Bible Study

Bible Study

Greetings, Friends:
a study of Romans 16

By Michael Morrison

In the last chapter of Romans, Paul greets a large number of people and gives a few closing exhortations. These greetings reveal a lot about the early church.

Paul’s emissary

In verse 1, Paul writes, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchrea” (TNIV throughout). Although some older translations say that Phoebe is a “servant,” this is unlikely. Verse 2 indicates that she was an important person, and the phrase “of the church” suggests an official role.

We do not know what deacons did in the church in Cenchrea (near Corinth). A comparison of Paul’s letters shows that the “organizational chart” could vary quite a bit from one church to another. Phoebe apparently carried Paul’s letter to Rome.

Paul writes, “I commend to you our sister
Phoebe, a deacon of the church in
Cenchrea.”

Paul asks the Roman church to serve her needs: “I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of God’s people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me” (v. 2).

The word benefactor is one of many suggested translations of the Greek word prostasis. In the Greek Old Testament, it was used for officials; in ordinary Greek it was used for patrons—wealthy people who assisted others. Phoebe had helped Paul, and although she probably would not need financial help, Paul asks the Romans to help her in other ways.

Notable women and men

Paul then greets a number of people in Rome—some of them Jewish, most of them Gentiles. He knows a surprising number of people who have moved to Rome. He probably begins with his closest friends:

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them” (vv. 3-4). Priscilla and Aquila were originally from Rome. Paul met them in Corinth and worked in their tentmaking business. They became part of Paul’s ministry team, went to Ephesus with him, and were instrumental in teaching Apollos.

Paul does not call average Christians “co-workers”—this term indicates a person who works “in Christ Jesus”—that is, full-time work in the gospel. Priscilla and Aquila had played an important role in evangelizing Gentiles; now they were leading a house church in Rome (v. 5).

Paul greets “my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia” and “Mary, who worked very hard for you” (vv. 5-6). We do not know what kind of work Mary did.

He greets another couple: “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was” (v. 7). Junia is fairly common as a woman’s name, but in some translations she is given a man’s name: Junias, perhaps short for Junianus. But no one has ever found a Junias, so Junia is probably correct.

In what way were they “outstanding among the apostles”? Paul may have meant that the apostles thought highly of them, but it is more likely that Paul commends them for their own work—they were great apostles. Since the word apostle can also refer to an official messenger (see 2 Cor. 8:23), Andronicus and Junia may have served in that way.

“Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test [in a severe trial]. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus” (vv. 8-10).

Paul does not greet Aristobulus, but only those in his household (which would include slaves and servants). Aristobulus may have been the grandson of Herod and friend of Claudius Caesar; such a person would have a large household, many of them Jewish. This household formed the core of another house church.

“Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord” (vv. 11-12). The phrase “in the Lord” suggests that these women were involved in evangelistic work of some sort. Narcissus may refer to another wealthy friend of Claudius who had a large “household,” some of whom were believers.

“Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus [possibly the son of Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:21)], chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

“Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the believers with them” (vv. 12-15). Paul may be referring to two other house churches.

“Greet one another with a holy kiss,” Paul concludes. “All the churches of Christ send greetings” (v. 16). Greet one another as dear friends, he says—and Christians still kiss one another in some cultures. But in America, a kiss would not be appropriate. Paul’s instructions in this case are limited by culture—by his culture and ours. There is no requirement for us today to greet one another with a kiss.

Plea for peace

Paul then turns to one last, presumably important, exhortation: “I urge you … to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them” (v. 17). Paul had experience with divisive people who taught rules that the gospel did not have. The solution is simple: Don’t listen to them.

“Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole
church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.”

“For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites [money, fame or a sense of personal importance]. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people” (v. 18).

Since the Roman churches already have different practices (about meat and days, for example), they are vulnerable to divisive teachings. But they are already obeying enough rules: “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (vv. 19-20). When we focus on the good, the adversary will be powerless (cf. Gen. 3:15).

“The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

Paul’s companions send greetings

Paul closes with greetings from the people with him: “Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews” (v. 21; see Acts 13:1; 17:5; 20:4).

“I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord” (v. 22). Paul’s secretary sends his own greetings, noting that he is a believer.

“Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings” (v. 23; cf. 1 Cor. 1:14). “Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.” The Roman Christians might be encouraged to know that a government official has accepted the gospel.

Paul closes with a benediction:

“Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to faith and obedience—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen” (vv. 25-27).

This benediction reviews some of Paul’s main points:

The gospel is rooted in the Old Testament, but is now clearly revealed and being preached.

The gospel involves Gentiles in faith and obedience.

The gospel is about Jesus Christ.

God can and will establish you (give you eternal life) through this gospel.

To that, we can join Paul in saying “amen.”

Questions for discussion

If I were writing to a church in another city, which men and women would I name?

Does a handshake convey the warmth of greeting that Paul wanted? (v. 16)

How can I know whether a new teaching is divisive, or merely different? (v. 17)

How well does the gospel give glory to God in my life? (vv. 25-27)

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