SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 16
PERSONAL GREETINGS (vs. 1-27)
Paul urged the believers to receive Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need.
PAUL ADDRESSED HIS GREETINGS TO:
- Priscilla and Aquila who risked their lives for Paul. (vs. 3-4)
- Church that meets at their house. (v. 5a)
- Epenetus, the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. (v. 5b)
- Mary, who worked very hard. (v. 6)
- Andronicus and Junias, his relatives who have been in prison with Jesus. (v. 7)
- Ampliatus, whom Paul loves in the Lord. (v. 8)
- Urbanus, fellow worker in Christ and his dear friend Stachys (v. 9)
- Apelles, tested and approved in Christ and those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. (v. 10)
- Herdion, his relative (v. 11a)
- Those in the househjold of Narcissus who are in the Lord. (v. 11b)
- Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who work hard in the Lord. (v. 12a)
- Friend Persis, and another woman who had worked very hard in the Lord. (v. 12b)
- Rufus, chosen in the Lord , and his mother. (v. 13)
- Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. (v. 14)
- Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. (v. 15)
- Everyone with a holy kiss. (v. 16a)
- All the churches of Christ. (v. 16b)
Paul urged his brothers to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in truth. Those people deceived the minds of naive people by smooth talk and flattery. Paul told them to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. (v. 19)
OTHER BROTHERS WHO WERE SENDING GREETINGS TO THE CHURCH:
- Timothy, the fellow worker of Paul and also Lucius, Jason and Sosipater. (v. 21)
- Tertius, the writer of this letter. (v. 22)
- Gaius, who enjoy their hospitality. (v. 23)
- Erastus, the city’s director of public works and brother Quartus. (v. 24)
THOUGHTS:
Phoebe was a deacon and a wealthy person who helped support Paul’s ministry. She was highly regarded in the church which proved that women had important roles in the early church.
Priscilla and Aquila were a married couple who were the close friends of Paul. They, along with all other Jews had been expelled from Rome by the emperor and had moved to Corinth. There they met Paul and invited him to live with them. Priscilla and Aquila were missionaries who helped believers in Ephesus.
Paul’s personal greetings went to Romans and Greeks, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, prisoners and prominent citizens crossing cultural, social and economic lines.
Timothy traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey and become a key person in the growth of the early church.