Reading Romans Backwards: A Community Needing Peace

Starting at the End: Phoebe & the Housechurches in Rome

What do you think of when you think of the book of Romans?

Do you have any associations? Any ideas or verses that come to mind?

Romans 3:23 NIV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 10:9 NIV

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 6:23 NIV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:28 NIV

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 12:1 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:2 NIV

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 1:16 NIV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Romans 8:26 NIV

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

A letter, written to a real community - communities, actually. A handful of housechurches in Rome, deeply divided between “the strong and the weak”, between those with social power & privilege and those with ancestral heritage that they were convinced gave them an advantage.

So, the book is full of meaty theological content. But that content is in a letter written to real communities, full of real people, who are struggling to live out the reconciliation that is central to the gospel of Jesus.

Tie in to last week?

Starting at the end?

McKnight begins with Romans 12–16, foregrounding the problems that beleaguered the house churches in Rome. Beginning with the end places readers right in the middle of a community deeply divided between the strong and the weak, each side dug in on their position. The strong assert social power and privilege, while the weak claim an elected advantage in Israel’s history.

Romans 16:21–23 NIV

21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.

The community helping Paul write the letter (v21-24)

Have you ever sent someone an email or text - or even a letter! - and asked someone else to read it before you send it? To see if what you’re trying to communicate makes sense outside of your own head? To see if there are ways you could be clearer.

Romans 16:3–9 NIV

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-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. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

Romans 16:10–16 NIV

10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 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. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

The people Paul is addressing (v3-16)

In

Romans 16:1–2 NIV

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon, of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

The woman Paul trusts with his letter to (v1-2)

Phoebe - her name indicates that she’s a convert to Christianity from a pagan background. (No Jewish family would have named their daughter after a

Asks Phoebe to take the letter, which will function like a visit from Paul. With her standing in his place. And many scholars suggest that she would have been the one to read the letter (and remember to read is to interpret!) to the communities. And even if someone else read, she would have been looked to as the one to clarify meaning. Did Paul really mean...”

The image of her standing in front of the groups of people described just before, looking right at them when she’s reading the part that Paul has written about them. (Can you imagine?!)

Romans 16:25–27 NIV

25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with 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 the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

A Benediction (v25-27)

A blessing - a good word.

To speak peace over this community of real people in a real place. Calling them to the gospel that will not only bring them redemption, but reconciliation. Bringing together the strong and the weak, the Gentile believers AND the Jewish ones.

What would it look like to walk through the book of Romans, keeping in mind that we too, with all of our varying viewpoints and different life experiences, can actually be part of the beauty of what the gospel brings.

Redemption AND reconciliation!