The Letter Of The Apostle Paul To The Romans. Day 53, Paul's Concluding Remarks, Part One

We are in the final portion of the book of Romans and Paul makes some concluding remarks and personal greetings.

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 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." (Romans 16:1-2) This Phoebe was evidently bound for Rome and Paul gives her a good recommendation. Over the centuries many of Paul's detractors have accused him of being prejudiced toward women because of remarks he made in 1 Corinthians 14 about how women should behave in church, but in Chapter 16 of Romans we can clearly see that Paul values the work women do for the kingdom of Christ.

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house." (Romans 16:3-5a) We met this couple in the book of Acts. They were very dear friends of the Apostle Paul.

"Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 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." (Romans 16:5b-7) It is believed that Junia is a woman's name, and here we find Paul crediting her with the title of "apostle". We don't know when or where Andronicus and Junia were in prison with Paul, but he clearly holds them both in high regard.

"Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 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." (Romans 16:8-12) Paul includes several more women in this list of brave soldiers of the Lord.

"Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too." (Romans 16:13) It is thought that Rufus may be the same Rufus mentioned in Mark 15:21, "A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross." Mark mentions Alexander and Rufus as if they are well known to the church, and this indicates they became believers in Christ. If so, Rufus could very well have been a friend of the Apostle Paul.

"Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord's people who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings." (Romans 16:14-16)

The personal stories of all these people have been lost to history. We don't know how many souls were saved through their work. We don't know how many of them may have lost their lives for the faith. But their names are preserved on the pages of the Bible, and more importantly their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. They are in His presence, rejoicing in the Savior they so faithfully served.