Romans 16:1-16 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Romans 16:1-16. Let’s go!
Romans 16:1-2 (NIV)
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.
On verses 1-2: It would still be some time before Paul would be able to visit Rome. In the meantime, Paul asks the church in Rome to welcome Phoebe. Many believe that Phoebe was the one delivering this letter to the church in Rome on Paul’s behalf. If that is the case, here’s a lesson for us: Just as the church in Rome was to treat Phoebe the messenger with honour, we want to treat with honour those who bring God’s Word to us, whether it’s in the way we welcome them, speak to them, speak about them or otherwise treat them.
Romans 16:3-16 (NIV)
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow 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 Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
10 Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my relative. 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 brothers with them.
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
On verses 3-16: Here Paul sends personal greetings to certain individuals in Rome. I love how he speaks about each one in such honourable and glowing terms. The critic might say that Paul is just being politically correct here, trying to curry favour with people in Rome before he visits them. I don’t think so at all. The endearing way in which Paul speaks of each individual listed here speaks to a personal relationship that Paul had with each of them, and just the outstanding person Paul is.
What can we learn from this? You can memorize all the Bible verses you want, know all the worship songs and have immaculate theology and doctrine, but what speaks loudest about you and your relationship with God is how you treat others. In the kingdom of God, EQ matters. The way you treat people – your brothers and sisters at church, your leaders, your fellow teammates – matters. The way you speak to them and about them, the way you greet them, the way you communicate with them, the way you serve them and remember them – it all matters. It’s not just because the way we treat people obviously affects our reputation and how quickly we are promoted. Far more, it’s because treating others well brings honour to Jesus. Jesus says that the world will know that we are His disciples by how we love, so may you excel in treating the people around us, especially people in our church family, with love, honour and respect.
Father, I pray that like Paul I would treat every person I meet, especially those in my church family, with a high degree of love and respect. May I give honour where honour is due, knowing that how I treat others matters to You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
