phebe did and should be as appreciated as she was.

v.2 “That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.”

Phebe was going to a land that was foreign to her, a place where she possibly knew only a few people and where she did she have any family ties. Consequently, Paul is concerned for her well-being and asks the members of the congregation or congregations at Rome to assist her any way that she needed their assistance He closes his commendation of her by telling them that she was a helper to or had assisted many including Paul himself.

Read Romans 16:3-16

v.3 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:”

Priscilla and Aquila had been driven out of Rome and were in Corinth when Paul was on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:2). When he ended that journey and returned to Jerusalem he left them at Ephesus (Acts 18:26). Now the political climate has improved to the extent that they have returned to Rome. They had to flee Rome again as we see in II Timothy 4:19 because that is where Paul was when he wrote the second letter to Timothy and they are with Timothy. It seems that if many of the first century Christians could not worship God as he requires in a certain location that they simply picked up and moved to a location where they could. Yet they were in constant danger of persecution.

v.4 “Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.”

We’re not told where nor when but at some time Priscilla and Aquilla had risked their lives for Paul. He remembers and thanks them again, reminding the Roman brethren that in doing so and allowing Paul to continue his ministry they had benefited all of the churches of the Gentiles.

v.5 “Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.”

Most of the time I don’t think we think of these cities having a number of congregations of the church like we have today but that seems to be the case in Rome. Understanding the churches met in houses, or space that was already available somewhere rather than building buildings it is logical that there would be several small congregations. Also many of the cities, such as Rome, also had large populations that were spread out over large areas. Priscilla and Aquilla had a congregation meeting in their home.

This is the only mention we have of Epaenetus, he was likely the first man converted at the city of Ephesus, in the province known as Achaia or Asia in other translations.

v.6 “Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.”

Mary is another that is not mentioned anywhere else but we know from this verse that Paul knew her somewhere else and that she had rendered service to him and his work.

v.7 “Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”

Paul was apparently imprisoned frequently. We read of several cases in Acts but there were others as he mentions it twice in II Corinthians (6:5, 11:23), written during his third missionary journey. These two people had been in prison with him. They were his kinsmen, family, related, well known among the apostles and had been converted before Paul was converted.

v.8-12 “Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. ⁹Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. ¹⁰Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household. ¹¹Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. ¹²Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.”

Again we know nothing about the people that Paul is sending greetings to here except what Paul writes to them here. They all were Christians in Rome, they were probably parts of different bands or congregations. One, Herodion, is another relative or kinsman of Paul. All are workers in the church, having labored before in other places and laboring in Rome as well.

v.13 “Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”

A special mention is made of this man named Rufus and he is designated as “chosen in the Lord.” Does that mean that he was called or chosen any differently than anyone else? No, Paul simply uses the designation to honor this man’s work as we are all chosen in the Lord as we are added to the church (Acts 2:47). Paul also makes special mention of the mother of Rufus who had rendered such service to Paul that he honored her as he did his own mother.

v.14-15 “¹⁴Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. ¹⁵Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.”

Again we have people not mentioned anywhere else in scripture and further indication of several congregations in this great city. For people persecuted as the Jews, whether Christian or not and the Gentile Christians were, they traveled and moved frequently to escape this persecution. There were times when from a business perspective it was beneficial to be in Rome so we have people moving there. We could draw a parallel with the multitudes of people, including most of us, who left the share crop farms and small towns for the cities where the means of making a living were much better than what was available to our parents and families.

v.16 “¹⁶Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”

This verse is probably one that most of us can quote without too much thinking because it is where the churches of Christ derive the name that we use. In past years some have tried to make greeting with a “holy kiss” a requirement, misunderstanding and misapplying what Paul says here. As we know, especially from watching our televisions, this is a standard greeting in eastern cultures even yet today. Paul is simply telling them that our greetings to other Christians should be pure and holy, honest and sincere.

Read Romans 16:17-20

v. 17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

False teachers and false brethren were just as prominent and numerous in Paul’s day as they are today. In fact majority of those who call themselves members of the church of Christ, our brethren, in this city fit into the category of those who should be marked and avoided don’t they? They teach and/or practice things contrary to the doctrine or teaching which we learn from the words of Jesus and his apostles. Or they honor those by their fellowship who are false teachers and false brethren. Paul’s major problems seemed to start with this:

Acts 15:1 “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. v.5 “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

These men were contrary to God in two things. First of all they were binding a requirement on Christians that God had not made. Second they were trying to carry over part of the Mosaic Covenant with Israel to people who were not Jews. In fact the covenant of circumcision was a carryover into Judaism wasn’t it? That covenant was made with Abraham (Genesis 17:10). Other places had other problems:

I Corinthians 1:11 “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

II Timothy 3:4-5 “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

But the problem of false teachers is addressed by other inspired writers as well:

II John 10 “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:”

And the Apostle Peter devotes almost an entire chapter to this problem; II Peter 2.

v.18 “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

It seems that a good work, whether it be a school, school of preaching, evangelistic or mission work, that is started by honest, sincere and devoted Christians dedicated to the doctrine of Christ is doomed from the beginning. Either in the generation in which it is started or more likely in the next generation; that work will go off into apostasy. Why? My observation is that most likely as they grow and their material needs increase they follow the money.

Should it be any wonder then that it seems that the most prominent, the most talented and supposedly the most intelligent of our brethren are the ones who abandon The Faith? Should it be any wonder that so many are deceived and lead astray by the “GOOD WORDS AND FAIR SPEECHES” of these men? Is it any wonder that not a one of them will attempt to meet a sound brother, solidly anchored in the Word of God in debate of their teaching and practices? Look at Paul’s admonitions to the church at Philippi and at other places:

Philippians 3:17-19 “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. ¹⁸(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”

I Timothy 6:3-5 “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; ⁴He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

II Peter 2:1-3 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ²And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

v.19 “For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”

The reputation of the church at Rome was one of being sound in The Faith, solidly anchored in Christ. So Paul tells the Romans brethren that he would have them to be “SIMPLE CONCERNING EVIL”, not have first hand knowledge of the practices and pleasures of evil. Jesus told his disciples:

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

This doesn’t mean that we are to be simple minded, unable to recognize evil, unable to discern the difference between what is good and what is bad.

I Corinthians 14:20 “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”

v.20 “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

This is a general truth that is valid through all time. If we mark and avoid those who are false teachers and false brethren, if we mark and avoid those who are false brethren due to their unfaithfulness to God in matters of their daily living, if we are obedient to the Word of God, and if we avoid that which is evil and cling to that which is good; Satan will be unable to influence us. He will fail and figuratively speaking be bruised, defeated and trampled underfoot by our walk of life.

Read Romans 16:21-23

v.21 “Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.”

This section of Paul’s letter carries the greetings of others that are with him to the church at Rome. Timothy we know well, Lucius is probably Lucius of Cyrene that we find at Antioch in Acts 13:1, Jason is likely to be the Jason that had the church in his house in Thessalonica in Acts 17:5; Sosipater, another kinsman of Paul, known to the brethren in Rome is probably the same Sopater of Berea traveling with Paul in Acts 20:4.

v.22 “I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.”

Paul did not write his own letters, but usually wrote the salutation (I Corinthians 16:21, II Thessalonians 3:17), some speculate due to problems with eyesight:

Galatians 6:11 “Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.”

So a man called Tertius wrote this letter for Paul and Paul added his own autograph.

v.23-24 “Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. ²⁴The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

In I Corinthians 1:14 we read of Gaius as being one of only two in Corinth that Paul baptized himself. Apparently this is the same Gaius as Paul wrote the book of Romans at Corinth. He not only hosted Paul but apparently the church met in his house as well.

Erastus is called a chamberlain at this place. The word chamberlain means treasurer but most scholars don’t think that this Erastus was the treasurer of the city but rather the steward of the local church. Erastus traveled with Paul (Acts 19:22) and was not from Corinth (II Timothy 4:20).

Quartus is mentioned simply as a brother in Christ and was apparently known to the Roman brethren.

Paul ends his salutation wishing them well, much as we would today.

Read Romans 16:25-27

v.25 “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”

Paul commends them to God according to the gospel, which Paul calls “MY GOSPEL”. Does this mean that Paul taught something unique or different from the other apostles? No, it simply means that as the apostles to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15) the gospel, he taught the “FORM” (Romans 6:17) or “MOLD” or “PATTERN” of doctrine that brought salvation from sin. When that gospel is taught, just like the seed that we use as an analogy, it will generate the same result every time; Christians serving God and the church of Jesus Christ. It was the preaching of Jesus Christ and his apostles which he promised to bring to their remembrance through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

And what is this mystery? It was the mystery that God had kept hidden from the beginning of time (Genesis 3:15) when he promised Eve that all men would be blessed and Satan defeated through her seed. It was a spiritual truth which could not be explained except by divine revelation after which time it was no longer a mystery.

v.26 “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”

A mystery that has now been made “MANIFEST” or known:

“…by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:” II Timothy 1:10

To the Jews first at Jerusalem:

Acts 6:7 “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

Then through Peter to the Gentiles:

Acts 10:22 “And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.”

v.27 “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”

Thus Paul ends his letter with these last few verses being almost a summary of the entire letter.

The power of the gospel that Paul was commissioned to preach…

The revelation of it as the eternal purpose of God…

It’s contents of faith and obedience…

It’s scope, “ALL NATIONS” of the earth…

It’s author, “THE ONLY WISE GOD”