Romans 16:1-16 "Paul's Commendation and Greetings"

Let’s Pray!

Good Morning, Calvary Chapel Lake City!

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This workshop is designed to equip you to speak intelligently and graciously about the issue of abortion and life in a compelling manner.

Mike will simplify the abortion debate and cover pro-abortion objections and arguments.

The event is free, but registration is required by Sept 25th.

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Let’s now continue in our study of Romans. Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 16. Romans 16:1-16 today.

We have entered into our final chapter of Romans… and are reading through Paul’s conclusion… which began in Romans 15:14.

It’s quite a long conclusion… as compared letters today (which are rare)…

Emails are more likely… which typically close with a sentence or two.

But not in ancient times. Paul… closed with 756 Greek words (1,015 words in English).

I didn’t count how many sentences that is… but it’s a lot… more than 1-2.

Much more thoughtful… but with limited communication… they took advantage to communicate meaningfully.

But we can call… text… emails… message… we live in the days of communication overload.

There’s much less pressure for us to say everything… most of us prefer less… some just want an emoji.

But, not in Paul’s day…

Last week we saw some final words of practical advice as he discussed his ministry and ministry plans…

And, he echoed his purpose of writing in V16… to minister the gospel of God… particularly to the Gentiles…

Similar to what he wrote in Rom 1:16…

The Gospel was on Paul’s mind all throughout Romans…

Opening… Body… and here in his conclusion.

Romans is Paul’s great treatise on the gospel.

And writing Romans at the close of his third missionary journey… Paul shared he desired to visit Rome.

He felt much hindered from visiting Rome in the past… for he wanted to bring the Gospel to places where Jesus had not been announced.

But, then… in V23… very insightfully… Paul write, “But no longer having a place in these parts…”

Paul knew his time from Jerusalem to Illyricum was coming to an end.

Which could be a whole sermon on that one verse alone.

I can look back on times when God was ending our time of ministry in the Philippines or Maryland and how in diverse ways… He made His will known.

And Paul knew a new chapter was ahead… and indeed he would reach Rome…

… different than he expected since he came as a prisoner, but for two whole years while on house arrest he was able to receive people and preach the Gospel freely.

As the Book of Acts closes.

Today, we pick up in Chapter 16 with “Paul’s Commendation & Greetings”… our message title today.

So… let’s peer into Chapter 16 now… and in reverence for God’s word, if you are able, please stand as I read our passage.

Romans 16:1-16 “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus [I’m probably not saying these names right… but you have no idea… we’re just gonna go with it] and Julia [there’s a name I can pronounce], Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.”

Praise God for His word! Please be seated!

As Paul closes out this letter… through V23 of Chapter 16… Paul provides one of the most heart felt and intentional greetings in all of Scripture.

Chapter 16 says a lot about Paul’s thoughtfulness and loving affection that he had for other believers.

He doesn’t just end the letter abruptly… you can almost imagine him and Tertius… who wrote for Paul (V23)… talking with one another… asking, “Who else is in Rome?… is there anyone else we forgot?”

And, the Holy Spirit drawing people to memory…

I count 35 people total that Paul names by name… it’s an impressive list…

Of the 35… 1 is recommend (Phoebe)… 26 are greeted… 8 are with Paul (vv21-24)…

27 men are named… and 8 women are named… plus an unnamed mother and sister… 10 women in all mentioned…

… which is significant for a culture and time that thought less of women.

The Bible, Christianity… and Paul… historically has elevated women to a proper position of respect.

Compare women’s rights in Christian influenced nations to non-Christian nations…

… it’s an obvious difference.

Some accuse Paul of being a woman hater because he advocates for God’s order of male leadership…

… which is NOT elevating men over women in superiority… it’s God’s given order… specific only to church and home.

But it’s clear that women are thought highly of in scripture… old and new testament.

Jesus surrounded himself with women in key roles…

He first appeared to women post-resurrection.

And here in Romans 16… Paul entrusts Phoebe to carry this inspired epistle to Rome…

10 women are mentioned in the greeting…

… of the first book listed in Paul’s writings.

Not his first book chronologically, but first in order of significance.

And he entrusts it’s delivery to Phoebe… we should not overlook that.

Paul valued… thought highly of… and trusted women.… who played important roles in the ministry of the early church.

And in this ministry… Calvary Chapel Lake City… I don’t know what we would do without women.

Thank you ladies!

Guys… you’re alright also.

In general… of the 35 people Paul mentions… not only does he remember their names… he remembers and describes their character… their jobs… their good deeds… and their ministries… it’s obvious Paul cares about people.

Three house churches are mentioned… two households… and two other groups of people (“the brethren” and “the saints”).

So, how many people did Paul actually know?

And, how did he know them? Did he meet them during his missionary travels?

Or just hear of them by reputation… as mentioned in Rom 1:8… their “faith [was] spoken of throughout the whole [Roman] world.”

There is a mix of Jewish and Gentile names… mostly Gentile… which gives us insight into the makeup of the church in Rome.

It was diverse… not just ethnically, but also by class.

There were slaves, freedmen & women (those who were freed from slavery)… AND even… social elites… military… politicians… all were represented in the church.

Which was unheard of in that culture… and was perceived as a threat to the Roman way of life… thus influenced persecution of the church.

In first century Rome… there were great social barriers between classes of people.

Roman society was divided… segregated by…

Patricians (elite landowners, aristocrats, nobles)…

Plebians (common citizens)… today if you’re called a “pleb”… it’s derogatory slang for “common” or “unrefined.”

There were also freedmen… and the lowest class… slaves.

In Roman society… these classes… and a state-sponsored polytheistic religion… helped maintain Roman order… through hierarchy… submission and loyalty to the Emperor and Empire.

And, then Christianity comes along claiming One God… introduces spiritual equality… and encourages classes to mingle…and include people from all social strata— slaves, poor, women, and elites.

No one was superior… not spiritually… or societally… or by gender.

In Christ barriers were broken down… and the most unlikely group of people were brought together.

In Galatians 3:28 Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Society makes distinctions, but in Christ we all share the same privilege and position.

And, this way of thinking rocked Rome… and influenced early persecution of the church in the worst of ways.

So… this list of names in Romans 16… these are not just names from antiquity that are difficult to pronounce.

This is a revolutionary list of people who believed in Jesus Christ… and elevated unity in Christ over Roman societal customs.

They embraced other people as equals… and some of them would suffer persecution for the name of Christ.

What a blessing we have here in Romans 16… to witness a picture of the early church… something that was amazingly different than the lies of society.

And the church has far outlived the once powerful Roman State.

Rome was birthed as a kingdom… became a republic and ended an empire… and impressively survived… in the most generous estimates… around 2,200 years.

But… is no more. The Western Roman empire fell in 476 A.D. and the Eastern Roman empire fell in 1453 A.D.

But Christianity lives on… and in Christ… we… and these other brothers and sisters in Romans 16… we are eternal.

When you get to heaven… look them up to hear their stories… their testimonies…

They may want to hear yours as well…

Which you earn when we… like they say, “Yes” to the leading of the Spirit and the sacrifice of ministry.

Well… let’s understand these saints… beginning in V1… Paul introduces Phoebe.

Phoebe’s name means “moon” or “radiant (as the moon)”…

Her name is of Greek origin. In mythology… Phoebe was a Titaness associated with the moon and prophecy.

So… that gives you some insight into her family’s pagan belief system.

And, yet… now she is in Christ. How many Christians… how many of us… were born into families with a belief system counter to Biblical Christianity? And here we are.

Phoebe was described by Paul with three titles…

“Our sister”… Gk adelphē… a term which confirms she’s a Christian.

And she is a sister in the family of faith in Jesus Christ.

“A servant”… Gk diakonos… it’s the same word for ‘deacon’… some call her a “deaconess” (though that is a different Gk word)…

But, either way… to be a deacon 1 Tim 3 describes the high character of such individuals… so Phoebe was a woman of character.

And humble… in Acts 6… deacons are first appointed to serve tables so the Apostles did not need to leave the word of God.

With others around them to help with church business, they could be devoted continually to prayer and the ministry of the word.

I very much appreciate those who serve here with set up / tear down / hospitality / fellowship lunches… serving as deacons and deaconesses.

It makes it possible for me to be devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word.

Phoebe served in her church which was located in Cenchrea… a port city and sister city of Corinth in Southern Greece.

Paul, at the end of his 2nd missionary journey, in Acts 18:18 was in Corinth “a good while”… Acts 18:11 states Paul was in Corinth for 18 months.

It was probably during this time he met Phoebe who served at the sister city.

Paul departs Corinth and goes to Cenchrea… to sail to Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquilla… who also are mentioned in Romans 16.

And Phoebe may have helped them… for back in Romans 16 her third title is “a helper” Gk prostatis, “a patroness.”

Which by def. can mean “a wealthy or influential supporter.”

She was one who financially supported ministries and missionaries… and made it practically possible for people to do the Lord‘s work.

Blessed are you if financial generosity is your gift.

So, Phoebe was a Christian woman who not only used her means to help support many people, including Paul… she also humbly served in her local church.

Thus Paul commends her…

Commend by def. is a “favorable introduction” or “to recommend to favorable attention”…

Which… is not just Paul speaking highly of Phoebe… it was customary for letter carriers to be introduced or commended in the letter itself… especially at the end of the letter as this was the common placement for mentioning the carrier.

And a carrier was needed because Rome didn’t have a public postal service…

For official imperial correspondence… there was the Cursus Publicus… a state-run courier system.

But… for ordinary citizens… you had to arrange other means to send letters.

Travelers… merchants… and sailors heading in the right direction offered a source for delivering letters… though they were not always reliable… which is not shocking.

So, Paul… needed a trusted messenger to bring this most important doctrinal letter.

And Phoebe fit the bill. She was a fellow Christian who had servant’s heart and had earned trust… plus she had financial means to travel.

She was the reliable choice… and the prevailing view amongst scholars is Phoebe carried the Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Imagine if Paul chose someone who wasn’t reliable…

They might have left the scroll in a hotel room… and then down the road… or worse set sail… they realize their mistake…

They’d have to pick up their cell and call the hotel… “Hi, I was in room 305 and forgot something kind of important. Can you check with housekeeping?”

What a mess that would have been? It’s not like they could just dial…

But, based on what we have learned about Phoebe’s faith… service… financial means and generosity…

As she was faithful in the small day-to-day things… she proved to be trusted to handle the big things… carrying this eternally significant letter to Rome.

It’s not difficult to understand why Paul would commend her.

It’s truly miraculous that we even have Bibles… that God preserved the word… not just from perils of travels… but perils of time… and perils of persecution…

One of the worst was in 303 A.D., when Roman Emperor Diocletian issued edict demanding Christian books be surrendered and burned, and churches be destroyed… to suppress Christianity, which was seen as a threat to Roman religious and political unity.

Yet… God preserved His word… just as he upheld and preserved Phoebe to deliver this epistle to Rome.

When Paul originally asked her to do this… I’m not sure HOW the ASK went down…

One day Paul must have dropped something like this her… “Hey Phoebe… my don’t you look radiant today. I have a favor to ask? How about a little trip to Rome for me?”

“Oh… yeah… sure Paul… I love Rome in the Fall.”

How did it go down? Seems like a big ask to me… quite disruptive to one’s schedule… rather inconvenient…

Travel wasn’t like it is today… she didn’t just hop on a plane and arrive a few hours later…

She likely hopped on a merchants ship… and they were not known for their wonderful accommodations.

People slept on the deck or cramped in cabins… as a patroness… she likely secured a better cabin… though still rudimentary… and it would take up to 15 days at sea to arrive in Rome.

And travel was perilous… in 2 Cor 11 Paul wrote about his difficult journeys…

He wrote “in sleeplessness often”… I can’t imagine a good nights rest on a merchant ship.

Paul wrote, “in perils of waters… in perils in the sea… three times shipwrecked...”

8x Paul uses the word “peril” in 2 Cor 11 and two times related to travel by ship.

Paul wrote, “in perils of robbers”…

We don’t know if she travelled with anyone else… though that would have been wise…

If you had to sum up travel in antiquity… it was perilous.

Yet… despite the danger… she said yes.

Sometimes the big asks for the sake of ministry come at personal cost…

… at an inconvenience to one’s schedule… an investment of time… at financial cost.

Phoebe stands as an example of one who has a story… who will receive a crown at the judgment seat of Christ… and has her name even penned into eternal scripture.

All because of the many times she said, “yes” in obedience… though at cost.

We’d be reading about someone else had she said, “No.”

God’s will be done… with or without us… but when we say, “Yes”… we become part of story God wrote before time began.

You can enter the heavenly side of eternity by receive the free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ…

But, if you did nothing with that gift. If you just hid it… never shared it… never said, “Yes” to ministry because it may cost you something…

I wouldn’t want that to be my testimony in eternity. “I received the gift and did nothing with it.”

C.S. Lewis suggests that while heaven is perfect, souls might reflect on earthly life with a kind of bittersweet awareness.

In the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19)… the master awarded faithful servants… entrusting them with overseeing cities for their faithfulness.

But to the one who just hid what was entrusted to him… He took the mina and gave it to one who was faithful.

What we do in this life… it’s judged in eternity… and there will be rewards or loss.

If you’re not in the habit of saying, “Yes”… for your sake and for the sake of the gift of the Gospel… be inspired by Phoebe.

And to the church in Rome, Paul asks two things of them regarding Phoebe…

First, V2… “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints”…

This speaks about anticipating the arrival of… and welcoming… and showing kind reception of a guest.

I covered this last week, but “saints” are believers in Christ based upon their position, not based upon their works.

So, there’s St. Paul… St. Luke… what’s your name? Add saint in front of it if you trust in Jesus Christ.

I think we are one of the only churches to have a Saint Bernard. What a privilege for us!

I love you Bern. Thanks for being a good sport.

The church at Rome was not just receive her, but as a fellow believer who is worthy of honor amongst God’s people.

And this is just good counsel…

We should care for our guests… when I traveled to Maryland recently to cover Sunday services for my Pastor… they did well to receive me.

As a body we should, in general, receive new people who enter the church… whether they come with commendations or not.

I like talking to my friends here at church, because it’s familiar… it’s comfortable… we have a relationship.

But, when I see a new person, I make a point to say hello, and make them feel welcome.

And, I observe many of you who do the same. Good job.

If you don’t, I want to encourage you to make new people feel welcome. Say hello to someone you don’t know.

I don’t like it or agree with it, but sometimes people have a litmus test where they wait to see if anyone talks to them… to decide if they will come back.

My litmus test falls primarily upon the teaching of the whole counsel of God accurately… if I find myself taking notes… and if I find application for my life.

Regardless… we should still receive new people because community is important.

When we were serving at our church in Maryland, my wife and my Pastor’s wife were… and still are… close friends.

And they had a rule. After church, they would not talk to one another until everyone else left… in order to make sure others were received.

It’s just good counsel.

Paul also ask the church in Rome to “… assist her in whatever business she has need of you.”

As a hospitable church, they would ensure she had food, shelter, transportation… perhaps directions here or there.

Or fellowship… after travelling with those merchants and sailors for two weeks… she probably need some Christian sisters to pour into her.

So, that’s Phoebe… you’ll have the opportunity to meet Phoebe in heaven, and you can ask her about her journey.

You can ask her if she accidentally left the scroll in the hotel room or experienced any perils.

vv3-5a “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.”

Paul first met the husband and wife dynamic duo, Priscilla and Aquilla, in Acts 18.

What a blessing it is to serve the Lord with my spouse…

I know she feels the same because she tells me, “You’re really something you know that.”

It’s also a blessing to serve with my kids… I pray two of them come home after college and continue serving with us.

It’s a selfish prayer… I know… but it’s my heart’s desire nonetheless.

It’s a beautiful thing to see them grow and go, but it’s hard… it’s bittersweet. I know some of you are feeling that too with your kids entering a new season of life.

It’s also a blessing to serve with all of you who labor with us.

In Acts 18… Priscilla and Aquila were in Corinth… exiled from Rome because Emperor Claudius in 49 A.D. commanded all Jews to depart from Rome.

Aquila was for sure a Jew (according to Acts 18:2)… it’s not clear if Priscilla was or not, but for sure she married a Jew.

Their names suggest they were freeborn… these were not common slave names.

Priscilla means “Ancient” or “little old woman”, but don’t say that to her face.

Aquila is Heb for “I shall be nourished.”

Paul stayed with them at their home… and they worked bi-vocationally as tentmakers for a year and a half.

And they were blessed to have a job that they could take with them wherever they went.

If you’re ministry minded and suspect you may need to work bi-vocationally… consider a job that is easily transferrable… like a trade… or a position where you can work at home… one you can do wherever the Lord directs your steps.

At the end of Acts 18… they sailed with Paul to Ephesus where once again they served alongside Paul in ministry.

According to 1 Cor 16:19 they had a church in their home at Ephesus.

They also helped Apollos in Ephesus (Acts 18:24-28).

So, they were “fellow workers” with Paul… not only in trade, but also in ministry.

And, when Paul wrote “they risked their own necks for my life”… we don’t exactly how they helped him… but we know Paul was in danger often.

He wrote about fighting “with beasts at Ephesus” (1 Cor 15:32) and trouble in Asia, despairing “even of life” (2 Cor 1:8).

Somewhere… sometime… this couple took great personal risk to save Paul’s life.

They said, “Yes.”

Now… here in Romans 16… now they are back in Rome.

And once again there is a church in their house.

There are some people that no matter where they go… no matter what they do… Jesus is front and center in their lives.

And not only was Paul grateful for this couple, but he wrote “all the church of the gentiles” give thanks to them.

When your life is open handed to the Lord and your heart set upon Him… and your works reflect your heart… there is a ripple effect… where people far and wide are grateful for the impact you have had on their lives… to the praise of the Lord.

Before we move on… we will see notes of three house churches which was common in the early church, but it wasn’t an absolute.

Sometimes people elevate house church like it’s more spiritual than meeting in a building, but truly God looks at the heart.

Where we meet is not as important as the heart of why we meet. We meet to worship the Lord… to learn from His word… for the saints to assembly one with another.

In Acts 19:9… Paul met in the “school [or hall] of Tyrannus”… for two years they met in a building.

In Acts 2:46… the early believers met corporately at the temple and gathered house to house.

A big reason they met at homes was… and you may think I’m going to say “persecution”… while that’s true…

I was going to say “food”… homes had kitchens and the church enjoyed eating meals together (Acts 2:46; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 11; Jude 12).

They were able to let down their social barriers and break bread.

And, Paul corrected them when they didn’t share with the impoverished… when their heart attitude elevated self over their brother or sister. Heart attitude is important.

It was a big deal to eat together… and I say Amen to that.

I do enjoy our monthly fellowship lunches as a church… and eating together every Wednesday for midweek.

In fact… with all the eating we do… we may rebrand from Calvary Chapel to Calorie Chapel.

But hey… it’s biblical.

Anyhow… back to the point on house churches and away from food… meeting in a home… meeting in a building… it’s all good… as long as we gather to the glory of the Lord.

Moving on… we’re going to pick up the pace now… as Paul rapid fire greets a variety of other Christians in Rome… who we know very little about…

V5b “Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.”

His name is of Gk origin and means “worthy of praise”… and apparently he and Paul were close friend as “beloved” means “very dear.”

“Firstfruit” indicates he was likely the first convert in the province of Achaia. Some manuscripts say more generically he was in the “province of Asia.”

This area is the region where Corinth was

Interesting in 1 Cor 16:15 Paul also mentions the “… household of Stephanas” who he also calls “the firstfruits of Achaia...”

So how could both be the firstfruits?

The common resolution is Epaenetus was a member of Stephanas' household… and the first from that household to believe in Jesus.

Some of you can relate to a story like that… being the first believer in a home that did not know God… and what a blessing when our faith can impact our families and draw them to Christ.

Keep praying for your lost family members. God has a way of using our lives as light and opening the eyes of the blind.

V6 “Greet Mary, who labored much for us.”

There are something like 7 Mary’s in the New Testament. Poor Jesus… if He said, “Mary”… at any given moment there might have been 2-4 Mary’s responding, “Yes Jesus?”

Of his twelve kids… the boxer, George Foreman had five sons and named them all George to foster unity.

Rather efficient when he needed to gather the boys… “C’mon here George!”

“But what if he just wanted to call one?”

Well… each had a nickname.

“Jr, Monk, Big Wheel, Red, & Little Joey.”

That information is free of cost. My gift to you.

Here in V6 this was Mary of Rome…

Mary was a common Jewish name… it’s the Gk form of the Hebrew “Miriam” and the name means “Their rebellion.”

This Mary was known for her hard work. She labored… by def. to the point of fainting from weariness.

Sounds like she was more of a Martha, but no doubt appreciated by Paul.

V7 “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen [or fellow Jews] and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”

Andronicus is a masculine name meaning “Conqueror”… and Junia is a feminine name meaning “Belonging to Juno” who was the Roman queen of the gods…

They may have been husband and wife… though Junias can be masculine or feminine… so difficult to know.

But, Paul did hard time with them… they were “fellow prisoners”…

They got jail tats in the big house together.

We don’t know where or when they served time together, but Paul did write he was “in prisons more frequently” (2 Cor 11:23).

Paul also notes they were “of note among the apostles”… they were highly respected… likely because they “were in Christ before me.”

They believed in Christ before Paul’s road to Damascus…

Which wasn’t many years… there were only about 2-4 years between Jesus’ ascension and Paul’s conversion… so not a lot of time.

They were respected amongst the Apostles… maybe even the Twelve.

They could have gone back… even walking with Jesus directly… hearing Him preach… seeing miracles… believing through His direct words.

Or saved somewhere around Acts 2 after Pentecost.

We don’t know, but in heaven, we will hear wild testimonies of people who testify of hearing Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount… or seeing the early church birthed with the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

We’ll have eternity with no time pressures to be amazed by all the ways God worked.

And there will be a lot of stories… in the heavenly scene in Rev 5… between the angelic and the church the number around throne of God is “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands”… meaning innumerable… lot’s of stories.

V8 “Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.”

Amplias also received the kind word of being “beloved” or “very dear” to Paul.

His is a slave name. Whether slave or freedman, we do not know. His name means “large.”

Largely unknown to us, but not unknown to God.

God said to Jeremiah “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...” (Jer 1:5)

Psalm 139 testifies repeated of God’s thoughts toward man and His presence with us.

There are many people through the ages… and all around the world that have done or are doing great things for God…

Faithful Christians who said “Yes” to the leading and calling of God.

People from like 450 A.D.… one of the most obscure times in history…

… people we’ve never heard of them… and they shared the Gospel with a person who shared with another person… who passed down through time connects to us.

I remember being a Pastor’s retreat a few years ago and my Pastor’s Pastor was the guest speaker.

I introduced myself… explained the connection… and said, “So… you’re like my Grand Pastor.”

He smiled and said, “Yeah, I guess I am.” Instantaneous connection.

And, one day in heaven we will hear all the stories and learn all the connections… and see saints rewarded for their faithfulness at the Bema Seat… the largest and longest awards ceremony ever.

And, don’t worry… it’s not going to be like a sports awards ceremonies where you’re thinking “When is this thing going to be over?”

You’ll absolutely love it. You’ll be in heaven… you’re body won’t be in pain… you won’t feel impatient… time will be on you’re side.

It’s going to be great!

V9 “Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.”

Urbanus was a common slave name… meaning “of the city.”

And as a slave it’s not surprising that Paul recognized his high work ethic.

Stachys… also belove by Paul.

His name means “an ear of corn.” He was from the mid-west.

V10 “Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.”

Apelles’ name means “separate”… he was an introvert.

Paul says he was "approved in Christ"… which implies he had proven his faith through some trial.

If you’ve been through great trials… and have persevered… you have been “approved in Christ.”

Aristobulus is named, but maybe not named.

Does Paul include the whole house of Aristobulus here? Including Aristobulus?

Or is he just mentioning those in his household… likely his slaves?

There was a grandson of Herod the Great named Aristobulus… and some think this is the guy.

My Pastor told a story about how this Grandson did get saved and wrote a book of his faith journey called “From Herod to Hallelujah”…

He sounded compelling, but then burst the balloon… saying, “I almost had you.”

And the people burst forth in laughter… It was a funny moment.

Truthfully there were a lot of guys named “Aristobulus” at that time… so who knows who this was.

Orthodox tradition holds that Aristobulus was the brother of Barnabas… originally Joseph… one of the 70… was ordained a bishop, and was eventually a missionary to Britain.

We’ll have to wait to heaven to know for sure.

V11 “Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.”

Herodian.. meaning “valiant”… was a countryman of Paul’s… meaning a fellow Jew.

Some think he was a slave of Aristobulus.

And, Narcissus… at least his household in the Lord.

The name Narcissus is rooted in Greek mythology… he’s the one who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water… pined away and was transformed into the Narcissus flower.

Today, a "narcissist," describes one with excessive self-admiration. 

They’re fun to be around… if you like hearing stories about them.

V12 “Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.”

Three ladies here. Both Tryphena and Tryphosa’s names mean “dainty or luxurious.” Persis mean “one who takes by storm”…

It’s fun to put them all in a room together.

Like Mary, Paul says they labored to the point of exhaustion… which he only says about the ladies.

Guys are said to be workers, but the ladies are laboring.

Yesterday my wife labored over dinner… and called me in to eat… so I came in and sat down.

And, she looks at me and says, “Oh… you’re just going to hold the seat down?”

I thought it was time to eat… not time to work.

But hey… I’m a team player. I put on my managers hat and asked Tim to get out forks… I even held up my plate to receive food. … …

This has been very cathartic… thank you.

V13 “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”

Rufus means “red.” Maybe he was a ginger.

It was a common Roman name… now there are like 7 famous dogs named Rufus… Winston Churchill’s two poodles… Rufus from the Muppets.

Rufus may have been the son of Simon the Cyrene who carried the cross of Christ… though that’s debated.

His mother played a nurturing or motherly role towards Paul.

She was a figurative mother to Paul… probably labored and called him in for dinner… put food on his plate.

When he went out to minister… she probably yelled after him, “Paul… don’t forget your lunchbox.”

And, he said, “I don’t want to bring my lunchbox. It’s embarrassing”

And, she said, “All the other little Apostles will have their lunchboxes… take yours too.”

So, wisely he said, “Fine.”

You don’t want to argue with a mom who is on a mission to make sure you’re fed.

And, she was like a mother to him… providing nurturing care… treating him with the affection and concern of a mother during his ministry.

vv14-15 “Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.”

Here we have a mix of Greek and Roman names… some sound just like Greek mythological gods.

So, this gives us insight into their upbringings in pagan culture… raised in homes that worshiped pagan gods… yet now their eyes see… they are Christians.

And, again… we may not know their stories, but God saw fit to honor them here in scripture… and they are known to Him.

Wrapping up… and calm down young men… I know you’ve been waiting for this verse…

V16 “Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.”

Don’t get any ideas young men… and stop thinking, “Amen.”

I don’t want to hear any of you say after church to a young lady, “Scripture says…”

Ladies… this is NOT a time to say “Yes”… you say “No”…

And, you could add “Jesus said, “whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.””

I’ll show you what to do with your “holy kiss.”

A Holy Kiss was just a common mode of affection… like how Europeans kiss on the cheek…

We’ve replaced this with a handshake… or a bro hug… a side hug for the ladies.

Move to Europe if you want to holy kiss.

Worship team please come.

Paul closes “The Churches of Christ greet you.”

As a unified body… the various churches around Corinth, where Paul wrote this letter… send their affectionate greeting to Rome as well.

Displaying… that Paul is not some “lone ranger” Christian… he is connected with the body… as we all should be.

Let’s pray!

If you need prayer for anything, come up… there will be people to receive you on the sides as we sing this last song.

I pray the Lord blesses you in this week ahead… and puts ministry opportunities in front of you… for you to prayerfully consider saying “Yes” to.

God bless you as you go.