Year 2, Day 39: Romans 16

Relationship

This is a great chapter for lifting up relationships.  Let’s take a look here at some of the relationships that get lifted up by Paul:

• Phoebe: Paul asks the Roman Christians to receive her well, implying that she has come to them from Paul.  Likely this is because Phoebe brought the letter from Paul to Rome.  Now, think about this.  A mail currier in those days was charged with memorizing the whole letter (for nobody but the scribes could actually read).  When the currier arrived they would gather all the people who needed to hear the message and then recite the letter from memory.  If necessary they would explain the author’s intent.  Paul elevated Phoebe to be his emissary.  If either Paul or the Roman Christians had any issue with women and women leaders in the church, this opening verse of Romans makes absolutely no sense at all.
• Prisca and Aquila: This is a married couple that Paul met in Corinth and he then journeyed with them to Ephesus (See Acts 18).  In fact, since Cenchrea is the sea port of Corinth and Cenchrea is where he met Phoebe, it is very likely that Phoebe and Prisca and Aquila were all well acquainted already.  What is important to note is that Paul always mentions Prisca (the wife) before Aquila.  In traditional Jewish society, this would never happen.  By mentioning Prisca first here – and in Acts, Luke follows the example that he no doubt learned from Paul – Paul is giving Prisca a great honor.  This is likely because Prisca was the primary evangelist of the family.  Again, if Paul or the Romans had an issue with women in leadership roles in the church, this verse absolutely makes no sense – especially given that Prisca is the first Roman mentioned at all by Paul when giving his thanks!  (For the common way of relating to men and women, see the example of Andronicus and Junia in Romans 16:7)
• In fact, no less than a third of the people mentioned in this chapter of Romans are women.  It is clear from this passage that Paul knew the importance of women to the early church – and likely to the church in every age.
• We also meet the church that met in Prisca’s and Aquilla’s home.  For all we know, this could have been the “Roman Christians” in their entirety, although I hope not.  What we do discover here, though, is that wherever Prisca and Aquilla went their home was an open place of faith.  People were welcomed in the home.  People came in regularly and worshipped God or were discipled.  They are a great testament to anyone who wished to have a part in Christ’s calling for us to make disciples.  Our homes need to be open and places with the reputation of being Christ-filled and Christ-centered.
• We meet Epaenetus, the first convert in Asia (which we now call Asia Minor).  We can see that Epaenetus did not stay comfortable in his calling.  He likely could have stayed in his hometown, but here we find him in Rome.  He is out following in the footsteps of Jesus and Paul: taking to the mission field and doing whatever it takes to demonstrate the importance of his conversion to Christ to anyone who will listen.
• We meet Andronicus and Junia, people who had been imprisoned.  They had likely been arrested on account of their belief in Christ since Paul describes them as sunaixmalotos (συναιχμάλωτος) – literally “one who has been arrested and imprisoned with another person.”  This word tells us that they were likely arrested with Paul at some point.  We see in them a willingness to persevere and not quit at the first sign of trouble.
• We meet a bunch of hard workers, too many to name.  Paul knows the difficulty of ministry.  He knows the pitfalls, the trials, the tribulations, the disappointments.  He knows what it feels like to take one step forward and get knocked two steps back.  Paul supports all the tireless workers and continues to call them into community.

Warnings And Hope

Paul then gives them some warnings about making sure to stay loyal and weed out false teaching in their midst.  But where I would like to end this is on the last paragraph.  Paul’s hope for the Roman Christians is two-fold: faith in action and glory to God.  Faith in action (or as Paul calls it obedience in faith) is so important.  As I have spoken of frequently, our works do not save us, but they do present evidence of our salvation to the world.  Our faith makes a public demonstration of that which we believe.

Ultimately, though, where it all ends is in God receiving glory.  Our faith is to His glory.  Our actions are to His glory.  Any witness we bear is for His glory.  Any joy we celebrate or trial we overcome is for His glory.  Life is all about God.  It should be all about Him.  He deserves the glory; He deserves the focus.  So let’s do that.  Give God the glory and turn from the world today.

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