|
|
|
4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
|
|
|
FINAL
GREETINGS - 1 (Romans
16:1-5a) 5/24/09 Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor I.
REMARKS ON PAUL’S
GREETINGS A.
In our study of
Romans, we have moved into the final chapter. There is no explicit teaching
in this chapter, though there are applications we are able to glean from it. B.
There are a total
of 27 names that Paul mentions in this letter. For one thing, we get a
glimpse of the culture and character of first century Christians. But we also
get to see Paul’s loving and pastoral heart which is manifested by the fact
that Paul mentions some 27 members by name from the church at Rome. II.
PAUL SENDS
PHOEBE TO ROME (1-2) A.
Phoebe’s
Biography 1. Paul is not greeting Phoebe, but commending and
sending her to Rome with his letter. He is asking the church at Rome to
receive her and help her. 2. The only information we have on Phoebe is what is
written in this letter. Phoebe’s name (Grk. phoíbê)
literally means “bright” or “radiant.” 3. She lived in Cenchrea,
which was a seaport on the eastern side of Corinth. The church at Corinth
probably planted a church there and as a result, Phoebe was converted (cp. “sister”).
Paul was in Corinth writing the epistle to the Romans and decided to send
Phoebe to deliver it. 4. It appears that Phoebe was unmarried, because
usually Christian couples are mentioned together in the Bible (i.e. Prisca and Aquilla, vs. 3). 5. Cenchrea is mentioned one other time from the book of Acts.
There, Paul had his hair cut in keeping with a Nazirite
vow (Ac 18:18) B.
Was Phoebe a
Deaconess or a Servant of the church? 1. Paul wrote that Phoebe was a “servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.” The Greek word
“servant” is diákonos,
which can refer to “one who serves” or to an official title, “a Deacon,” or
in her case a “Deaconess.” 2. While Phoebe is mentioned with the church at Cenchrea, it does not necessarily mean she was a Deaconess.
If she was, the term diákonos would be in the feminine (diakonissa)
rather than the masculine (diákonos). 3. Though there is a mention of Deacons’ wives in 1Ti
3:11, the word deaconess is not used. 4. The exact same word is used of Christ in Ro 15:8 and
is translated “Servant” as it also was concerning Epaphras
(Co 1:7). 5. Therefore, diakonos seems to
best describe Phoebe’s character rather than ascribe any official title. C.
Phoebe’s
Character 1. That being the case, Phoebe was a “servant” to
Christ and the work of the church. Perhaps she had the gift of “helps” and/or
she served the Lord in her local church. 2. The church in Rome was to help Phoebe in anything
she had need of because she herself was a “helper” (prostates - lit. “to stand
aside” - a woman who renders assistance
from her resources). She had been a
help to many Christians, which included the apostle Paul himself. 3. She was to be regarded with honor that was “worthy
of the saints” and treated in likewise. III.
PAUL GREETS PRISCA
AND AQUILA (3-5) A.
Prisca and Aquila’s
Biography 1. Paul next mentions “Prisca
and Aquila,” Prisca (cp. Ro 16:3; 1Co 16:19; 2Ti
4:19) being the diminutive or shortened name for Priscilla (cp. Ac 18:2, 19,
26). Paul first met them at Corinth (Ac 18:1) because “Claudius had commanded all the
Jews to leave Rome” (Ac 18:2). After a
time they were permitted to return to Rome where they had a church in their
home (1Co 16:19; Ro 16:5a). 2. They were tent-makers, the same trade as Paul (Ac
18:3) in Corinth until sojourning to Ephesus sometime later (Ac 18:18-19). We
do not know when they became Christians, but they were considered “fellow
workers in Christ Jesus” by the time Paul wrote his first letter to the
church in Rome. 3. That they became strong Christians was evident from
the fact that they discipled Apollos
(Ac 18:26). B.
Prisca and Aquila’s
Character 1. It could be stated that Prisca
was of an outstanding character by the fact that her name almost always was
mentioned first. While they were both strong Christians and teachers, Prisca’s character emerged to the forefront. 2. After being converted, they became laborers with
Paul in the ministry. They were “fellow-workers” (sunergós - lit. work together with,
work alongside) alongside Paul.
Note that Paul referred to Prisca and Aquila, not
as fellow-workers in the occupation of tent making, but fellow-workers “in
Christ Jesus” (i.e. ministry). 3. Their loyalty to Christ and to Paul was without
measure for Paul says that they literally, “risked their own necks” (4). This
was no mere cliché because beheading was common to the Christian martyrdom of
that day. 4. So many appreciated the work that Prisca and Aquila had performed that Paul states that
“all” of the churches of the Gentiles were thankful for them. Paul included
himself. 5. Finally, we see that Prisca
and Aquila had a church “in their house” (5a). This tells us several things
about them. a) They had a strong faith and were not afraid to go
public with it, even if it meant persecution. b) They had a strong desire to see other Christians be discipled in Christ so much that they were willing to be hospitable
and open their homes to them. c) They were spiritual leaders in the church and obviously
were very instrumental in growing the church at Rome. Consequently, Paul
greets them first on his list of 27 names. IV.
OBSERVATIONS
AND APPLICATIONS A.
Would our lives
and efforts be written of in Scripture? If we
desire to be considered worthy of the saints we must be dedicated not only to
the study of the Word but also to the work of the ministry. Without such
labor, no commendation could be made in the Scriptures. It is true serving in the Lord
does not have anything to do with your salvation, but it has plenty to say
about your spirituality and sanctification. Look at the others beside Phoebe and Prisca
and Aquila: 1. Mary “worked hard” (6). 2. Andronicus and Junias, were fellow prisoners (implies they were
imprisoned for the Gospel, vs. 7). 3. Urbanus was a “fellow worker” (9). 4. Tryphaena and Tryphosa
were workers in the Lord (12a). 5. Persis had worked hard in the Lord
(12b). 6. All the rest of the 27 names who
obviously had ministered to or with Paul in one way or another. B.
Perhaps some
are asking, “What can I do?” You can do a lot and anything you do is a great
help to the ministry. It also important that a believer is to find out what
spiritual gift they have and exercise that spiritual gift in the church. One
way to find your spiritual gift is to get involved in many areas and
ministries within the church. At some point, the areas that are consistent
with your spiritual gifts will become apparent. C.
The believer
needs to be involved for his own spiritual growth. The church needs the
believer to be involved for its spiritual growth. God’s needs the believer to
be involved if He is going to commend him with, “Well done, good and faithful
servant” (Mt 25:21, 23; Lk 19:17). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
