To Those in Rome

Not Ashamed of the Gospel  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction

The main teaching of the Apostle Paul is finished, his future plans of going to Spain have been announced to the church and now he begins his final conclusion to the church in Rome. Last week as we finished chapter 15 we read about his desire to go to the Iberian land (Spain) and spread the Gospel now that he felt his mission in Asia Minor and Greece had been completed. He was going to go back to Jerusalem and give an offering to the saints in Jerusalem and from there go to Rome and onto Spain. The Apostle Paul is in the city of Corinth about to make his trip back through Macedonia and Asia Minor on his trip to Jerusalem. In this chapter we have many names and we will be looking at the people mentioned in the first 16 verses where he greets those in Rome.

Phoebe

Yet before he greets those in Rome, he introduces Phoebe.
Romans 16:1–2 NKJV
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 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.
It is believed that Phoebe is the one who delivering the letter to the church in Rome. Remember Paul is going back east toward Jerusalem. She is going to take it west to Rome to prepare for his arrival.
She is from the church in Cenchreae (a short distance from where Paul is writing the letter in Corinth).

Cenchreae was a port town just 6.5 miles (10.5 km) east of Corinth

Acts 18:18 NKJV
So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.
Phoebe: Name means bright and radiant

Those in Rome

Priscilla

Romans 16:3–4 NKJV
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Likewise greet the church that in their house (verse 5)
The married couple Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned in several of Paul’s letters:
1 Corinthians 16:19 NKJV
The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
2 Timothy 4:19 NKJV
Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
Acts 18:2–3 NKJV
And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.
Acts 18:18 NKJV
So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.
Acts 18:26 NKJV
So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
1 Corinthians 15:32 NKJV
If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
2 Corinthians 1:8–11 NKJV
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

They were much more than fellow workers with Paul, for whom they risked their own necks. Probably more than once, they put their own lives in jeopardy to protect Paul’s. From a human perspective, they prevented Paul’s life and ministry from being cut short before he had fulfilled his role in God’s plan. They obviously rendered selfless service to many other Christians as well, because Paul goes on to make the remarkable statement that to them not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Wherever they traveled and lived, that Jewish couple ministered unstintingly and without prejudice.

Aquila

See above

Epaenetus

Romans 16:5 NKJV
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.

Mary

Romans 16:6 NKJV
Greet Mary, who labored much for us.

The context also suggests that she had ministered in the church at Rome for some time, and possibly was a founding member who labored selflessly to establish and develop the fellowship of Christians in the capital of the empire.

Andronicus

Romans 16:7 NKJV
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Junia

Andronicus and Junias had a special and perhaps unique relationship to Paul. Because Junias may be a woman’s name, these two might have been husband and wife. And because many of the individuals mentioned in this passage were Jews, kinsmen indicates not only that they were fellow Jews but probably means also that they, along with Herodion (v. 11) and Jason and Sosipater (v. 21) were Paul’s relatives. If that is true, Paul must have felt a special warmth in seeing his kinsmen in the flesh become his kinsmen in spirit.

Because those two believers were converted before Paul, it is quite possible that they had suffered persecution under Paul (then named Saul), whose great zeal against the church would not have been diminished by their being his relatives. It is also possible that the prayers of those relatives for Paul’s salvation—and perhaps their witnessing to him—may have been instrumental in his eventual surrender to the Savior. If those things are true, the reconciliation of Andronicus and Junias with Paul when he came to Christ would have been all the more gratifying.

Amplias

Romans 16:8 NKJV
Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.

Ampliatus is greeted as Paul’s beloved in the Lord. From history and archaeology we learn that Ampliatus was a common name among slaves. And because slaves were not allowed to bear the name of free men, this beloved friend of Paul must have been, and possibly still was, a slave. Many slaves in the imperial households of that day had that name, and because Ampliatus was then in Rome, it is conceivable that he was among the believers in “Caesar’s household” mentioned by Paul in his letter to the church at Philippi (Phil. 4:22).

Urbanus

Romans 16:9 NKJV
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.

The next two saints to whom Paul sends greetings are Urbanus and Stachys. Urbanus was a common Roman name, suggesting that he may have been a Roman citizen. Paul speaks of him as our fellow worker in Christ, but gives no indication of how or where he ministered for Christ. Our could refer to Paul and any number of other co-workers, or it could refer to Paul and the church at Rome. If the latter, then Urbanus would have to have worked with Paul somewhere else before going to Rome and serving the church there.

Unlike Urbanus, the name Stachys, which means “ear of corn,” was Greek and uncommon. Since he is called beloved, he would have been closely associated with Paul, but we do not know where or in what relationship. As mentioned above, many of those to whom Paul sends greetings were not outstanding leaders in the early church. That fact reveals the apostle’s deep and sincere love for fellow believers and for fellow workers in particular, no matter how little known they were or how insignificant their service was from a purely human perspective.

Stachys

Romans 16:9 NKJV
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.

Apelles

Romans 16:10 NKJV
Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

We know nothing about Paul’s relationship to Apelles, and cannot be certain how the two were personally acquainted. But whether from his own experience with this man or from reliable reports from others, Paul recognized Apelles as being approved in Christ. Dokimos (approved) carries the idea of being tried and tested, and was used of precious metals, such as gold and silver, that passed tests for purity. Whatever his field of service in Christ may have been, Apelles performed it well.

Aristobulus and household

Romans 16:10 NKJV
Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

Paul’s next greeting was to a group of believers whose names and number we do not know. They are simply identified as those who are of the household of Aristobulus, who himself is not identified. Because he is not greeted, it seems certain he was not a Christian. The Greek phrase says only “of Aristobulus,” the word household being implied. How many of his household were Christians, and whether they were family members, servants, or both we are not told.

From his careful study of New Testament times, the noted biblical scholar J. B. Lightfoot suggests that Aristobulus may have been the brother of Herod Agrippa I and the grandson of the Herod the Great. If so, he would have been a close ally of the Emperor Claudius. When Aristobulus died, his household—including his wife, children, slaves, and possessions—would have become the property of the emperor, although they would still have been referred to as the household of Aristobulus. It is therefore possible that this group of believers could have been part of the imperial household.

Herodion

Romans 16:11 NKJV
Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

As with Andronicus and Junias (v. 7), Paul greets Herodian as my kinsman, who, for the same reason explained above, was Paul’s physical kinsman and therefore a Jew, as well as his spiritual kinsman in Christ. As the name indicates, Herodian was related to the Herod family in some way and therefore may have been associated with the household of Aristobulus.

Narcissus

Romans 16:11 NKJV
Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

Like Aristobulus, Narcissus was probably not a believer, but some of those of his household were in the Lord.

Tryphena

Romans 16:12 NKJV
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

In verse 12, Paul greets and commends three women. The first two, Tryphaena and Tryphosa, possibly were twin sisters, whose names mean “delicate” and “dainty,” respectively. Those words may have characterized their lives before salvation, but spiritually they were active and faithful workers in the Lord.

Tryphosa

Romans 16:12 NKJV
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

Persis

Romans 16:12 NKJV
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

Persis doubtless received her name from her native land of Persia. Not only was she the beloved, suggesting (by the definite article the) she was loved by everyone who knew her, but she also was one who had worked hard in the Lord. Because the work of Tryphaena and Tryphosa is spoken of in the present tense and that of Persis in the past tense, it may have been that the first two were younger women and still active and that Persis was an older saint who had already lived her most productive years. But all three were noted for their work for and in the Lord.

Rufus

Romans 16:13 NKJV
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Paul speaks of Rufus as a choice man in the Lord. Eklektos (choice) has the literal meaning of chosen, or elected. Paul could hardly be speaking about his being chosen for salvation, since, as made clear earlier in the epistle, every believer is “predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). In that sense, every Christian is equally chosen “in [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). The idea here, as the New American Standard Bible rendering indicates, is that Rufus was choice in the general sense in which that word is used today. He was an extraordinary Christian, known for his love and work for the Lord and for the Lord’s people.

The greeting to his mother and mine does not mean Rufus was Paul’s natural brother but that Rufus’s mother, somewhere and in some way during Paul’s travels and ministry, had cared for the apostle as if he were her own son. Like many other Jews converted at or soon after Pentecost, Simon and his family may have chosen to stay in Jerusalem and therefore have had the opportunity to know and befriend Paul during his visits there.

Asyncritus

Romans 16:14 NKJV
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.

Paul makes no comment about Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, and Hermas. The mention of the brethren with them indicates that the five men named here were leaders of one of the many assemblies of believers in Rome. In this context, brethren would include all believers there, including women.

The careful research of William Barclay sheds light on one of the individuals Paul mentions in this beautiful passage. About Nereus Barclay writes:

In A.D. 95 there happened an event which shocked Rome. Two of the most distinguished people in Rome were condemned for being Christians. They were husband and wife. The husband was Flavius Clemens. He had been consul of Rome. The wife was Domatilla and she was of royal blood. She was the granddaughter of Vespasian, a former Emperor, and the niece of Domitian, the reigning Emperor. In fact the two sons of Flavius Clemens and Domatilla had been designated Domitian’s successors in the imperial power. Flavius was executed and Domatilla was banished to the island of Pontia where years afterwards Paula saw the cave where “she [Domatilla] drew out a long martyrdom for the Christian name.” And now the point—the name of the chamberlain of Flavius and Domatilla was Nereus. Is it possible that Nereus the slave had something to do with the making into Christians of Flavius Clemens the ex-consul and Domatilla the princess of the royal blood? Again maybe it is an idle speculation, for Nereus is a common name, but again, maybe it is true. (Letters to the Romans [Philadelphia: Westminster, 1957], p. 237)

Phlegon

Romans 16:14 NKJV
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.

Hermas

Romans 16:14 NKJV
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.

Patrobas

Romans 16:14 NKJV
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.

Hermes

Romans 16:14 NKJV
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.

Philologus

Romans 16:15 NKJV
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Julia

Romans 16:15 NKJV
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Nereus

Romans 16:15 NKJV
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Nereus’ sister

Romans 16:15 NKJV
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Olympas

Romans 16:15 NKJV
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Romans 16:16

Romans 16:16 NKJV
Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

The practice of the holy kiss, or kiss of love, continued for many years in the early church. It probably came to an end by being corrupted by sensuous perversion. Some centuries later, it was somewhat revived in the form of a liturgical kiss, which was purely formal and ritualistic, not personal or spiritual.

Conclusion

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