September 7, 2020
Central Truth
If we desire to serve well, we should surround ourselves with a community that is rooted in truth and committed to obedience in the Lord.
For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant 1 16:1 Or deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert 2 16:5 Greek firstfruit to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, 3 16:7 Or Junias my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, 4 16:7 Or messengers and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers 5 16:14 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 17 who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, 6 16:18 Greek their own belly and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. 7 16:23 Some manuscripts insert verse 24: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
I have grown up playing sports, and with that comes the setting of team rosters. I vividly remember the day my friends and I raced to the locker room to view the newly posted soccer rosters last year. We couldn't wait to see who was on our team. Romans 16 reminds me of a roster, and we are reading about the Apostle Paul's team. Can you imagine your name listed alongside servants of the church like Phoebe, people who risked their lives for the gospel like Prisca and Aquila, and those approved in Christ like Apelles?
In this passage, there are approximately 35 people listed by name and others who are mentioned as family members or fellow saints. We hear of servants, scribes, and prisoners. They are kingdom-minded people who are selfless, hospitable, courageous, and diligent. Some have suffered. Some employ their skills like Tertius, Paul's scribe, and Erastus, the city treasurer. They are Paul's people—his community.
As believers, we are called to live and serve in community (Romans 12:4–8). What made Paul's community significant is the fact that its members were rooted in a foundation of truth and united in grace through the death of Jesus Christ. They worked together as a unified team to serve Christ.
Paul writes in Romans 16:19, "For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you . . . ." I love this because it truly shows that this community of believers was leaving a mark as they lived in obedience to Christ. Sometimes it can be hard not to fall into the lies of this world, but if we surround ourselves with a community that is rooted in truth, we are more likely to serve faithfully as we resist the lies of the enemy together. Every day, we should battle sin and serve Christ through obedience and in knowledge that the grace of Christ is with us.
1. What qualified these people to be on Paul's roster?
2. Would you be able to say these same things about your community? Why or why not?
3. Do you think you and your community are rooted in truth and fleeing from false teachers?
4. How is your community challenging each other to faithfully serve Christ?