Romans 16

Spiritual Companionship & Workers Of Division

Text: Romans 16

Introduction

Main Headings:

Phoebe is commended to the believers at Rome.

Paul asks the Roman believers to lovingly welcome those who have have been fruit from Paul’s ministry and also laboured with him.

Paul urges these believers to avoid those who are divisive.

Paul’s friends give a short greeting to the Roman believers

Benediction

From the very beginning of creation we understand our need for companionship to thrive as God’s image bearer that we might glorify God to the fullest.

Genesis 1:31 “31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

Genesis 2:18 “18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

Not only do we learn about the blessings of spiritual companionship, we also learn that in this body of believers (aka church) that there must be a labouring together to advance the gospel and the growth of God’s children.

Important words — servant, assist, helpers, labour, kinsmen, fellowprisoners, avoid…

VERSES 1-2

“commend” = to recommend v. — to present as worthy of regard, kindness, or confidence.

Who is Phebe?

Phoebe is undoubtedly the person carrying Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. As the bearer of the letter it would be quite natural for Paul to have commended her and made special mention of her. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 272.

VERSES 3-16

You won’t find anywhere else where Paul gives such a lengthy list of personal greetings.

Think about it…You can’t have a long ministry like Paul’s and not have established an extensive number of personal friendships.

It makes a lot of sense for Paul (in preparation for his future arrival in Rome) to stress his contact with these believers due to the fact they had already or would have made their way to Rome.

We are talking over a period of 20 years.

It is very reasonable to think many on this list would have made their way to Rome.

Greeting Priscilla and Aquila

Aquila was a Jewish tentmaker, a native of the Roman province of Pontus. He and his wife Priscilla were driven out of Rome by the edict of Claudius in a.d. 49. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 274.

You learn about Paul meeting them in Corinth — Acts 18:2–3 “2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.”

They sailed with Paul to Ephesus — Acts 18:18–19 “18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.”

Paul said, “they risked their own necks for my life.”

Do you think all of the first century churches were thankful for their ministry to Paul?

APP — Always plug into serving God when He leads you. You never know the kind of blessing your obedience will be to present and future generations.

“greet the church that is in their house”

1 Corinthians 16:19 “19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”

The church is a local visible body of baptised believers.

Greeting Epaenetus

“Achaia” (show map) — A Roman province that included most of southern and central Greece, with its capital in Corinth. Paul was in Corinth when Gallio was deputy of Achaia (Acts 18:12). In Acts 20:2, “Greece” means Achaia, but “Macedonia and Achaia” usually refer to the whole of Greece (Acts 19:21; Rom 15:26; 1 Thess 1:8). Paul mentions the churches of Achaia because of their generosity (2 Cor 9:13). John D. Barry et al., eds., “Achaia,” The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

A riot in Ephesus sent Paul to Troas, then through Macedonia to the region of Achaia. In Achaia he went to Corinth to deal with problems there. Life Application Bible Notes (Tyndale, 2007), 1872.

Greeting Several Women

Mary was described as someone who worked very hard.

The next three women are Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis.

These description of exhausting work is restricted only for these women.

Greeting Andronicus & Junia

“kinsmen” = It is commonly believed these two were relatives of Paul. At the least they were fellow Jews.

These are commonly believed to be husband and wife.

“who are of note” = they are widely known.

Paul providing his recommendation for their work in the ministry.

They had shared imprisonment with Paul.

Converted at an earlier date than Paul’s conversion.

Greeting Amplias & Stachys

Dear friends of Paul.

Greeting Apelles

“approved in Christ” = proved to be trustworthy.

This could refer to a specific incident where he has proved himself to be faithful to Paul.

1 Corinthians 4:2 “2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Greeting the household of Aristobulus

.We know of a grandson of Herod the Great by the name of Aristobulus who lived as a private citizen in Rome. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 276.

Possibly family connection of Aristobulus:

Grandson of Herod the Great.

A brother to Agrippa 1 (a friend and confidant of Emperor Claudius)

Aristobulus could have shared the same friendship.

If so, when he died, his household would have been taken over by Claudius (the established practice).

Collectively, they would be considered as the “household of Aristobulus.”

What would this mean for Paul?

He would be in close friendship with an eminent family of the capital city.

If these connection are true, that would lead us to interrpret “the household of Narcissus” in the same way (Tiberius Claudius Narcissus)

If that is the person who is referenced in v11, it would be referring to who would considered the “famous freedman” of emperor Tiberius.

He would have been a man of great wealth and influence at the time of emperor Claudius.

Greeting Rufus

“chosen” — referring to being chosen to a place of prominence in the local assembly of believers.

Some consider him to be the son of Simon from Cyrene who was forced to carry Jesus’ cross.

“and his mother and mine” — Rufus’ mother was like a mother to Paul.

Greeting Nine other individuals (significance not really known)

Five men and their brothers:

Asyncritus = incomparable

Phlegon = burning

Hermes = the name of the god of good luck

Patrobas = a name of a confidant of Nero; Someone in charge of Nero’s theatrical events.

Hermas = a common name among slaves.

Last four individuals:

Philologus & Julia — probably husband and wife; others think sister.

Nereus & sister — some think they were the children of Philologus and Julia.

VERSE 16

“with an holy kiss” — regular part of worship in the early church

VERSES 17-20 (avoid those who cause division)

Proverbs 6:16–19 “16 These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Matthew 7:15 “15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Titus 3:10 “10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;”

Who are false teachers?

False teachers are identified by their teaching. To be true their doctrine had to agree with the teaching that already had been delivered to the church. Truth does not contradict itself. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 278.

“serve their own belly”

Paul may have had several groups in mind here.

Trouble is never far away where people are concerned. These people used smooth and plausible speech to deceive the innocent. By pious talk and flattering speech they attempted to seduce the minds of the unsuspecting. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 279.

2 Peter 2:3 “3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Colossians 2:4 “4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.”

(v19) Matthew 10:16 “16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

(v20) Paul is saying, it is your calling to reprove them, mark them, avoid them, but let God be the one to have vengeance.

It will take the power of God to once and for all destroy the evil one before those who work evil to cease.

“under your feet” = If God conquers Satan, so will we!

VERSES 21-23 — PAUL’S COMPANIONS GREET THE ROMAN BELIEVERS

(v21) Timothy no doubt had a special place in Paul’s heart.

Acts 16:1 “1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:”

Two of Paul’s last three letters where written to Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:2 “2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”

2 Timothy 1:2 “2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(v21) Lucius, Jason, Sosipater, etc

Jason — Acts 17:6 “6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”

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.”

(v22) We learn of the scribe who wrote down this letter for Paul.

(v27) show map