Love for the Saints

Despite the great popularity of the book of Romans this last chapter is often neglected because is has no explicit teaching and includes several list of people most of whom we know nothing about.

But they were most definiatly a representative cross section of believers in Rome and of Pauls companions at the time he wrote the letter.

By looking at this chapter we gain insight into the life of Paul and into the lives of other early Christians and into the nature and character of the first-century chruch.

In many ways this chapter reflects the personal and practical agape love that he has talked about in this book in Rom 13:8-10

Romans 13:8–10 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Here are the ways he reveals that love.

Pauls Commendation (vv 1-2)

Here in these first 2 verses Paul speaks about one Person who was a servant of the church in Cenchrea which is where Paul wrote this letter to the Romans.

Cenchrea was the port city next to Corinth.

Paul commend this woman not only for what she had done as a faithful sister and servant of Christ but also for what she was soon to do in the near future.

It is almost certain that Phoebe delivered this letter in person to the church in Rome.

But just think about what a shift in tradition this is.

Under the law worship was segregated men and women did not worship in the same part of the temple.

Women were considered not equal to men and were not much more than property.

But here one of the leaders of the of the Church and the greatest missionary and most prolific writer in the NT is recognizing and women and implying that she is a leader in the church.

Paul commends her in 3 different ways here:

1.) As a sister in Christ.

this is huge because he was putting women on the same level as men.

Making the salvation of women through Christ and not though their husbands.

2.) As a Servant of Christ.

Paul commended her as a highly-proven servant of Christ and implored the church at Rome to receive her in the Lord.

3.) As a helper of many

During the first few centuries of the church, the role of a woman servant was to care for fellow believers who were sick, for the poor, for strangers passing through, and for the imprisoned.

Pauls Cordiality (vv 3-16)

Here Paul continues to show love and affection for a host of beloved friends and fellow believers.

Even though he had not been to Rome before he names 24 different people in this letter, 17 men and seven women.

These are people in Rome that he had worked with and served with in other chruch through out the region.

This just shows how diverse the chruch in Rome was.

But also think about this, the 24 people that Paul names here in this letter, they were all touched in some way by his ministry.

When we are doing the will of God like Paul did we have more impact than we ever can on our own.

Pauls Companions (vv 21-24)

When we are doing the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit we are never alone.

We are not good at everything, but other people are.

God surrounded Paul with people to help him in his mission.

If we are doing what Gods will is for our lives then we will be surrounded by what we need and the people to get it done.