Romans 16:1-27
Notes
Transcript
Review
Review
Paul has just explained his ministry to the gentiles primarily and has told us of his intention to come to Rome. He has also partially explained planting churches in gentile areas and his desire the church at Rome would be a base to evangelize into Spain.
Also finished the larger section on discipleship which should follow after justification as we are progressively sanctified or conformed to the image of Jesus.
Now we’ll see examples of all of this as Paul closes his letter.
Phoebe
Phoebe
1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
Phoebe
sister: she’s saved so receive her like you would another Christian
servant at the church at Cenchrea (the seaport in Corinth)
succourer: patron or benefactor
Prisca and Aquila
Prisca and Aquila
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
husband and wife
risked their own lives for Paul and that benefitted tall the churches
have a church in their house
You Greet
You Greet
6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. 7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
9 out of 26 people mentioned by Paul in this chapter are women
Christianity is characterized by many in opposition as misogynist. Misogyny: dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women
Nothing further from reality. In fact it is Biblical Christianity that begins to lift up and celebrate the glory of women. The culture of Paul’s day in Rome (and today in secular and cultures dominated by other religions) was to devalue and subjugate women).
So do these examples of women clearly serving in the church mean women should be elders or pastors in the church?
The Bible never gives an example of a woman called to be an elder, this is an argument from silence and they are never decisive. What the Bible doesn’t say should never be used as the final argument in any discussion.
“Where the Bible Speaks, We Speak; Where the Bible Is Silent, We Are Silent” -Thomas Campbell
What the Bible does do in the other pastoral letters of Paul is to give concrete qualifications of elders or Pastors and deacons and these exclude women from the roles of Pastor, elder, and deacon:
1 Tim 2, 1 Tim 3, Titus 1.
Mary
worked hard to help Paul
Andronicus and Junia
Possibly married couple who are Jewish Christians related to Paul
At some point imprisoned with Paul
Converted before Paul
Stand out among the apostles (apostles here aren’t the ones sent out personally by Jesus but are those sent out from the churches, think missionaries)
Amplias and Urbane and Stachys
sounds like were led to Christ by Paul, with Urbane also helping Paul in the ministry
Apelles
Those in Aristobulus’ household
Herodion
another kinsman of Paul
The household of Narcissus
Tryphena and Tryphosa
Persis
Rufus
possibly the son of Simon of Cyrene?
Mark 15:21 “21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.”
Rufus and Paul’s mothers
Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, the brethren which are with them
Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and all the saints which are with them
Romans 16:16 “16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”
Paul tells them to celebrate the unity in diversity with greeting each other with the kiss of peace
Watch Out
Watch Out
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
vigilance
Romans 16:17 “17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
mark them: watch out for those that cause divisions and offences contrary to what Paul’s taught
separation
Romans 16:18 “18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
they aren’t serving Jesus they are serving themselves
so get away from them, don’t serve with them
discernment
Romans 16:19 “19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”
being wise to what’s good and innocent to what’s evil
Romans 16:20 “20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
God will bless those who follow that guidance
Only by death not just defeat is sin and Satan crushed
The Message of Romans 1. Paul’s Warnings (17–20)
Here then are three valuable tests to apply to different systems of doctrine and ethics—biblical, Christological and moral tests. We could put them in the form of questions about any kind of teaching we come across. Does it agree with Scripture? Does it glorify the Lord Christ? Does it promote goodness?
“Do the next right thing in faith, with excellence and for the glory of God.” - Allie Beth Stuckey
We Greet
We Greet
21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. 23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Timothy
Lucius
Maybe Luke
Jason and Sosipater
Jason” maybe Paul’s landlord in Thessolonica
Acts 17:5 “5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.”
Sosipater Acts 20:4 “4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.”
I, Tertius
The scribe Paul has been dictating the letter to
Romans 16:23 “23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.”
Gaius maybe
one Paul baptised 1 Corinthians 1:14 “14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;”
maybe Gaius Titius Justus that had a house next to the synagogue Paul went to when the Jews rejected the Gospel Acts 18:7 “7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.”
Erastus maybe the magistrate in charge of public works, whose name is still clearly legible in a first-century Latin inscription on a marble pavement close to the ruins of old Corinth.
Quartus nothing we know about
Benediction and Doxology
Benediction and Doxology
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
benediction declaration of blessings from God upon His loved ones
doxology is a liturgical (prescribed form of a religious service) praise to God
Romans 16:25 “25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”
power: glory to him that is able to Stērizō (to establish); almost a technical term for nurturing new converts and strengthening young churches.
If the Gospel is the power to save the lost (1:16) it’s also the power to keep and grow the church
Romans 16:26 “26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”
The Gospel is God revealing Himself, His plan, and His purposes in scripture. The NT makes plain the types and shadows in the OT
commandment: The universal commission to preach the gospel
obedience: The proper response to the gospel is faith, as Paul has stressed throughout his letter, but it is a faith which itself is obedient and which issues in a life of obedience
all nations: The making known of the Gospel is for all nations, so that they will believe and obey. No limit to who should hear the gospel
Conclusion
Conclusion
Both the Church in Rome as well as the friends and fellow laborers of Paul were a very diverse group. Consisted of both Jewish and Gentile Christians and many with vastly different cultural and financial backgrounds ranging from slaves to the rich.
Galatians 3:28 “28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
However a local church not as diverse in things like race is not NECESSARILY broken either.
A question we need to ask ourselves is: Do I have a group of people around me like this?
Do I have friends who serve greatly in the church?
Do I know people who have bravely been willing to risk their lives for the gospel?
Am I acquainted with others that are giving sacrificially to support the church and it’s mission?
The bigger question to ask is am I that person?
Am I IN CHRIST?
Four times “in Christ (3, 7, 9, and 10) and five times “In the Lord” (8, 11, twice in 12, and 13)
Am I SERVING in the local assembly I am a member of?
Am I ACTIVELY ENGAGED in the mission of the church?
