Overview of Romans 16
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday August 11, 2010
Romans: Overview of Romans 16
Lesson # 543
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 16:1.
This evening we will begin a study of the sixteenth and final chapter of the book of Romans by presenting an overview of this chapter.
Not only does Romans 16 complete the Roman epistle but it also completes the seventh major section in the book, which began in Romans 15:14.
Seven sections of the book of Romans: (1) 1:1-17: Introduction and Presentation of the Theme of the Epistle (2) 1:18-3:19: Both Jew and Gentiles are in need of the righteousness of God (3) 3:20-5:21: How to receive the righteousness of God (4) 6-8: How to live in the righteousness of God (5) 9-11: God’s righteousness is vindicated in His relationship to Israel (6) Romans 12:1-15:13: The righteousness of God manifested through believers in Jesus Christ (7) Romans 15:14-16:27: Paul discusses his ministry to the Gentiles (15:14-22), and his intention to visit Rome (15:23-33).
The number of greetings that appear in Romans 16:3-15 is substantially more than that which appears in his other epistles.
In chapter sixteen, Paul names 35 individuals, 8 of which were with Paul in Corinth and the others in Rome.
Seven women are named and twenty-eight men.
Paul refers to at least two households (verses 10-11) and three house churches (verses 5, 14-15) and other unnamed individuals (verse 14).
The names of these individuals are Gentile reflecting that the population in Rome was mainly Gentile and most are those of slaves and freedmen and freedwomen.
In Romans 16:1-2, Paul commends to the Roman Christians, a sister in the Lord, namely, Phoebe.
Romans 16:1, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.”
In Romans 16:3-15, Paul urges the Roman Christians to great various individuals of their number.
In Romans 16:16a, he urges them to greet one another.
In Romans 16:16b and 21-23, he sends greeting to the Roman Christians to the Roman Christians from others.
Romans 16:3, “Greet Prisca and Aquila (AK wih luh), my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.”
Romans 16:5, “Also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus (ih PEE neh tus), my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.”
Romans 16:6, “Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.”
Romans 16:7, “Greet Andronicus (an DRAHN ih kuhs) and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”
Romans 16:8, “Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.”
Romans 16:9, “Greet Urbanus (uhr-BAY-nuhs), our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.”
Romans 16:10, “Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.”
Romans 16:11, “Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.”
Romans 16:12, “Greet Tryphaena (trigh FEE nuh) and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.”
Romans 16:13, “Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.”
Romans 16:14, “Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon (flee-gahn), Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them.”
Romans 16:15, “Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus (nee roos) and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.”
Romans 16:16, “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”
In Romans 16:17-19, the apostle Paul warns the Roman Christians about false teachers.
Romans 16:17, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.”
Romans 16:18, “For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”
Romans 16:19, “For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.”
Paul in Romans 16:20a assures the Roman believers of their ultimate final spiritual victory over Satan and then in Romans 16:20b he prays that the grace of God will be manifested among them.
Romans 16:20, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
In Romans 16:21-23, Paul sends greetings to the Roman Christians from his companions.
Romans 16:21, “Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.”
Romans 16:22, “I, Tertius (TUHR shuhss), who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.”
Romans 16:23, “Gaius (gay yuhs), host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.”
Romans 16:24 does not appear in the original text and is put in brackets to identify this fact.
Romans 16:24, “[The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]”
Paul closes the epistle in verses 25-27 with a doxology, which is from the Greek doxologia and is derived from the Greek noun doxa, “praise, glory, honor” denotes a brief ascription of praise to members of the Trinity.
The doxology was commonly employed in various parts of the New Testament epistles: (1) Salutation (Gal. 1:5). (2) Opening thanksgiving (2 Cor. 1:3f.; Eph. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:3). (3) Final exhortations (1 Tim. 6:15f.; 1 Pet. 5:11; 2 Pet. 3:18). (4) Closing (Heb. 13:20f.; Jude 24f.).
Romans 16:25, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”