Blessings

In Chapter 16 Paul sends his personal greetings to the church in Rome. We won't comment on all the names in this chapter, but we'll call your attention to a few of special interest.

I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is in Cenchrea (16:1). This word "servant" in the Greek means "deaconess". The deacons and deaconesses of the early Church cared for the church's material needs. Phoebe, a deaconess, carried Paul's letter to the Roman believers. Paul calls her a "sister" and commends her to them, that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she has need of you: for she hath been a succourer [helper] of many, and of myself also (16:2). Phoebe, a faithful sister in Christ, helped Paul very much. Women have always played a great role in the body of Christ.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus (16:3) Priscilla and Aquila were tent-makers who had left Rome under the persecution of Claudius (A.D. 41-54). Paul, also a tent-maker, met and worked with them on his first visit to Corinth. The couple then moved from Corinth to Ephesus. When Apollos came there to preach, they took him aside and explained the Word of God more completely to him (Acts 18:26). They also ministered with Paul in Ephesus. At the time of this epistle, they were back in Rome.

Wherever Priscilla and Aquila went they shared the Gospel. They were like the Christian couples of today who move into a new neighborhood, open their homes, and start Bible studies. So Paul says, Greet the church that is in their house (16:5a). People gathered in their house to study the Word of God. The Church of Jesus Christ can meet in a home, on a field, or on board a ship. His Church is made up of people who love Him and are united by His Spirit. It meets whenever Christians gather to study the Word, praise the Lord, and edify one another.

Speaking of Priscilla and Aquila, Paul said, 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 (16:4). This husband and wife team proved to be a real blessing to the Gentile churches. They must have been an outstanding couple, and I look forward to meeting them in heaven.

Paul continues to send more greetings. Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me (16:7). Since Junia is a feminine name, there are two possible interpretations of this verse. (1) Junia was known and respected by Peter and John, who were apostles before Paul. (2) Junia was an apostle and, thus, there were women apostles in the early Church. It's impossible to be dogmatic about either interpretation, but the Greek language of the text appears to support the latter.

The role of women in the early Church was important. Many women today find fault with Paul, because he told the women of Corinth to keep silent in church (I Corinthians 14:34). Let's look at his statement in context. Paul didn't say that women were never to speak in church. In an earlier chapter he had given them instructions about prophesying and praying in the church (I Corinthians 11).

Most of the early churches started in synagogues, where men sat on one side and women on the other. The Jews didn't allow men and women to sit together during the services. Today, a wife can nudge her husband and ask, "What does the pastor mean?" In Corinth a woman had to call across the room to ask her husband about the sermon. So, Paul told the women to keep silent and wait until they returned home to question their husbands.

Paul esteemed women as highly as men. Here in Romans 16:7 he greets his "kinsmen," including a woman, Junia, possibly a noted apostle in Christ before him.

Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you (16:16). When I visited a church in Rome a few years ago, the men greeted me with a holy kiss. I thought it appropriate that the church in Rome still greets the brethren with a holy kiss, as Paul instructed here.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences that are contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them (16:17). We're to accept differences regarding diet, holy days, and other such customs, but we must draw the line with important doctrines. One of the greatest dangers within a church isn't the exercise of liberty by believers, but the false doctrines brought in by deceivers.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (16:18). Through eloquent speeches, clever sayings, and novel ideas these men deceive those who lack a proper understanding of the Word of God.

The Church across the United States, especially among the charismatic groups, has been recently divided by various damnable doctrines. These include the doctrine of shepherding (in which a person must submit to the authority of a "shepherd" who is responsible to God for him) and the doctrine that Christians can be possessed by demons and must have them cast out.

The latest and most pernicious of all these false doctrines is that a Christian's lack of health or wealth is a sign of his lack of faith. This doctrine proclaims that it's never God's will for a believer to suffer. This false concept receiving such a wide audience today didn't come from God's Word but from Christian Science and Science of Mind. They teach the same basic concept: what you say is what you'll get. These doctrines have divided the body of Christ, and we're told to mark those who spread them.

Referring to the Christians in Rome, Paul continues, For your obedience [to the Word and to Christ] is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil (16:19). Paul wants us to be wise in good things and simple in evil things. Don't probe into the work of Satan or seek understanding about witchcraft, the occult, or the evils of today. The Lord warned His people in the Old Testament not to study how the heathen worshiped their gods (Deuteronomy 12:30). Be ignorant of evil, but be wise in the good, righteous, and wonderful truths of the Spirit.

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly (16:20a). God prophesied to Adam and Eve that the serpent (Satan) would bruise the Messiah's heel, but the seed of the woman (the Messiah) would bruise his head (Genesis 3:15). No doubt referring to that prophecy, Paul said that God would "bruise Satan under your feet shortly." This event hasn't happened yet. Satan still wields power on earth, walking about as a roaring lion (I Peter 5:8). God will deal with him soon, and he'll be bound and cast into the abyss. Take heart, because we're near that time!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you (16:20b-21).

The scribe to whom Paul dictated this letter gives his own greeting. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (16:22-24).

Paul begins his final benediction to the church in Rome. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen (16:25-27).

Paul speaks of the "revelation of the mystery" (16:25). A mystery in Scripture isn't a truth that was difficult to understand. Rather, it's a truth that wasn't revealed by the Spirit until these latter days. Paul speaks much of such mysteries in his Epistle to the Ephesians.

I don't believe that the Spirit is revealing any new mysteries today. God has already given us His wonderful revelation of all that pertains to life and godliness. We don't need new truths. We need new experience in the truths God has made known in the Book of Romans and throughout His eternal Word. Amen!