Book of Romans: A Bible study series in 17 parts
[To watch this on YouTube as it was given live on Zoom, click https://youtu.be/nArzgCptmKk]. [The whole biblical text and the bibliography Bob used are at the end of this blog]
Introduction
We’ve done it; we have reached the last chapter in our book. It’s as if we were in an Olympic racetrack, and are at the 100 metres to go mark, and the finish line is in view. We used other imagery during our discussions since March. Musically, we are in the last 32 bars of the great symphony of Rabbi Saul, as he penned this seminal musical score to a group of people who had never heard him in person. His themes were clear and oft repeated. The symphony needs one more final crescendo to finish well. And today, we make this happen.
I hope you have learned some things in our studies. The purposes of Gentiles viz a viz the Jewish people. The inability of Jewish people, or anyone for that matter, to get right with God and to make it to heaven by trying really hard, by impressing their deity with good efforts, the role of personal faith in the God who has done all for us in the death and resurrection of Messiah… it’s all there. Salvation is ours by faith, simple belief in the activity of our God. We are called to serve God and to serve each other. Each theme brought in one by one and rehearsed over the entire symphony.
Today’s lesson is a fascinating ending, with the apostle’s care for individuals and small gatherings shown again and again. He also reminds everyone to serve. He has one final warning as is often his manner, then he as usual ends with the timpani and the cymbals crashing one final Hallelujah of praise to the God who makes known what’s needful. Those then are my outline points today and we will unpack this one section at a time.
1. Giving encouragement to others
Paul writes the Romans about individuals. This is striking, as we have heard the most glorious of musical sounds coming from the apostle, some of my favourite Bible passages ever throughout this book. I promised you this list a few weeks ago and now you get to hear them at once. These are the overarching words of the themes of this book and should remind you again and again of what Paul is saying.
1.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
3.23. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
5.1 Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
5.8 God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.
6.23 The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
8.1. There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Messiah Yeshua
8.18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.
8. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, .39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
10.1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.
11:15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
14.17. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And those are only my favourites today. Ask me next week and I might have another dozen to which I will turn and return for strength and hope. And isn’t that what he said last week, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (15.4)
So, his own themes of faith and the power of the resurrection should give us strength, as it has given the people he now lists one by one by one in this opening section of this final chapter. He lists 27 individuals he personally knows about. Remember, he’s never met most of them. He wants his own greetings to go to these people. They are noticed and they deserve apostolic mention. Think about that. If your rabbi or pastor told the head of your ‘denomination’ who lives in Africa or the UK about you, and the leader then writes a letter, explaining the Gospel, faith, the way to be made right with God… and he mentions you. How would that make you feel?
Listen to these folks who are listed. It’s like a service roster, of people who have and are making a difference in Rome. Priscilla and Aquilla, a famous couple, Mary, Junia, Amplias, Herodion, Rufus and so many others. One is the mother of one listed. So there are 27 to be specific. My guess is these are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of the gratitude list of the apostle.
When you stop and make a gratitude list, things and people and events and circumstances of life for which you are grateful, wait, have you ever done that? NO, you say? OK, please make a note of that just now, and before you finish this book and say you have completed the lessons, make a list of things and people and … for which you are grateful. And when you do, don’t you remember others later? And other situations for which you are still grateful? That’s the idea of being grateful. It’s a good habit with perpetual considerations.
Did you make that note to yourself? Write a gratitude list. W-r-i-t-e… yes, good.
But this isn’t all Paul wrote personally about. He also lists 9 (including himself) who send greetings to the church there. Timothy and Tertius (who was the scribe of Paul’s letter) along with Jason and Sosipater. 9 in total. These believers wanted to be remembered to the believers in Rome.
I think about this messaging service. Some of you I’ve known for years and others are fairly new to our life together. Sometimes people ask you, knowing you are going to see a mutual friend, “Please send so-and-so my regards, will you?” And you always agree. But I recommend you say something like, “Please hand write a note and I’ll pass it on to so-and-so.” Otherwise, I might forget. Paul had notes about all these 27 people. He was an amazing man who cared about the huge theological issues and who remembered people and the five households or brethren with fellowships, or Discipleship groups or connect groups in their homes. Some call these home churches and in this coronavirus lockdown season, we have seen how those are to work. No matter how you see these fellowships, like havurot, Paul knew where some of these cells operated and commended them as good places to attend and grow. He never saw a place for lonely and isolated believers. Nor should I. Nor should you.
The first to commend was Phoebe, the carrier of this important document. She was off to this village, one of the ports for Corinth. Her titles include sister, servant, saint, helper. Pretty strong language especially for those who insist that Paul was a sexist and saw no place for women in the community of faith. They certainly have that wrong!
Next is Priscilla and her husband Aquila. Again, a woman listed first. Paul had met these two in Corinth (Acts 18.2) after they returned from Italy. They billeted Paul (Acts 18.3) then traveled with him to Ephesus and stayed there. (Acts 18.18-19) Paul mentioned them in two other letters (1 cor. 16.19, 2 Tim. 4.19) but by the time of the writing of this letter to the Romans they had returned to Rome. Their ministry was long-lasting and the relationship they had with Paul was evident.
Paul mentions the chavurah in their home. This makes sense in light of their character and servant-ministry.
Next is Epaenetus who is the first new believer, what he titled, “First fruits” to Messiah. Some of you are newish believers, and this is awesome. May you be first among many in your family and in your neighbourhood. Paul uses the adjective ‘beloved’ for several people, which like every Academy Awards show reminds me never to highlight one or two, when there are many others who are equally deserving. Still Paul did that, and he’s welcomed to do so, not only to the first new believer, but also Ampliatus (.8), Stachys (v.9) and Persis (v. 12).
Mary, another woman joins the list (v. 6) and is highly commended. I’m highlighting this gender issue as so many make Paul into some kind of genderist. He certainly was not!
Jewish believers (kinsmen) are listed, but not all the Jews are so called. Andronicus and Junias (v. 7) as were Herodion (v. 11), Lucius, Jason and Sosipater (v. 21) Priscilla and Aquila were also Jews, but Paul doesn’t say so. Those in verse 7 were also ‘among the apostles.’ There are actually 25 people who are so titled in the NT, but that’s for another episode.
Ampliatus is ‘in the Lord.’ How wonderful to know certain people who represent so well. Stop for a moment and insert the name of someone you would put in that category. Someone who is ever faithful or ever joyful. Someone who makes clear that they love Yeshua. Then, one day, be that person to others.
Urbanus is a Roman and a fellow worker, but not ‘my’ fellow worker, so it’s likely he’s a leader in the church in Rome.
I love the descriptive phrase for Appeles. He’s called “approved in Christ” That same word ‘approved’ is used by Paul in 1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Cor. 10:18; 13:7; 2 Tim. 2:15, and by James in 1:12. I’m not sure exactly what Paul meant by this phrase here, but whatever it fully means, it certainly is a commendation. I’d love to be so identified. One who is tried and true. Tested and passed the test. Not a failure. Someone you can trust.
He remembers the household, that is the chavurah at Aristobulus. Fascinating, the cell group, the fellowship that gathers on Thursday at 7 in your place…the apostle would have heard about that. Don’t be so impressed by the large churches or the greatest number of attendees at your shul. God is looking after the 27 individuals and the 5 havurot, too. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matt. 5.45)
Note the phrases “in the Lord” or “In Messiah” The apostle is reminding people that their unity is not political nor that they barrack for the same footy club, but their unity and their roles together, their life together is in Yeshua. HE is the peace. Micah said this. (5.5) Paul echoed this in Ephesians, He Himself is “our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (2.14) and again with “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4.3), until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Messiah.” (Eph. 4.13), and finally with “put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Col. 3.14)
Yesterday Patty, my wife and I were in Port Macquarie, about 4 hours from Sydney, and walked near Lighthouse Beach. On the fence of a lookout over the ocean we saw a graffiti writing “COVID-19 is a scamdemic” which is just what some folks are saying, but what caught my eye were the Jewish stars with the sentence. Horrible. The author was saying that the Jews were responsible for the pandemic and the lies that it even exists. In these days of strident conversations about elections and candidates, about what lives really matter, and conspiracy theories about COVID-19, it’s good to remember that Yeshua is our peace and our connection. Without him, and outside him, we are going to be fractured. The Body to work together has to be one, and that means united as we learned in chapter 14. And we repeat the triad here,
In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity.
Mark Ross of Ligonier Ministries wrote about this triad here (https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/essentials-unity-non-essentials-liberty-all-things/)
The actual sentence came from Rupertus Meldenius of Germany.
The phrase occurs in a tract on Christian unity written (circa 1627) during the Thirty Years War (1618–1648), a bloody time in European history in which religious tensions played a significant role. Might it serve us well as a motto for every church and for every denomination today?
“In Messiah” is a phrase that Paul uses at least 90 times in his letters and another 45 times he uses the phrase “in the Lord.” 10 of those alone references are here in Romans 16. It’s Paul’s call to unity and I will let that be my call to us today as well.
Dunn says, “Tryphaena is well attested as a name in inscriptions, including the name of a Jewess; and Tryphosa is also found in both Greek and Latin inscriptions” Tryphaena and Tryphosa may well have been twins, at least sisters, as their names are together and their names mean “dainty’ and ‘delicate.’
Persis, who has labored much in the Lord.” Persis seems to have been a popular name for female slaves.
Each of these 27 individuals has a story or lots of stories and those stories made their way to Paul and he highlighted the people and their individual service for God. Some people are well known as servants in your sphere of influence. May you be among those who do so today and this weekend.
He ends this opening section of the final movement of our symphony with greet everyone! No one should be left out. That’s what often happens at the Oscars, isn’t it? Thanks to my manager, and my director, the cast, the crew, and EVERY ONE who made me the recipient of this Academy award. Here Paul is caught up in highlighting individuals and then shouts greet everyone… love one another!
Verses 17-20 is our 2nd section today.
2. One final warning
Paul then urges the Roman believers, the Greek word is parakaleu, like the one called alongside to help, like a comforter or lawyer, his final urge is lawyer-like. Please, he says, watch out. People are coming who want to dismantle all these good folks I’ve just listed have done in your community. Building a reputation is hard, destroying it is easy. So be on guard. And isn’t that what Yeshua taught? When he was asked by his students what would be the signs of his return, he cautioned them, “
And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (Matt 24.4-8)
Yeshua’s warning bell was ‘watch out for false folks who will come with conspiracies and relentless sounds of alarm.’
Paul follows suit here as he warns the Romans to stay faithful, and to keep an eye on the flock. People will come with dissensions and hindrances. The word for hindrance is ‘scandalon’ which we have already seen in Romans and in the words of Yeshua. A stumbling block. An offence. Something to trip you up. Not anything to kill you, but a distraction to keep you away from the real issue.
I often think of Curly, from the movie franchise with Billy Crystal called “City Slickers.” There the lead character, the cowboy played by Jack Palance informs the city dwelling Crystal that the “secret to life is…just one thing.” What is it? Curly says, “that’s what you’ve got to figure out.” Paul says here in Romans 16 that these folks want to distract you, to thwart you, and he identifies THEM as Satan. We would say they are influenced by Satan and that The God of Peace will crush that activity, and we will win over the liars and the false brothers, under our feet, soon. Keep to the one thing, like Curly said, which is exalting Yeshua and making His name known, staying away from sin and sins, loving one another.
Side issues should stay outside; let love of the brothers be genuine. Or as Paul says, “to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” (16.19)
Our final section today is 21 to the end
3. Praise to the God who makes known
Finally, Paul joins with others in the extension of greetings. He lists 8 others along with himself who send these pages. It’s like the cover letter of a document submitted to the government or the academy. Who actually is writing this note? The cover letter explains. And here Paul wraps up his farewells with some serious final assignment and praise. He says “Amen” twice in this chapter, and 6 times in the entire letter. He gets caught up in praise to the Lord and when you ponder all God has done and will do, what else can you do? Sing his praises!
Paul lists Timothy and Lucius, Jason and Sosipater (Acts 20.4), Tertius (who actually scribed Paul’s thoughts, he was the stenographer), Gaius who hosted Paul and runs a chavurah, Erastus, who is prominent in government and Quartus. Each gets honorable mention of being in community there and somehow in relation with the community in Rome. They are all traveling along with Paul to deliver the collection of the Macedonians to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. I like how Paul includes his companions. I think you will like what we are going to do beginning next week with the studies as we multiply their effect here in New South Wales and even to include you if you’d like. More on that later.
In verse 25, Paul sends the final notes of the symphony to the believers in Rome. John Wesley says, “The last words of this epistle exactly answer the first, chapter 1:1-15, in particular, concerning the power of God, the gospel, Jesus the Messiah, the scriptures, the obedience of faith, and all nations.” Paul reminds them to keep their eyes on the Lord, who will
Establish you. The Greek word can be used to translate ‘set your face’ or ‘to be solid’ even ‘to settle in the comfort of bedding.’ It’s the opposite of the tricksters who want to stumble you. It’s the stable ending of the believer. The believer has found ‘the one thing’ and is rooted there.
According to my Gospel. The information I’ve supplied in the previous 15 chapters are real and faithful and to be believed. Don’t be led astray by the Satan-inspired others.
And the preaching of Yeshua the Messiah. He is our unity. He is our peace. He is our life. Not endless superstitions and clever but wrong genealogies… listen to Him. Isn’t that what the Father said on the Mount of Transfiguration?
According to the revealed mystery. Messiah died for you. Rose from the dead for you. The creation groans until he returns. Eternity is found in the Eternal One, Yeshua.
According to the Scriptures of the Prophets. The Word of God has the answers for each of us. Trust them.
According to the commandment of God. Don’t be distracted with lesser things. Listen to God and what he says in these days.
Made known to all nations. The reality of Gentiles believing and being part of the community of faith should not be missed. Jesus is for everyone!
To obedience of faith. Faith is the way to God. Faith is the way to be right with God. Obedience to rules is not the point; obey by believing or as Yeshua taught in John 6.29
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
No wonder Paul ends with timpani and the cymbals crashing with
“to the only wise God, through Jesus the messiah, be the glory forever. Amen.” Join the chorus
God wants us to love and represent him in this dark and darkening world. Amen? May God receive all the glory.
Dear friends on YouTube and Facebook and on this zoom call, if you are not yet a believer in Yeshua, I urge you today, call on him while he is near. We Jewish people should know our Torah, and if you also know yourself, you know you need help, you’ve been stumbling, you need salvation, you need a Saviour. Joel the prophet said, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be rescued, will be saved.
If you want, you can pray a prayer with me just now to solidify your choice. Something like this, “Father in Yeshua’s name, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending Yeshua to save me from myself, from my selfishness, from my despair and the harm I cause so many. Thank you for making me right with God by your sacrifice. I receive Yeshua (Jesus) as my saviour and the lover of my soul. He frees me to love others. I repent of my sins and ask for God’s forgiveness. I receive the free gift of God, eternal life in Messiah Jesus our Lord. Amen.”
If you prayed that prayer, will you let us know via the messages or write me directly. I would appreciate that. And if you did pray that prayer, then welcome to the family!
NEXT WEEK we will begin a new book study… on the Book of Hebrews, the only book of the Bible which states clearly that it has Jewish believers in Jesus as the primary audience. And we will unpack it over 13 weeks, here on Zoom and later published on YouTube and Facebook. If you join us live, you will have a chance to chat with all the others also on the call. And we anticipate a new Discipleship Group which will continue the conversations of the Zoom call. Those D-Groups will continue during the week after the Friday morning lesson.
I end these 17 lessons today with the words of Paul in his closing and I want each of you to take these words on board. Know how much I appreciate each one of you on Facebook, on this Zoom call, on YouTube, and even my brother across the table from me here in his home in Nelson Bay, let Yeshua give you that same encouragement today and throughout your days.
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Yeshua the Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Yeshua the Messiah, be the glory forever. Amen.
Shabbat shalom!
The actual text:
Rom. 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. Rom. 16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker ain Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. 15 Greet Philologus and 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.
Rom. 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all, therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Rom. 16:21 Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. Rom. 16:22 I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Rom. 16:23 Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Rom. 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
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Bibliography
Briscoe, Stuart. The Communicator’s Commentary (Romans), Word Books, Waco Texas.1982.
Dunn, James D.G., Word Biblical Commentary, Romans, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1988.
Flynn, Leslie, What the Church Owes the Jew, Magnus Press, 1998.
Murray, John, The Epistle to the Romans, New International Commentary on the New Testament, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1965.
Wright, Tom, Paul for Everyone, SPCK, Westminster John Knox Press, London, 2004
