The Epistle to the Romans
Lesson 24
Special English Version

Paul’s Concluding Remarks

Reading Assignment: Romans 16

Introduction
Some students and teachers treat Romans 16 as of little importance. They say it is only a series of greetings from Paul and his co-workers to their friends. It is often treated lightly or not considered at all. This is a serious mistake.
The chapter permits us a special look into the personality and character of this great apostle. In addition it contains some timely advice and an outstanding benediction. We are given the most, personal and special greetings of love found anywhere else in Paul’s epistles.
In addition to an analysis of the chapter, this lesson will include a short review of the entire epistle so that you can put together and remember much of what you have learned.

Importance of this Lesson

• This lesson is important because it helps us to see Christianity in its early stages. Notice the way the believers love each other.
• It is important that we see the apostle Paul as a thoughtful, loving and caring individual. It is an understanding of his personality that you might not notice by only reading his epistles.
• It is important that we request the blessing of the unusual benediction for ourselves.
• Finally, it is important to briefly review the entire epistle in order to understand its greatest truths.

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The Lesson

I. GREETINGS – Romans 16:1-16

1. Verses 1-2 – Paul highly praise this successful businesswoman by the name of Phebe to the church at Rome.
   1. She was a citizen of Cenchrea, a seaport town nine miles southeast of Corinth. She was well qualified and trustworthy. She was asked to take care of this priceless epistle to the Romans. (In eternity, we shall all thank Phoebe for her faithfulness.)
   2. Paul asked the believers at Rome to receive and assist Phebe as a servant or deaconess in the church. She had been of great help to Paul and to many others in the church at Cenchrea.
   • Paul clearly taught that women were not to use authority as pastors or teachers in the church (1 Timothy 2:10-14; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35). Without doubt women had a part in Paul’s ministry and served the Lord effectively in many ways in the early church (Philippians 4:3; Titus 2:3-4). Some people think that 1 Timothy 3:11 describes the qualifications of a deaconess.
2. Verses 3-4 – Paul asked the church to greet Priscilla and Aquila. This unusual couple fled from Rome to Corinth because Claudius, the emperor, sent all Jews away from the capital.
   1. They were tentmakers, just like Paul. They invited him to stay with them during his visit to Corinth (at least a year and a half) (Acts 18:11).
   2. They later moved to Ephesus where God used them to teach the preacher named Apollos “more perfectly” in the gospel and grace of God (Acts 18:23-28).
      • God can use laymen to instruct preachers more perfectly in their doctrine.
   3. Aquila and Priscilla conducted churches in their home in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:19) and later in Rome again after they returned there (Romans 16:5).
   4. At one time they had risked their lives for Paul (Romans 16:4), and caused all the Gentile churches to be thankful.
3. Verse 5 – Notice how much Paul loved people. He called Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus (verse 3). Here, concerning Epaenetus, he said, …my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. It seems that Epaenetus was one of Paul’s first converts. If you have ever led souls to Christ, you remember with special joy and affection the first one. So did Paul.
4. Verse 6 – Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. – Paul did not ignore the ministry of godly women. This chapter alone lists Phebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus’ mother, Julia, and the sister of Nereus. They all …laboured much in the Lord (verse 12).
5. Verse 7 – Salute (greet) Andronicus and Junia… – Four interesting things are said about these two men:
   1. …my kinsman – Paul had born again relatives.
   2. …my fellow prisoners – These relatives had suffered imprisonment with Paul.
   3. …who are of note among the apostles – While they were not apostles they were present at Pentecost. The apostles knew them well and respected them.
   4. …were in Christ before me – These relatives may have had a great influence in Paul’s conversion and early ministry.
6. Verse 8-9 – Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
7. Verses 3,7,8,9,10, and 11, Paul wrote of his friends as being in Christ or in the Lord. All believers are baptized into Christ (Romans 3:22). God has accepted them (Ephesians 1:6). What a safe and glorious hiding place!
8. Paul was careful how he used his words of love in mentioning men and women. Of the men he said, My beloved (verses 5,8,9), but of Persis, a woman, he said the beloved Persis. Paul would have no scandal in his life! He apparently had a special love for certain friends.
9. Verse 10
   1. Salute Apelles approved in Christ. We are not told how Apelles showed that approval, but it seems the blessing of Christ rested on him. He had passed the test.
   2. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household. Some believe that this man was the grandson of Herod the Great, brother of Herod Agrippa of Judea. The servants of his household also carried his name.
   3. There were Christians in high places!
10. Verse 11 – Salute Herodion – He was another of Paul’s relatives. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. This was another well-known, rich Christian family.
11. Verse 12 – Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa…the beloved Persis. All of these ladies worked hard for the Lord. Their names seem to indicate that they were slaves now or had been slaves in the past.
12. Verse 13 – Salute Rufus. It is possible that this man was the son of Simon the Cyrene who was forced to carry Christ’s cross (Mark 15:21).
    1. chosen in the Lord – This is a wonderful reminder that all of us who believe are chosen in Christ (Ephesians 1:4).
    2. and his mother and mine – In heaven we’ll learn more about this unknown, woman without a name. Paul honored her when he referred to her as a person who had been a mother to him sometime in his life.
13. Verses 14-15 – Nine friends are mentioned here plus the sister of Nereus and all the believers and brothers who were with them. Paul gives no special word about them but the number shows us that Paul had many friends in Rome. These were friends he met in other cities.
14. Verse 16 – Salute one another with an holy kiss – This phrase is difficult for some people to understand. It is repeated again in 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12.
    In 1 Peter 5:14 it mentions “a kiss of charity (love).” We are not told what this kiss is like but believers gave it in pure, holy, and true Christian love. Without question, the early church showed a much warmer love for each other than believers do today. Believers today do not demonstrate our love in the same way. We do it with a firm handshake.
    In New Testament times, the unbelievers often said “Behold how these Christians love one another.” I wish it were like that today. Note 1 John 3:11,14.
    The churches of Christ salute you. – Paul carried the weight of the churches on his shoulders
    (2 Corinthians 11:28). He knew them well and could speak for them.

• We see a clear contrast in these 16 verses between the loving relationship the early church members had with each other and the bitter situations we sometimes have today. These are situations that divide churches.

II. A WARNING – Romans 16:17-18

1. Verse 17 – …I beseech you… – We often find this kind request in Paul’s epistles (Romans 12:1; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:1). It shows his deep concern for the believers.
   1. …mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned… Satan was working very hard to divide and destroy God’s people already in these early days of the apostles. Paul does not tell us here what false doctrines he is talking about, they were the opposite of the pure gospel that Paul taught (2 Thessalonians 3:6; Titus 3:10; 2 John 10; Philippians 3:18,19 and 2 Peter 2:1-3,15).
   2. These false teachers were not Christians who only made a mistake in doctrine. They were messengers of Satan who had crept in (Jude 4) on purpose to divide and destroy the church.
   3. …mark them…avoid them. Christians must reject and turn away from everyone who does not preach or teach true doctrine (2 Corinthians 11:13-19; Galatians 1:7-9; Mark 13:22,23; 2 John 9-11).
   4. The Holy Spirits helps Christians to know false doctrine. They have the anointing of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20,27) and the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:15,16).
2. Verse 18 – For they…serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly (body);… deceive the hearts of the simple (innocent). They were selfish teachers. Satan controlled them. By their …good words and fair speeches, they deceived the hearts of the simple (innocent). Their description fits many liberals and false teachers today. God warns us against false teachers but does not stop them. There are many of them throughout the world.

III. COMMENDATION AND BLESSING – Romans 16:19-20

1. Verse 19 – For your obedience is come abroad unto all men… Here we should recall Romans 1:8, …your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
   1. The Roman church had an outstanding report among the unbelievers and Paul was glad; nevertheless, he felt he should advise them to be …wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
   2. Christians must hold fast that which is good. They must stay away from everything that even looks like evil (1Thessalonians 5:21-22).
   3. Paul’s concern and advice was necessary. We know this from the fact that by the 7th century this great church was completely corrupted and a pope was sitting on the throne!
   4. simple concerning evil – the word simple means “unmixed.” It is used in connection with wine that is not mixed with water. It is also used of one metal that is mixed with another metal. Christians must not allow any mixture of good and evil. Love “thinketh no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:5). 1 Corinthians 14:20 says that in hatred you must be like children.
   5. Christians must keep their lives pure.
2. Verse 20 – And the God of peace shall bruise Satan… – Paul loved to write about God as the God of peace. See also Romans 15:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 13:20.
   1. Remember that God sent Christ in order to make peace for us “through the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20). By faith in that sacrifice we have peace with God (Romans 5:1). By prayer and faith the peace of God keeps your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:7).
   2. …shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Satan is doomed! His judgment is certain. The prophesy of Genesis 3:15 will be fulfilled. We shall win over him through Christ. Read Revelation 12:7-11; 20:10.
   3. shortly – Paul always looked at the end as “near” or “at hand.”

IV. GREETINGS FROM PAUL’S FELLOW WORKERS – Romans 16:21-23

1. Verse 21
   1. Timotheus, my workfellow… – in Paul’s letters to Timothy he wrote to him as “my own son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2) and “my dearly beloved son” (2 Timothy 1:2). It seems that Paul had led Timothy to Christ at sometime in the past. Paul trusted Timothy as a servant of Christ (Philippians 2:19,20). Timothy also was Paul’s helper and the one who traveled with him.
   2. …Lucius, and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. – These were Jewish Christians. They were relatives of Paul who worked with him.
2. Verse 22 – I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. – Without this verse we could not know who wrote down this great epistle for Paul. To do this was a duty, privilege and honor God gave this man!
3. Verse 23 – Gaius mine host, and of the whole church… – Paul had baptized Gaius (1 Corinthians 1:14). The church at Corinth met in his house.
   1. Erastus was the treasurer of the city. This shows us that important people also believed in the gospel.
   2. Quartus, a brother. Paul put the great and small of this world in the same sentence. To God one person is not more important than another. We are all the same to him.

V. BENEDICTION – Romans 16:24-27

1. Verse 24 – you will note, of course, that verse 24 is just like the last part of verse 20. Paul probably planned to conclude the epistle at verse 20. It seems he had some additional thoughts. He added a second benediction.
   1. The other apostles knew about the grace of God, but Paul was the one to whom God gave the message about “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Ephesians 3:2).
   2. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” were words that identified these words as Paul’s (2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; Philippians 4:23). Paul is the only one who uses this phrase.
   3. God the Father is the source of grace, the Lord Jesus Christ is the One who gives it to us. We often sing:
      
      O, the love that drew salvation’s plan,
      O, the grace that brought it down to man.
      
   4. For a good definition of grace, read 2 Corinthians 8:9.
2. Verses 25-26 – In summary, these two verses show the basic truths Paul taught in the entire epistle. (Know the truth taught and the reference for the exam.)
   1. The power of the gospel – Romans 1:16-17
   2. The purpose of the gospel – to establish you – Romans 1:11
   3. The presentation of Christ – Romans 1:3,16
   4. The plan of God for the nations – the mystery (the church) which God hid from the beginning of the ages (Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:9). God would now show this mystery to His holy apostles and prophets, for the whole world (Ephesians 3:5,6)
   5. The plan that everyone must follow – for the obedience of faith. Believe and be saved. Salvation is by grace through faith – plus nothing (Romans 1:17).
   6. We know very little about the church from the book of Romans. We must remember that Paul wrote about the righteousness of God in Romans. He did not emphasize the church as the body of Christ in the book of Romans.
3. Verse 27 – To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen! Join with me and say with Paul – Amen and Amen!
4. NOW! To refresh your mind and help you to tie together much that you have learned, here are some simple outlines of the epistle to the Romans for your review.
   1. Introduction – Righteousness Revealed – Romans 1:1-17
   2. Condemnation – Righteousness Required – Romans 1:18-3:20
   3. Justification – Righteousness Imputed – Romans 3:21-5:11
   4. Sanctification – Righteousness Imparted – Romans 5:12-7:25
   5. Glorification – Righteousness Realized – Romans 8:1-39
   6. Dispensation – Righteousness Rejected – Romans 9-11
   7. Application – Righteousness Applied – Romans 12:1-15:33
   8. Salutation and Benediction – Romans 16:1-27
5. A short and simple outline is also very helpful:
   1. Chapters 1-8 – Devoted to Doctrine
   2. Chapters 9-11 – Devoted to Dispensation
   3. Chapters 12-16 – Devoted to Duty

May the God of all grace and wisdom bring to your minds all the truths you have studied in order that you will be established in the faith.

Examination

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