LOVE ONE ANOTHER

BRUNNER “ROMANS 16 IS ONE OF THE MOST INSTRUCTIVE CHAPTERS IN THE N.T., BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS OF LOVE IN THE CHURCH”

COMMENDATION

Romans Homiletical Suggestions

1. Recommendation and credentials (16:1)

a. Minister of the church in Cenchrea (16:1b)

2. Requests (ἵνα, 16:2a–b)

a. Receive her (16:2a)

b. Help her (16:2b)

3. Rationale: Her previous patronage (γάρ, 16:2c)

GREETINGS

TO 26 INDIVIDUALS

24 OF THEM BY NAME

GREET THEM WITH, THANKS, A HOLY KISS

Romans Homiletical Suggestions

1. To individuals

a. To those who are coworkers (συνεργός)

1) Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila (16:3–4)

a) Who risked their necks for Paul (16:4a)

b) For whom all the Gentile churches give thanks (16:4b)

2) Urbanus (16:9a)

b. To those who are kinsmen (συγγενής)

1) Andronicus and Junia (16:7)

a) Who are Paul’s fellow prisoners (16:7a)

b) Who are prominent among the apostles (16:7b)

c) Who were in Christ before Paul (16:7c)

2) Herodion (16:11a)

c. To those who are laborers (κοπιάω)

1) Mary (16:6)

2) Tryphaena and Tryphosa (16:12a)

3) Persis (16:12b)

d. To those who are beloved (ἀγαπητός)

1) Epaenetus (16:5b–c)

a) Who is the firstfruits of Asia (16:5c)

2) Ampliatus (16:8)

3) Stachys (16:9b)

4) Persis (16:12b)

e. To those who are proven (δόκιμος) and elect (ἐκλεκτός) ones

1) Apelles (16:10a)

2) Rufus and his mother (16:13)

2. To house churches

a. In the house of Prisca and Aquila (16:5a)

b. Those of Aristobulus’s household (16:10b)

c. Those of Narcissus’s household (16:11b)

d. Those with Asyneritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, and Hermas (16:14)

e. Those with Philologus, Junia, Nereus, his sister, and Olympas (16:15)

3. To the whole church

a. Command to greet another with a holy kiss (16:16a)

b. Greetings from all the churches of Christ (16:16b)

DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH

9 OF THE 26 ARE WOMEN

CO WORKERS, HARD WORKERS, KINSMEN, PRISONERS, WELL KNOWN, DEAR FRIENDS, SLAVES, FREE, SUCCESSFUL, MOTHERS, MARRIED COUPLES, SINGLE MEN AND WOMEN, ………ALL THE SAINTS

•GOD CARES FOR ALL OF HIS PEOPLE

•GOD KNOWS WHERE HIS SERVANTS ARE FAITHFUL

•EVERYONE IS OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE NO MATTER OUR DIFFERENCES

UNITY IN THE CHURCH

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

WHAT ARE WE TO DO IN RESPONSE?

COMMEND, GREET WITH THANKS OR A KISS

IS THERE A CHRISTIAN YOU NEED TO LOVE?

IS THERE A CHRISTIAN YOU STRUGGLE WITH?