Wrapping Things Up

Study of Romans: Message Thirty-Four

Wednesday Nights at MFBC

Romans 16:17-27.

ETS: Paul concluded the letter to the Roman believers offering instruction to the people, greetings from those with him, and praise to God.

ESS: We should live carefully so that God is most glorified in our lives.

OSS: [Ethical] {I want the hearers to heed to instruction of Paul to live in a way that God is glorified in their lives.}

PQ:

How does Paul conclude the letter to the Romans?

UW: Ways

Intro.:

TS: Let us examine a few ways Paul concludes the letter to the Romans.

Paul offers final instructions. [vv. 17-20]

Watch out for and avoid people who are not concerned with building the Kingdom of God.

These people are seeking to serve themselves rather than the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Remain committed to things of Christ as you anticipate the victory over Satan given by God.

Notice Paul’s loving, warm tone again: The report of your obedience…I rejoice over you

Yet, Paul desires of them to remain committed to things of Christ, things beneficial to the Kingdom, and to not fall prey to the false teachings and things of evil.

He assures them that God will grant victory over the enemy, Satan, soon.

Paul offers final greetings. [vv. 21-24]

Previously, Paul greeted those who were in Rome that had ministered to him or in someway influenced the spread of the Gospel in a positive way.

Now, Paul is sending greetings to Rome from those who have accompanied him along his ministry journey.

Timothy: Paul’s son in the faith and a well-acquainted companion of Paul.

Lucius: Mentioned as a prophet, teacher, and native of Cyrene in Acts 13:1 “1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.” There is no certainty of this, though.

Jason: likely the one who gave hospitality to Paul in Thessalonica and mentioned in Acts 17:5-9 “5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” 8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.”

Sosipater: likely from Berea who accompanied Paul for some time and mentioned in Acts 20:4 “4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.” Of Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, it is mentioned that they are fellow Jews.

Tertius: Functioned as the letter scribe or amanuensis as common in the New Testament of people to enlist.

Gaius: Likely one of the two mentioned that Paul baptized at Corinth recorded in 1 Cor. 1:14 “14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,”

Erastus was sent by Paul with Timothy into Macedonia as recorded in Acts 19:22 “22 After sending to Macedonia two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.” He was also the treasurer of the city of Corinth where Paul was when writing the letter.

Quartus: A fellow Christian.

Of each of the accounts of greetings (both of those greeted and those sending greetings), those mentioned contributed positively to the spread of the Gospel.

Verse 24 is not included in the oldest manuscripts. KJV, NKJV, and NASB include it. However, they rely upon later manuscripts.

Paul offers final praise to God. [vv. 25-27]

Glory is ascribed to God on the basis of His ability to strengthen the Roman believers on the basis of three things:

The Gospel and the proclamation thereof

The revelation of Jesus Christ

The command to further spread the Gospel to all people

To this God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever.

Takeaways:

(1) Have you considered the ability of God to strengthen and sustain you in the battle against the enemy and evil?

(2) Have you considered with anticipation the coming victory- which through the Holy Spirit is an already realized reality- over Satan?

Consulted Resources:

[1] Edwin A. Blum, “Romans,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).

‌[2] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Romans, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885).

‌[3] Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014).

‌[4]William Barclay, “The Letter to the Romans” in The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY: The Westminster John Knox Press, 2017).

‌[5] Warren W. Wiersbe, “Romans” in Be Right: How to be Right with God, Yourself, and Others (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2008).