Romans 16:1-24 "All In The Family"
“No man is an island, entire of itself.” John Donne
True fulfillment in Christ only comes through a living relationship, not only with Him, but also with others.
In the 16th chapter, Paul reveals how much others were a part of the family.
Friends To Greet (16:1-16)
Special friends:
- Phoebe – “servant” translated elsewhere as “deacon.”
- Priscilla & Aquila – first seen in Acts 18:2. They risked their lives probably referring to Acts 19.
Faithful in Christ:
- Epenetus – first to receive Christ in Asia.
- Mary – “bestowed much labor” – “toiler.”
- Andronicus & Junia – “outstanding among the apostles.” Apostle = “one who is sent.”
- Ampliatus – a slave. High rank within the church.
- Urbanus & Stachys – not known to us.
- Apelles – Name means “called.”
- Aristobulus – possible grandson of Herod the Great.
- Herodion – relative of Paul?
- Narcissus – Personal secretary to Emperor Claudius.
- Tryphena & Tryphosa – “dainty” and “delicate” – “labor much in the Lord” means “to toil to the point of exhaustion.”
- Persis – Older sister to Tryphena and Tryphosa.
- Rufus – Son of Simon of Cyrene. Mark 15:21.
Two groups (perhaps two congregations) in vss. 14-15.
Final Greeting – vss.16.
Foe To Avoid (16:17-20)
Warning concerning certain people who make their way into the church. How to deal with those who cause strife in the church?
- Watch out for them!
- Keep away from them!
Paul says these are guided by their own desires.
Co-Workers To Acknowledge (16:21-24)
Paul names faithful brethren who were with him and had helped him in the ministry:
- Timothy – Became Paul’s right-hand man.
- Lucius – probably Lucius of Cyrene, Acts 13.
- Jason – Acts 17, suffered for giving Paul hospitality at Thessalonica.
- Sosipater – Acts 20, took church’s offering to Jerusalem.
- Tertius – Paul’s penman.
- Gaius – 1 Cor. 1:14, baptized in Corinth. Paul’s host.
- Erastus – Acts 19, Sent with Timothy to Macedonia.
- Quartus – “our brother”
Those sitting around you are a part of the same family, the family of God. We need one another!
