Romans 16:1-16

KJV

Rom 16:1  I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 

Rom 16:2  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 

Rom 16:3  Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 

Rom 16:4  Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 

Rom 16:5  Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. 

Rom 16:6  Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. 

Rom 16:7  Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 

Rom 16:8  Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 

Rom 16:9  Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 

Rom 16:10  Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 

Rom 16:11  Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 

Rom 16:12  Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 

Rom 16:13  Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 

Rom 16:14  Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 

Rom 16:15  Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 

Rom 16:16  Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 

Main Points: Paul commends his fellow Christians in the work of the gospel.

1.    Explain the role of Pheobe. What were the Romans instructed to do concerning her?  Is she a deacon, or a servant (see other versions), explain the difference.  She was a servant. The word diakonos denotes “waiting on or serving.” Deaconess is appropriate for ANY female who serves the church. In my opinion, that may include teaching. To find the correct selection of a formal “deacon” office, we must look to Acts chapter six, which only included men. Paul’s instruction that the Romans need to help her with WHATEVER she needs infers the importance of all servants within the body…even if they do not occupy a formal “office.”

 

2.    Write down some of the acts of service and commendations Paul gives to the various people in the church at Rome:

VERSE		PERSON(S)	COMMENDATION
1, 2		Phoebe	A servant and patron of many
3	Pricilla, Aquila		Fellow workers, risked life, (all the Gentiles give thanks for them)
5	Epaenetus		The first convert in Asia
6	Mary		Worked hard for you
7	Andronicus, Junia		Kinsman, fellow prisoners, known by the other apostles, converted before Paul
8	Ampliatus		“my beloved” in the Lord
9	Urbanus, Stachys		Our fellow worker in Christ/ my beloved (respectively)
10	Apelles		Approved in Christ
10	The family of Aristobulus		Greet them!
11	Herodian and the family of Narcissus		Greet them, Apelles is approved in Christ
12	Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis		Workers (in the Lord) and beloved
13	Rufus and his mother		Chosen in the Lord, she is like my mother
14	Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, (Brothers with them),		Greet them!
15	Philologus, Julia, Nereus, His Sister, Olympas and the saints with them		Greet them!
16	Each other		Greet each other!
	The churches of Christ		Greet you

 

 

To understand what it means to “greet” read the definition below. This was not a mere smile and hand shake. It would require a certain intimacy that only fellow workers for a cause greater than themselves  can only know. Note that Paul continually points to the work as “in Christ.”

 

Greet: G782: aspazomai

as-pad'-zom-ahee

From G1 (as a particle of union) and a presumed form of G4685; to enfold in the arms, that is, (by implication) to salute, (figuratively) to welcome: - embrace, greet, salute, take leave.