# Chapter 16 # Paul's Conclusion to his Letter (Romans 16) ## Introduction ### The controversy of this passage It is interesting to note that there is somewhat a controversy over Romans 15:14–16:27. The question is "Where did Romans originally end? Was 15:13 originally the last verse of Romans?" Many old manuscripts do not contain this passage (15:14–16:27), and at the same time most do in one way or another. Some have it placed at the end of chapter fourteen and others both at the end of chapter fourteen and at the end of the book. This bears no influence of compromising the text's integrity, but can be logically explained. Someone copying the letter and desiring to disperse it among many different churches could have left off the parts personal to the church at Rome. ### The Personality of This Passage: Personal Romans chapter sixteen shows us the personal side of Paul as he sends greetings to Believers who live in Rome. He speaks as one does to friends and not only as a leader or pastor. This sixteenth chapter is often neglected by many. It is by far the most extensive, intimate, and particular of all the words of greeting in Paul's letters (Second to it is Colossians 4). No one can afford to miss this wonderful outpouring of the heart of our apostle toward the saints whom he so loved, which means all the church of God. The spirit of this chapter is exceptional particularly when you consider that Paul did not found the church at Rome and had not even visited it yet (Similar to his letter to Colossae)! Despite that, Paul mentions by name 26 people in that church. Each name listed in Paul's closing remarks undoubtedly has a story of courage, love and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Other Than by their names, Paul identifies these people as: * kinsmen, sisters, brethren, mother * servants of the church * laborers, helpers in Christ * fellow prisoners * saints, churches of Christ * well-beloved, beloved in the Lord * first-fruits unto Christ * in Christ, in the Lord * approved in Christ * chosen in the Lord ## Phebe's commendation (v. 1–2) [NOTE: Several of the quotes in the section are taken from "Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture". Alexander MacClaren (February 11, 1826 - May 5, 1910) was a Scotsman and minister of the Gospel for almost 65 years who labored tirelessly in preaching and writing concerning the Scripture. MacClaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture is a collection of over 1,500 expository sermons.] ### Paul recommends a sister (a sister not in the flesh but in the Lord) ### Cenchrea was a small harbor in Corinth > But if we take into account the hideous immoralities of Corinth, we shall deem it probable that the port, with its shifting maritime population, was, like most seaports, a soil in which goodness was hard put to it to grow, and a church had much against which to struggle. To be a Christian at Cenchrea can have been no light task. > —MacClaren ### Phebe was one of the many good women who helped Paul in the work of the Gospel. > Her name is a purely idolatrous one, and stamps her as a Greek, and by birth probably a worshiper of Apollo. > —MacClaren ### To Phebe is intrusted this letter who would personally deliver it to the church at Rome > Here are Paul the Jew, Phoebe the Greek, and the Roman readers of the epistle, all fused together by the power of the divine love that melted their hearts, and the common faith that unified their lives. The list of names in this chapter, comprising as it does men and women of many nationalities, and some slaves as well as freemen. > —MacClaren > Galatians 3:28—There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. > To the world in which Paul lived it was a strange, new thought that women could share with man in his loftiest emotions. Historically the emancipation of one half of the human race is the direct result of the Christian principle that all are one in Christ Jesus. > —MacClaren ## Greetings and salutations (v. 3–15) Paul Salutes 16 groups of people at Rome: 1. **Priscilla and Aquila**, my helpers in Christ (and the House Church of Priscilla and Aquila). Priscilla and Aquila were tent makers as was Paul. Traditionally this missionary couple is included in the list of 70 disciples appointed by Jesus in Luke 10. They are mentioned six times in four different books of the New Testament. They are always named as a couple and never individually. Of those six references, Aquila's name is mentioned first three times and Priscilla's name is mentioned first on three occasions. Priscilla is not Aquilla's property but rather his partner both in ministry and marriage. Priscilla and Aquila were last mentioned in Scripture as being in Ephesus (Acts 18:18–19). Priscilla and Aquila had been among the Jews expelled from Rome by the Roman Emperor Claudius in the year 49. They ended up in Corinth. Paul lived with Priscilla and Aquila for approximately 18 months. Then the couple started out to accompany Paul when he proceeded to Syria, but stopped at Ephesus. As they are mentioned in Romans 16, Sometime before 56 or 57, they had returned to Rome. The gentile church felt thankful for Priscilla and Aquila because they risked their own necks for them ("laid down their own necks"). 2. **Epaenetus**, my well-beloved, the first fruits unto Christ of Achaia. 3. **Mary**, who bestowed much labor on us. 4. **Adronicus and Junia** my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, of the apostles. They were in Christ before Paul. Of the twenty-six to whom Paul sends special greetings, at least six are women, indicating the position and importance of women among the Christian group at Rome. The controversy over this short verse is the questions "Is the person named Junia (feminine name) or Junias (masculine name)?" and "Is the phrase following the names best translated 'outstanding among the apostles' or 'well-known to the apostles'?" 5. **Amplias**, my beloved in the Lord. 6. **Urbane**, our helper in Christ. 7. **Stachys**, my beloved. 8. **Apelles** approved in Christ. 9. **Those in Aristobulus's household**. 10. **Herodian**, my kinsman. 11. **Those of the household of Narcissus**, which are in the Lord. 12. **Tryphena and Tryphosa**, labor in the Lord. 13. **Persis**, beloved, which labored much in the Lord. 14. **Rufus** chosen in the Lord, and **his mother** and mine. 15. **Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them**. 16. **Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them**. ## A holy kiss (v. 16) * The 'Holy Kiss" is an ancient traditional Jewish and Christian greeting. Also called "kiss of peace", "Brother kiss" among men, or "Sister kiss" among women. * Mentioned 5 times in the New Testament: Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20 ; 2 Corinthians 13:12 ; I Thessalonians 5:26 ; 1 Peter 5:14. ("peace be with you", "Shalom") * For the first several centuries at least, this kiss was not mouth to cheek, but mouth to mouth. From an early date, to guard against any abuse of this form of salutation, women and men were required to sit separately, and the kiss of peace was given only by women to women and by men to men. * Most Protestant churches have readopted the holy kiss metaphorically (in that members extend a pure, warm welcome that is referred to as a holy kiss. ## One final warning (v. 17–20) Paul follows with some pastoral guidance and instruction. He says "mark" them. This word _mark_ meeans to "take aim, take heed." The same word is used in Philippians 3:17. ## Closing (v. 21–27) Paul ends with a HALLELUJAH! # Census of Believers Mentioned in Romans 16 (Romans 16) General listing: 1. Phoebe female - deacon - probably a business woman - has social position, independence - was a great help to Paul and others - is entrusted to take the letter from Paul to Rome - from Corinth. 2. Priscilla and Aquilla Prisca (Priscilla) - female - wife of Aquila - was involved with Paul in ministry and with husband in teaching ministry - church meets in her home - of six times the two are mentioned, Priscilla is mentioned 3 times first. Acts 18:2,18,26; Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19 > Acts 18:1-3— After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named **Aquila**, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife **Priscilla**; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. > Acts 18:18—And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him **Priscilla** and **Aquila**; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. > Acts 18:26 — And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when **Aquila** and **Priscilla** had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. > Romans 16:3— Greet **Priscilla** and **Aquila** my helpers in Christ Jesus: > 1 Corinthians 16:19—19 The churches of Asia salute you. **Aquila** and **Priscilla** salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. > 2 Timothy 4:19 — 19 Salute **Prisca** and **Aquila**, and the household of Onesiphorus. Aquila - male - husband of Prisca - they were originally from Rome - (Acts 18) then driven out by the Emperor Claudius (52 A.D.) and traveled to Corinth where they made tents with Paul. Then they went to Ephesus then Corinth then Rome. 4. Epaenetus - male - Paul’s first Asian convert Achaia -- Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia > Romans 15:26 — For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem Paul ministered in Achaia in Acts 18; Paul mentions Achai in Acts 19:21 (Macedonia and Achaia, (writes Romans from Corinth) then Jerusalem, then Rome) and their offering for the saints at Jerusalem. "First Fruits of Achaia" (compare Romans 16:5 and 1 Corinthians 16:15) (Acts 18, Paul's 3rd Missionary Journey) > 1 Corinthians 16:15 — I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) "Macedonia and Achaia" It was then one of the two provinces (Macedonia being the other) into which Rome divided Greece when it fell under their dominion. 5. Mary - female - hard worker 6. Andronicus - Greek - may have been part of Greek Jewish community in Jerusalem (Acts 6) - was an early convert to Christianity - was imprisoned with Paul - was a missionary 7. Junias - female - probably the wife of Andronicus - see above. 8. Ampliatus - male - beloved in the Lord 9. Urbanus - male - a fellow worker in Christ 10. Stachys - male - beloved 11. Apelles - male - approved in Christ - someone who matured 12. Aristobulus - male - greetings to an unknown number of those who are in Aristobulus’ household. Note that Aristobulus is not greeted. Does this mean that he is not a Christian? He is probably not greeted because he is dead. Possible that he was the grandson of Herod the Great - the brother of Agrippa I. He may have lived in Rome as a private person and was a friend of the Emperor Claudius. He may have died in 45 or 48 A.D. A more remote possibility is that he is the son of Herod of Chalcis and ruler of Armenia Minor - who may or may not have been a part of this household in Rome. It is possible that this household, after the death of Aristobulus, had connections with the imperial household of Rome and was still known by his name. 13. Herodian - male - probably a slave or a freedman of the Herod family - Jewish. 14. Narcissus - male - not greeted - but his household is greeted. 15. Tryphaena - female - twin sister of Tryphosa? Name means “dainty” - a worker 16. Tryphosa - female - twin sister of Tryphaena? Name means “delicate” - a worker 17. Persis - female - meaning “Persian woman” - a typical Greek slave name - she is beloved and a hard worker. 18. Rufus male - son of Simon the Cyrene who carried the cross of Jesus and later trusted in Him as his savior. Was the brother of Alexander (Mark 15:21). An outstanding Christian. Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. Romans 16:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 19. Rufus’ mother - female - unnamed - was like a mother to Paul 20. Asyncritus - male - Greek 21. Phlegon - male - Greek 22. Hermes - male - Greek 23. Patrobas - male - Greek 24. Hermas - male - Greek Numbers 20 to 24 may have lived together with a number of other brethren. They were probably freed slaves. 25. Philologus - male - “lover of the word” - is probably the husband of Julia and so they are coupled together. 26. Julia - female - common slave name particularly in the imperial household. 27. Nereus - male - possibly the chamberlain of Flavia Domitila (Cranfield) 28. Nereus’ sister - female - unnamed. It has been suggested that Nereus and his sister were children of Philologus and Julia. Romans 16 - Those Listed There… Page 2 29. Olympas - male - and an unknown number of saints with them. 30. Timothy - male 31. Lucius - male 32. Jason - male - possibly the same Jason who hosted Paul on his visit to Thessalonica (Acts 17:5,6,7,9) 33. Sosipater - male - a fellow Jew along with Paul 34. Tertius - male - wrote the letter as Paul dictated - was privileged to be able to add his own “two cents worth” - probably a former slave. Note the Latin: Primas, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus - as slave names (who bothered naming slaves). The brother of Quartus 35. Gaius - male - in whose house the gathered to write this letter. 36. Erastus - male - treasurer of Corinth - there is a Latin inscription on a marble paving block in Corinth which reads “Erastus, commissioner for public works, laid this pavement at his own expense.” 37. Quartus - male - brother of Tertius - see above. ## In addition to the named/unnamed above there are 6 groups mentioned: 1. The church in Priscilla and Aquila’s home 2. The household of Aristobulus 3. The household of Narcissus 4. The brethren with the 5 Greek guys 5. The saints with Philologus and company 6. The whole church in Corinth ## Counts of those mentioned: - Number of women: 9 - Number of men: 28 - Number of people in Rome: 29 / male = 20 / female = 9 - Number of married couples in Rome: 3 - Number of dead people: 1