Morning Message: The Unity of the Church

Bobservations' Column
Titled - "The Unity of the Church"
Written By: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

This final chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is in three parts. The first part takes us through verse 16, as Paul provides an introduction for Phebe, the courier of the Roman Epistle, and then offers greetings to friends, and family alike who are in the Church at Rome. The Roman letter introduces us to some of Paul’s family, who were also Believers, some even before Paul became one!

Verses 17-20 supplies warnings of those whose doctrines are not those of Christ, but of deceivers, and blessings for those that remain faithful to Christ’s teachings.

From verse 20 through the end is like an author’s acknowledgements at the end of a novel, for all those that have been a help to him during his eighteenth months in Corinth.

This 16th chapter gives us insight into Paul’s family and his helpers in his travels around the known world of that time. The theme of this Epistle is clearly “The Gospel of Christ” and its unifying effect, and its importance to the Church. The Gospel is foundation, doctrine, teachings, and encouragement in-the-Spirt as new believers become mature in their faith. Names are named, thanks and blessings are offered, warnings supplied, and the “Mystery of the Church” becomes a unifying aspect of the entire church, truly being of one mind!

The Apostle’s eyesight was diminished, either from the temporary blinding on the Damascus Road, or a common eye disease that plagued many because of the arid climate of the region. And so, the actual scribe of the Epistle, a man named Tertius, offers his own salutation in verse 22. (Compare with Galatians 6:11.)

The Roman Epistle is the sixth of Paul’s letters chronologically, but one of the most powerful, and applicable for the Church today. Paul’s love for the Church mirrors the Love of Jesus towards all. And Paul does not shrink away from the importance of the Holy Spirit when ministering to others. All three members of the Holy Trinity are clearly at work throughout the Letter to the Romans. 

 From Colossians 1:27 -

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Romans 16:1-27 - "The Unity of the Church"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

Romans 16 is a powerful chapter that concludes Paul’s epistle to the Romans. It’s filled with personal greetings, commendations, and final instructions to the believers in Rome.

He also warns against those who cause divisions and offenses, urging the Romans to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil.

As we jump into the details of this chapter, we’ll uncover valuable lessons about unity, love, and steadfastness in the faith. We’ll see how Paul’s final words to the Romans can encourage and inspire us today to live out our calling as believers in Jesus Christ.

In this chapter, Paul takes the time to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and dedication of his fellow ministers and followers of Christ.  In these verses, we clearly see the diversity in the church.  Paul mentions twenty-six individuals, twenty-four by name, two households, at least three (probably four or five or more) churches - men, women, married, single or widows, different backgrounds.

In the churches in Rome, there were Jews and Gentiles, there were freeborn, there were slaves, and there were freed men and women, that is, those who were former slaves. There were people of vastly different socioeconomic status. There were people with conflicting cultural and religious backgrounds. There were new believers and there were some who had been in Christ for many years. How do we know that? Well, Rufus and his mother, the wife of Simon of Cyrene, were saved around the time of the Crucifixion, some 25 years earlier. Paul says that Andronicus and Junias were in Christ before him, sometime before 32 or 33 AD. That, again, would have been 20-25 years before.

The question is this: how could people from such different backgrounds enjoy such a wonderful and rich spirit of unity? Not only does Christ intend for His church to be diverse, but the source of our unity is Christ our Lord. Paul says these believers were either “in the Lord” or “in Christ”. That was the source of their unity, and it is the source of our unity as well. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For by one Spirit [the Holy Spirit] we were all [all believers] baptized [immersed] into one body [whose body? Christ’s body!], whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” That’s what unites us. What defines us is our common Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Phoebe (16:1) - The name means "bright and radiant," which aptly fits Paul's brief description of her personality and Christian character.   She was a "servant" from where we get "deacon" and "deaconess."   In the early church women servants cared for sick believers, the poor, strangers, and those in prison.  They instructed the women and children (cf. Titus 2:3-5).  Whether Phoebe had an official title or not, she had the great responsibility of delivering this letter to the Romans church.  When they had served faithfully and become widowed and destitute, such women were to be cared for by the church (1 timothy 5:13-16). 

Cenchrea (16:1) - A neighboring port city of Corinth, where Paul wrote Romans.  The church in Cenchrea was probably planted by the Corinthian church.

Priscilla and Aquila (16:3) - This husband-and-wife team were Paul's close friends who even risked their own lives for him.  The remaining five times they are mentioned in Scripture, Priscilla is listed first, at least four times, which could imply she had a high social rand than Aquila, or that she was the more prominent of the two in the church.  They probably were Christians when Paul met them, having come from Rome where a church already existed (Romans 1:7, 8).

Epaenetus (16:5) - Likely saved through Paul's preaching and lovingly discipled by the apostle.  "Firstfruits" or first convert in Achaia (Asia Minor).

Mary . . . Labored Much (16:6) - Not much known about her.  It says she labored much, which means hard work to the point of exhaustion.  The context suggests she might have ministered in the church at Rome since its founding and been mentioned to Paul by others.  

Andronicus and Junia (16:7) - Possibly a married couple.  Junia can be a women's name. It says they were fellow prisoners with Paul, either sharing the same cell, or adjacent cells at some point.  Their ministry with Paul, and some of the other apostles in Jerusalem before Paul was converted, was well known and appreciated by the apostles.

Amplias (16:8) - A common name among the emperor's household of slaves at that time.  He may have been one of those in "Caesar's household" (Philippians 4:22).

Stachys (16:9) - Obviously, he was close to Paul, but the details are not known.

Aristobulus (16:10) - Paul does not greet him personally. He was probably not a believer, although some relatives and household servants apparently were.  He may have been related to Herod Agrippa I, according to some scholars. 

Herodion (16:11) - Was related to the Herod family, and so perhaps associated with the household of Aristobulus.  Paul refers to him as his "Kinsman," indicating that he may have been one of Paul's Jewish relatives. 

Household of Narcissus (16:11) - Some believe that this was the Emperor Claudius's secretary.  If so, two households within the palace had Christians in them (cf. Philippians 4:22).

Tryphena and Tryphosa (16:12) - Possibly twin sisters, whose names mean "delicate" and "dainty." 

Persis (16:12) - Named after her native Persia; since her work is spoken of in the past tense, she was probably older than the other two women in this verse. 

Rufus (16:13) - Most scholars agree that this was one of the sons of Simon of Cyrene, the man enlisted to carry Jesus' cross (cf. Mark 15:21) and was likely saved through that contact with Christ.  Paul writes that he was "chosen in the Lord," indicating he was widely known as an extraordinary believer because of his great love and service.  He is not Paul's natural brother.  Rufus's mother at some time had cared for Paul during his ministry travels.

Brethren (16:14, 15) - refers to both men and women in this context. 

Holy Kiss (16:16) - Signifying spiritual kinship with fellow believers in the faith. Kissing of friends on the forehead, cheek, or beard was common in the O.T. as it is in many cultures today.  The Jews in the NT church carried on the practice, and it became especially precious to new believers, who were often outcasts from their own families.

Divisions and Offenses (16:17) - Doctrinal falsehood and unrighteous practices (cf. Matthew 24:24; Acts 20:27-32; Galatians 1:6-8; Ephesians 4:14). 

Belly (16:18) - Driven by self-interest and self-gratification, often seen in their pretentious, extravagant, and immoral lifestyles (cf. Philippians 3:18, 19; 2 Timoth 3:7, 8; 2 Peter 1:20-2:3, 10-19; Jude 12, 13).

Lucius (16:21) - He is either a native of Cyrene, one of the prophets and teachers in Antioch who participated in Paul and Barnabas's commissioning (Acts 13:1-3) or the name is another form of "Luke," the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts.

Jason (16:21) - One of the first converts in Thessalonica who let Paul stay in his home for a short time before Paul and Silas were sent to Berea.

Sosipater (16:21) - This is one of the Bereans (cf. Acts 17:10-12) who joined other believers in the meeting Paul at Troas after the apostle left Ephesus.

Tertius (16:22) - Paul's secretary, who wrote this letter as Paul dictated it, inserts a personal greeting.

Gaius (16:23) - One of Paul's converts at Corinth (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:14). 

The Whole Church (16:23) - The congregation that met in Gaius's house.

Erastus (16:23) - A common name in NT times, but probably not the same man referred to in Acts 19:22, or 2 Timothy 3:20. He was a chamberlain or treasurer in the city of Corinth.  This was a prominent position with political clout.

Preaching of Jesus Christ (16:25) - Synonymous with the gospel, it was Paul's supreme life commitment.

The Mystery (16:25) - Refers to something hidden in former times but now is made known (1 Corinthians 4:1; Ephesians 5:32; 6:19; Colossians 1:25, 26; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 8; 1 Timothy 3:9, 16). The New Testaments most common mystery is that God would provide salvation for Gentiles as well as Jews (Ephesians 3:3-9).

Prophetic Scriptures Made Known (16:26) - God told Israel that He would not only call her to righteousness, but appoint her as a light (of the gospel) to the nations.

To God . . . Be Glory (16:27) - It was through the Father that the gospel was ultimately revealed, therefore He deserves all the credit, praise, and worship.