REBC Adult Bible Study - Romans 16
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Good evening church
Please turn your Bibles to
As we continue our study of the Epistle to the believers in Rome
This chapter will be our final chapter in Romans
It is Paul’s final closing thoughts and prayers for specific individuals and the church of Rome as a whole
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we dive into the text...Please join me one more time in prayer before we start
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Verse 1: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;
Phoebe is believed to have been the bearer of Paul’s letter
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;
Scholars debate whether Phoebe is a servant in a general sense...
Or whether she served as a deacon
The reason is due to the Greek word “diakonos” which can mean either “servant” or “deacon”
Regardless, in the early church, women servants cared for sick believers, the poor, strangers, and those in prison...
They also instructed the women and children
Women servants cared for sick believers, the poor, strangers, and those in prison. They instructed the women and children
So, whether Phoebe had an official title or not, she had the great responsibility of delivering this letter to the Roman church
Verse 2: That you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.
It is important to remember this fact, in the early church, women servants cared for sick believers, the poor, strangers, and those in prison...
They also instructed the women and children
So, whether Phoebe had an official title or not, she had the great responsibility of delivering this letter to the Roman church
Verse 3: Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
This greeting is in reference to Priscilla and Aquila where we see mentioned in
1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth.
2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them,
3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.
So, Priscilla and Aquila where both fellow tentmakers like Paul
They are also mentioned in when they both helped Apollos grow deeper in his theology
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John;
26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
And again in which mentions that they used their home as a church
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
Verse 4: Who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;
They probably risked their lives for Paul at Corinth or Ephesus, but the details are not known
Verse 5: Also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
This home church held at Priscilla and Aquila’s is also mentioned in
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
“Asia” here refers to a province in what is modern-day Turkey
Verses 6-7: Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
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Verse 7: Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Andronicus and Junias are believed to be a married couple that served together
And they where imprisoned with Paul during one of his many times in jail
Some translations use the word “outstanding” among the apostles but the better translation is “well known” among the apostles
So this shows that this couple served so faithfully that they got the attention of the apostles
Here “apostles” can mean the actual apostles or the Greek word being used can also refer to a church envoy
Either way, it does not in any way imply that a woman may be an apostle as some advocate for due to a lack of understanding of the Greek
As the infallible Word of God, the Scriptures contain no contradictions and the office of an overseer or elder is only for men as seen in
1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
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Verse 8: Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
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Verse 9: Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
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Verse 10: Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
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Verse 11: Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.
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Verse 12: Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.
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Verse 13: Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.
Biblical scholars generally agree that he was one of the sons of Simon of Cyrene, the man enlisted to carry Jesus’ cross in
Verse 14: Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them.
21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.
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So, Rufus was likely saved through this contact with Christ
Verse 15: Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
Additionally, Mark wrote his gospel in Rome, possibly after the letter to Rome was written, and circulated
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Paul would not have mentioned Rufus if that name were not well known to the church in Rome
“Choice man in the Lord” means Elected to salvation
So, this indicates he was widely known as an extraordinary believer because of his great love and service
“His mother and mine” refers not to Rufus being Paul’s natural brother
Rather, Rufus’ mother, the wife of Simon of Cyrene, at some time had cared for Paul during his ministry travels
Verse 16: Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Verses 8-16 cover a verity of people Paul personally greets
Some of these individuals where slaves
And Some where free
Some where women
And some where men
Some scholars believed where royalty
and some where common folk
The point is that the whole Body of Christ is made up of all kinds of people from all walks of life
All tribes and all tounges
The kiss remains a common token of greeting in the East even to this day
This was the kissing of friends on the forehead, cheek, or beard and was common in the Old Testament
The Jews in the New Testament church carried on the practice
This became especially precious to new believers, who were often outcasts from their own families because of their faith, because of the spiritual kinship it signified
Here and elsewhere in his letters, Paul urges the believers to sanctify their greetings as symbols of Christian fellowship
The practice was also enjoined by Peter for the churches of Asia Minor
So you may ask, how is this applicable today?
I’m glad you asked
Like some other practices with symbolic meanings that change from culture to culture...
Such as footwashing, or head covering for wives, a “holy kiss” would not convey the same meaning today that it did in the first century
And in most cultures it would be seriously misunderstood
Such commands are best obeyed by substituting an action (such as a handshake or hug or bow, varying by culture) that would convey the same meaning in a modern culture
Questions or Comments?
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Verse 17: Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
If we are to apply these words to our heart then we need to be watchful of those who cause division by advocating for anything contrary to Scripture
Division is not just acceptable, it is neccesary
Jesus Himself said that the truth of the Gospel message would divide
Remember what Jesus said in
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
So, Paul is warning of those who will divide based on bad doctrine
Why?
So, it is important to know our Bible and it is important to know true and genuine Christian doctrine
Because fellowshipping with those who cause division on what the truth of Scripture says will lead to people turning away from the faith
Verse 18: For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
Does this sound like any modern day church leaders?
These are snakes and wolves
They are false prophets
They are slaves to their own selfish desires
They are smooth talkers
They flatter the audience
And those who are not well versed in Scripture and the doctrine that comes from the Scripture will be deceived
We don’t need life coaches
We don’t need motivational speakers
We don’t need smooth talkers
And we don’t need flattterers
We need faithful men who surrender to the Word of God
We need revival in the modern church
And we all as the Body of Christ play a factor into developing the next generation church leaders
If our youth are not well equit
If new believers are not well equipt
They will be decieved
We need to fight this as a united church and stop being silent when heresy is openly taught
Verse 19: For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.
We need to train ourselves so we are experts in the things that are good
And let us be as innocent as a child for the things that are evil
Stop with Netflix and put on the Pureflix
Stop with TV shows like Game of Thrones
and Watch something wholesome like The Chosen
Or better yet spend that time in prayer and studying ones’s Bible
Verse 20: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
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The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
This is very encouraging
Every day that passes is closer to the return of Jesus
Very soon, God will crush Satan once and for all
So, lets stay focus and alert
As God says in His Word, in
15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)
16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
Verse 21: Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
Timothy here is Paul’s spiritual son in the faith
Along with Silas, Timothy was Paul’s closest coworker after the disagreement with Barnabas
He is mentioned in ten of Paul’s letters
This is also the person Paul writes to in 1 & 2 Timothy
Verse 22: I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Paul regularly used a secretary to write out his letters
He identifies his letters as his own by a brief greeting written in his own handwriting
Verse 23: Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.
Paul may have been residing with Gaius at the time of writing based on what is said in this verse
Verse 24: [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]
This verse is not found in the earliest Greek manuscripts of Romans so it is not regarded as God breathed or part of Scripture but seems to be a later addition
This is understandable in this instance too due to the longer, more explicit benediction that follows
Important to remember importance of autographs, textile criticism, and later addition of chapters and verses
Also, it is important to be aware of the KJV Only debate
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Verse 25: Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
Verses 25-27 include a benediction or doxology to close the letter to the church in Rome
Paul starts by discussing the gospel as a mystery that has been kept secret but is now revealed
The whole gospel message centers on Jesus Christ
All of the Old Testament points to Jesus
Verse 26: But now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
Now that this mystery is revealed and clarifies what the Old Testament was saying
Many of the Old Testament prophecies are now fulfilled
And now all nations have access to this truth
And all who are obedient to that truth, will be saved
Verse 27: To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
Paul now comes to the main point of the doxology
The God who has planned salvation history in this way is all wise
And He deserves all the glory forever
Or in other words...
Romans could not end in a more fitting way, as God’s glory is to be the theme of Christians’ lives and the joy of their hearts.
It was through the Father that the gospel was ultimately revealed...
Therefore He deserves all the credit, praise, and worship
Questions or Comments?
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer