Finishing up our series in Romans 12-16 today, we see Paul's greetings to the people he knows in Rome. This is much more than just a boring list of names. It serves to add to the purposes that Paul has for writing this letter. Let's read it, then we will discuss it briefly.
Romans 16
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon, of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.
Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. 24
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Far from a boring list of names in verses 1-16, Paul is using these greetings to stress the main theme he has been discussing throughout the last few chapters. They are to be unified in Christ with love, amidst their diversity (women Jewish, Greek and Latin). Paul not only accomplishes this with this list of names, but he also, not-so-subtly, affirms the people the church should be listening to. Imagine sitting in a house church while Phoebe reads this letter aloud. Paul mentions Andronicus and Junia. You look across the room and there they are. A mention by Paul in this letter would certainly have caused the rest of the church to take notice and respect the opinions of those mentioned a little more highly.
The next paragraph, after the greetings, Paul strikes a very different tone than he has in chapters 14 and 15. Here he tells them to avoid anyone causing divisions and putting obstacles in their way. He likely has in mind those who are teaching that following the law is necessary for salvation. When we look at the full corpus of Paul's teaching, he often strikes a different tone when it comes to matters of essential doctrine and ethical imperatives (see Gal 5:2-4; 1 Cor. 5:11; 2 Tim. 3). His statement in v. 19 sums this up well. They are to be "wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil." This is the challenge of Christian living, requiring a renewed mind and knowledge of God's will (Rom. 12:2).
In v. 20 he emphasizes his theology that the return of Jesus and destruction of Satan is imminent and we must always be prepared for it.
Then in his closing prayer, we see the main themes of the book revisited yet again—the inclusion of the Gentiles in the family of God and the glory of God.
Additional Content
The music video is only the first like 4 min, then they talk about the creation of the song.
Reflection
What does it mean when we say we want to give God more glory? I think this is one of those phrases that we hear often and take for granted. How does your life bring God more glory? Spend some time unpacking that in your thinking today.