(33) Paul’s greetings (Romans 16:1-16)

 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. ² Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.

³ Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. ⁴ In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches.
⁵ Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person from the province of Asia to become a follower of Christ. ⁶ Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit.
⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews, who were in prison with me. They are highly respected among the apostles and became followers of Christ before I did. ⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.¹⁰ Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my greetings to the believers from the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.  Greet the Lord’s people from the household of Narcissus.
¹² Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord. ¹³ Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.¹⁴ Give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sister who meet with them. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the believers who meet with them.
¹⁶ Greet each other in Christian love.  All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.

Paul was all about relationships.  He loved to get to know people, to work with them, and to encourage them in their faith.  He would typically end his letters by thanking the people that made it possible.

Paul started his list with Phoebe.  Phoebe was a leader in the Church in Cenchrea, which was a smaller town about six miles Southeast of Corinth.  Phoebe could very well have been the one who delivered this letter to the Church in Rome.  Paul asked the Roman Church to greet her with the highest respect since she had done so much for him and others.  Paul understood that women, in most cultures of the first century, where not given the same honor as men.  He knew that in Rome, there were still Jewish Christians that felt that women should not be allowed in leadership roles.  The Church knew that we are all equal in God’s eyes, I feel that Paul wanted to remind them.

Pricilla and Aquila were a married couple that became very close friends of Paul.  They were originally from Rome, but relocated to Corinth when the Jews were told to leave Rome, by order of the Emperor.  Paul lived with them in Corinth between his missionary journeys.  Like Paul, Pricilla and Aquila were missionaries who traveled to Ephesus (Acts 18:18-28), back to Rome when they were allowed to return, and then back to Ephesus again.  We can assume that most of what Paul knew about the Church in Rome was through Pricilla and Aquila.

We can see from this list that the early church was extremely diverse.  There were Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Romans, men and women, Church planters and Church leaders.

Paul knew each of these people, and knew that the Roman Church would know them as well.  Paul was always looking for a bridge – a point of connection between two people or groups.  He wrote this long letter of instruction and could only pray that the Church would accept it.  Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul laid the foundation for all of us to build on as we grow in our faith in Jesus Christ.

The Church was growing, just as Christ commanded.  There was something for everyone to do, and there still is today.  We still need to be in the business of serving, just as the members of the early church were.

It’s not enough for us to rest in our Salvation, we need to be growing in our faith.  We need to be moving ahead – gaining ground.  Christianity is not a spectator sport.  We need to be in the game, just as Paul’s list of friends were.

Study Questions

Are you involved?

Are you an active member of a local church?  I’m not asking if you go to church on Sundays, I’m asking if you are involved in one of the many ministries the local church has to offer.  By getting connected, we grow through our fellowship with other like-minded believers.  Whether it is a small group bible study, an usher, child care, or a parking lot attendant – I urge you to get involved in some way and watch as the Holy Spirit works in your life.

Are you on someone’s list?

If someone needed help, would you be the first person they would call?  We are called to serve, and most of us are willing to do it.  The problem is that we have never made ourselves available.  There are churches that have men’s ministries that help single women by doing chores around their house, and women’s ministries that provide baby sitting so that single moms can go shopping.  There is an endless list of ways to help.  All you have to do is make yourself available.