MESSAGES OF PAUL
Personal greetings
Chapter 16: 1-16
The Apostle Paul used the opportunity to send recommendations and reminders to several people of whom he had heard, or met during his journeys to other places, that now he knew were in Rome.
At first glance, it seems to be limited to a list of interesting names, which does not provide teaching and are of little value in our days. However, a further study of the work and the circumstances of these people, some of whom appear in other letters of Paul, provides us with important lessons.
Let us see who these people were:
Phoebe: this sister was a servant (diakonos) of the Church. The Greek word diakonos denoted a manservant or maidservant, who served at the table or did other humble work, and in the church the women who ministered were also so called. They are required to be "reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things" (1 Timothy 3:11).
Cenchrea, where Phoebe served was near Corinth where there was another church, to whom Paul sent two letters (to the Corinthians). They were independent of each other as were all other primitive churches.
In his letter, Paul recommended to all the saints in Rome (Romans 1: 7) to receive Phoebe in the Lord, in a manner worthy of the Saints. Contrary to what some people like to say, Paul did not diminish the merit of women, but gave them the same consideration he gave to men (Galatians 3:28).
He asked them to help Phoebe in anything that she might need, because she had been the support of many others and of Paul in particular. Women can exercise the gift of hospitality with skill, and Phoebe devoted herself with perfection, so deserving this mention of Paul that made her known until our days.
Prisca (or Priscilla) and Aquila: Paul's co-workers in Christ Jesus, to the point of exposing themselves to the risk death to save Paul's life. We have no details of this heroic act, but we know the work they were doing: Paul first met them in Corinth and made tents with Aquila (Acts 18:2) for over a year and a half, while preaching in the synagogue; he later travelled with them to Ephesus, where he left them.
At Ephesus, the couple was an instrument of God to teach the Gospel to Apollo, who became a great evangelist. They were now back in Rome, where they had initially left because of an edict of Claudius Caesar. It is curious that the name Prisca always appears before the name of her husband, except in their introduction in Acts and in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 16:19. As Paul says, we owe a debt of gratitude to them for what they did.
A church met in Prisca and Aquila’s home. When they lived in Corinth, they also welcomed the local church in their house. According to historians, the first buildings dedicated to the use of churches only emerged at the end of the second century.
Epaenetus ("worthy of praise"): Paul calls him “my beloved", and was one of the first converted to Christ in the Roman region of Asia. Nothing more is known about him to deserve that honour. Like him, many brethren do not stand out in the sight of many, but they are very dear to those who know them.
Mary: she worked very hard for the Roman believers. In the passage the reference to women predominates, enhancing the value of their work in the churches of the saints, a further evidence of the consideration Paul had for them.
Andronicus and Junia: the name Junia can be both male and female, so we don't know if they were man and wife or not. Either the original word translated as “countrymen” (“suggeneis”) can mean "relatives according to the flesh", or Jews like Paul (Romans 9:3). These two persons were converted before him, they were his fellow prisoners, they were well respected by the Apostles and they participated of prison with him in one of the many opportunities when he was in prison (2 Corinthians 11:23).
Amplias, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, to whom Paul salutes with words of affection and recognition.
Those of the household of Aristobulus could mean the Christian slaves who belonged to a grandson of Herod the Great with that name, then deceased. Alternatively, possibly a church gathered in his home.
Herodion may have been of the family of Herod, a relative of Paul or another Jew like him.
Those of the household of Narcissus: there was a freed slave of that name who was sentenced to death and executed by King Agrippa. These, from his house, may have been christian slaves who belonged to him. Or, again, a church gathered in his home.
Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis: it is likely that Tryphena and Triphosa were twin sisters, because their names come from the same root, which means living luxuriously. Persis was a freed slave, who was much loved by the church. All were involved in the Lord's work, but Persis would now be handicapped according to commentators.
Rufus ("redhead") was a common name among the slaves, but he could have been the son of Simon the Cyrenian (Mark 15:21).
The mother of Rufus: by calling her also his own “mother” Paul expresses his gratitude. Some commentators suggest the possibility of her being the wife of Simon of Cyrene – (Mark 15:21).
Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them, probably compose a local church.
Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them formed another local church.
We note from this that there were already several churches in Rome, who gathered:
- At the home of Priscilla and Aquila.
- In the home of Aristobulus.
- In the home of Narcissus.
- With Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas and Hermes.
- With Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas.
It was common among the Jews to greet with a kiss, and this became an expression of Christian love (1 Peter 5:14) apparently restricted to persons of the same gender. It is called here a "holy kiss" to distinguish it from formal demonstrations: it should be a sincere demonstration of Christian fellowship and love.
Although it is still practised in some cultures, this form of greeting is not a compulsory commandment among the saints. It does not prevent us to greet each other in another more acceptable way in the environment where we live, as the bow of the easterners, the handshake of westerners, a hug, or even rubbing noses as done among certain tribes of Australasia.
However, it is important that it be "holy" in the sense in which the kiss was commanded in verse 16.
R David Jones
Previous Next
1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.
15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
Romans chapter 16, verses 1 to 16