Romans 16:1-27
1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are 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. The churches of Christ greet you.
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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 kept secret since the world began
26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—
27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
Though he hadn’t yet been to the Roman church, there were so many that he apparently knew and had great affection for. It would seem that here in the last comments Paul was revealing a great source of inspiration for the wonderful revelation shared in this letter. He was obviously very passionate about each of those that would be effected by his communication. He had a very healthy understanding of his ministry, the need for it, and how important what he had to say was to their spiritual growth and triumph. This importance wasn’t just associated with a bunch of faces remembered from somewhere or another that had come together in this place. He remembered and stated their names and then included all who had been influenced by them already. It seems that greeting wasn’t just a nice friendly thing to do. It was an expression and establishment of heart connection that enabled effectiveness in his anointing. After the listing of all the greetings, there is an inspired warning, exhortation, and descriptive praise. All are admirable expressions, but more than that, they are demonstrated keys to remaining humble, authentic, and inspired. So often in ministry, the focus and purpose can become about the minister over the ones they’re called to actually care for. In Paul, as in Christ, we have demonstration to be emulated that brings much greater purpose and impact – a heart of service over a heart to be served.
I had never looked at this passage like this before, but Paul went all over the place preaching to the churches. Yet when he wrote this letter he knew people by name and named them! It really just spoke to my heart about how important our relationships are in the body of Christ, and how we should know the ones were connected with, and be invested in them.