[:en]Personal Greetings (vs. 1-27)
Finally, Paul acknowledged people that help him in his minstry and sent greetings to them as follows:
- Phoebe was a deacon of the church in Cenchrea, eastern port of Corinth. She was a wealthy person who supported the church. She may have been the one who delivered this letter from Corinth to Rome.
- Priscilla and Aquila were closed friends of Paul. They were missionaries that helped believers in Ephesus (Acts 18:18-28) in Rome and at Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:19). When they met Paul, they invited him to live with them.
- Ephenetus – a friend of Paul who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia
- Mary, a hard worker for the church
- Andronicus and Junias, relatives of Paul who had been in prison with him and who were in Christ before Paul.
- Ampliatus – whom Paul loved in the Lord
- Urbanus – a fellow worker and Stachys, Paul’s friend
- Apelles – tested and approved in Christ
- All those who belong to the household of Airstopulus
- Herodion – Paul’s relative
- Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis – women who worked hard in the Lord
- Rufu and her mother – who had been a mother to Paul
- Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the borthers with them
- Phillogus, Julia, Nereus and his sister and Olympas and all the saints with them
- All the churches of Christ
Paul warned fellow brothers to watch out for those who caused divisions and taught false teachings. They used smooth talk and flattery to deceived the minds of the naive people not serving the Lord but to their own appetites. His advice is : “Be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil” (v. 19)
Tiomothy was travelling with Paul and was a key person in the growth of the early church. Tertius was the one who wrote down this letter. Among those with Paul were Lucius, Jason, Sosipater. Gaius, who showed hospitality and Eratus, the city’s director of Public Works.
Paul was happy to see God’s plan of saving Gentiles coming true as He used Paul as His instrument to tell them this Good News.
Things to Ponder:
- Show appreciation and acknowledge people who have labored with you in Christ.
- Women have important roles in the church. He used women in many ways to further His kingdom
- Show hospitality and support to God’s servant
- Study God’s word to know the truth so that you will not be fooled by smooth talk and false prophesy.
- We live in cosmopolitan setting with the world open to us. Let us apply the teachings of Paul about unity, service and love in our lives.
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