1). FINAL GREETINGS AND EXHORTATIONS (16:1-16). It is unusual to find such a detailed list of people to be greeted in Paul's letters. Indeed, in most of his letters no specific person is individually greeted. The exceptions are Colossians (‘the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas... [ Continue Reading ]
4). FINAL GREETINGS (16:1-27). We now come to the close of the letter. This final chapter divides up into three subsections: 1) Final greetings and exhortations (Romans 16:1). 2) Exhortation to beware of those who divide the church and of the need to be wise to what is good, with the assurance th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae, that you receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may have need of you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.' Phoebe may wel... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life laid down their own necks, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles, and the church which is in their house. ‘ Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila were a wife and husband (Acts 18:2) who had minis... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the firstfruits of Asia unto Christ.' Epaenetus is mentioned nowhere else. This salutation may indicate that he was the first known convert who resulted from Paul's ministry in Asia Minor. If so we can understand why he calls him ‘my beloved' (compare Romans 16:... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Mary, who bestowed much labour on you.' Mary was a common name both among Jews and Gentiles. He clearly knew her as being someone who gave herself in the service of others. That he knew what she was doing in Rome suggests some correspondence, either with her or with those who knew her (such... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.' Andronicus was a common Greek name. Junia may have been his wife. Or it may be a man's name, Junias. Either way they were possibly Paul's relatives, ... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Ampliatus my beloved in the Lord.' Ampliatus was a well attested name in Rome, commonly found in Roman inscriptions. It is attested among the imperial household. ‘My beloved in the Lord' simply indicates a dear fellow-Christian (compare Romans 16:5; Romans 16:9; Romans 16:12), usually when... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Urbanus our fellow-worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.' Urbanus was a popular Roman name indicating ‘belonging to the urbs (the city)'. Note that he is not called ‘my fellow-worker'. Thus it probably signifies someone prominent in Christ's service rather than someone who has worked wi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Apelles the approved in Christ.' The name Apelles is again found in Roman inscriptions. Horace uses it as a typical Jewish name. ‘The approved in Christ' (one who has endured testing) may indicate that in some way he had suffered for Christ's sake. He is the only one described in this way.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Herodion my kinsman.' The name Herodion would appear to connect him in some way with one of the Herods, quite probably as a servant or slave. Whilst ‘my kinsman' may simply indicate a fellow-Jew, it is noticeable that only some Jews are selected out to receive the title. It may thus signify... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord.' The similar names may suggest that these ladies were twins. Both names occur in Roman inscriptions. Paul clearly knew of their activities as Christians, probably though their work among the poor and needy. ‘Salute Persis the beloved, who lab... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.' The name Rufus was common in Rome, but the mention of his mother as one who had at some stage ‘mothered' Paul immediately singles him out. Paul clearly had fond memories of Rufus' mother. It may well be that this Rufus was the Rufus me... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.' Nothing direct is known of any of these. Hermes was very common name as a slave name. Hermes was the god of good luck. Patrobas may well have been connected with the ‘household' of Patrobius, a wealthy freed... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Philologus and Julia were probably husband and wife. Julia's name suggests a connection with Caesar's household, as a slave or freedwoman. The name Philologus is also found connected with Caesar's... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute one another with a holy kiss.' The kiss, probably usually on the cheek, was a well known form of Christian greeting. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2Co 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14. When Judas kissed Jesus it was presumably as a recognised form of greeting among the Apostles. Pau... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now I plead with you, brothers and sisters, mark those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned: and turn away from them.' The false teachers against whom he is warning were teaching ‘contrary to the doctrine which you learned'. There is n... [ Continue Reading ]
WARNING AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS AND THE FINAL TRIUMPH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (16:17-20). That this warning comes at the end of the letter rather than in the main part suggests that such false teachers were not seen by him as a major problem in the church at Rome. Indeed, as we have seen, he knew t... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For they who 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.' Characteristic of such teachers was that they sought financial gain from their teaching enabling them to live richly (Titus 1:10; 1 Corinthians 6:13; P... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For your obedience is come abroad to all men. I rejoice therefore over you, but I would have you wise to what is good, and simple to what is evil.' In contrast to the teachers who ‘serve not our Lord Jesus Christ' are the Roman Christians whose ‘obedience' is spoken of everywhere. This obedience i... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the God of peace will bruise Satan under your feet shortly.' He is confident that ‘the God of peace', Who hates division among His people and seeks peace, will in this regard shortly bruise Satan under their feet. In other words he is confident that with God's help they will reject the teaching... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Timothy my fellow-worker salutes you; and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.' Timothy is described as Paul's fellow-worker. For a time he had been Paul's constant companion, and his name was regularly included in Paul's opening address in his letters. He would later have an important role... [ Continue Reading ]
GREETINGS FROM HIS FELLOW-WORKERS (16:21-24). Paul now sends greeting from his fellow-workers. He may well have had in mind the need to establish the authority of those referred to in the service of the Gospel. They were, as it were, his lieutenants.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I Tertius, who write the letter, salute you in the Lord.' Tertius was here seen as acting as Paul's amanuensis, and adds his own greeting to the letter. It is probable, in view of the Pauline style of the letter, that in this case his duties were restricted to writing word by word in accord with P... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Gaius my host, and of the whole church, salutes you.' This Gaius is probably the Gaius of Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14). He was clearly giving hospitality to Paul, and his description as ‘host of the whole church' may suggest that he had prime responsibility among Christians in Corinth for acting a... [ Continue Reading ]
Erastus is probably cited as the most influential Christian in Corinth at the time. He was the city treasurer at Corinth. A Latin inscription has been discovered which states ‘Erastus laid this pavement at his own expense in appreciation of his appointment as aedile'. The aedile was appointed for on... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now to him who is able (tow dunamenow - to him that is of power) to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen.' ‘To the only wise God -- to whom be glory for ever and ever'. Paul finishes with praise to the One Who is the only God, the One Who is supremely wise (compare Romans 11:32), as he considers the wonder of His way of sa... [ Continue Reading ]