Year 8, Day 39: Romans 16

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Romans 16 reads like a family gathering.  Paul gives us a list of the people in Rome that he knows or has heard about according to their faith.  Paul then gives a list of the people with him who are also in the faith.  At the very minimum, Paul is trying to make connections and ensure that the body of Christ stays connected.

I think Paul is trying to do much more than that, though.  Paul is trying to lift up attributes of faith and demonstrate examples in our midst.  Look at how many people Paul indicates have worked hard in the faith.  Listen to how many people Paul says have stood under pressure and persecution.  Hear how many people Paul says are like family to him.  These are all attributes that help people grow strong in the faith.  These are models and examples that we can look up to – and so can the faithful people in Rome!  This is more than just a greeting; Paul is helping establish the reputation of the faithful and help people figure out who they can look upon as a mentor?

However, this greeting isn’t just a means for connecting people.  Paul also gives a few pieces of advice.  First, Paul tells us to watch out for smooth talk.  Paul reminds us to be wary of people who look to take advantage of the naïve.  We should be careful when people try to get us to believe that our salvation rests in anything other than the grace of God as revealed to us through Christ. We will have differences in some things – I spoke about that topic over the past few days.  But we shouldn’t be led astray from the core truth of the faith.

The second neat teaching that Paul gives us in this chapter is the teaching at the very end.  What is it that Paul wants to leave in the back of everyone’s mind?  It is God who establishes us.  It is God who made Himself known to us.  It is God who has brought salvation not just to His own people but to the whole world.  It is God who is the focus and the center of the faith.

<><