Here are the saints I am standing with
Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
This word "commend" means to stand with. This is the conclusion. Romans is the gospel, it begins with us being saved, it continues with the church being formed, this shows how Jews can be faithful to their covenant with God and become Christian and it shows how God will have mercy on horrible sinners to also build them into the church, and the conclusion is that we stand together according to the will of God. Phebe is only mentioned in this chapter in the New Testament. To mention a sister who is a servant of the church that Paul stands with, that is one of the unique burdens of Romans.
2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
In the gospel we learned there are many gifts of the spirit, many functions, and the conclusion is that your ministry should succour many. The word means a woman who is set over others to guard them and assist them with her resources. That is a good description of the church of God. This word is unique to the book of Romans. Every book in the New Testament has words unique to that book and these words reveal the unique burden or agenda of each book. After 16 chapters to become a guardian and protector of many is the unique agenda of Romans.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
This word helper is used three times in this chapter, it means coworker.
4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
The first use of this word for necks is in Matthew 18 where the Lord said that those who offend one child should have a millstone hung around their neck and they be cast into the sea. The Lord was talking about the most heinous sin, and yet here they risk their necks. Satan wants to portray Christians as the most heinous sinners. Remember the vaccine that was "safe and effective" and would give you the "highest protection" against the Covid19 virus? Remember how those who had not been vaccinated were outcasts and seen as putting everyone else at risk. If the vaccine has protected you from the virus why would the unvaccinated put you at risk? And that is the reason, because they would ask questions like that. They would help inoculate you from the mind virus that Satan wants to infect you with. In the same way to stand with Paul involves being accused of being the worst of the worst. Think of how anyone who is absolute in following the Lord is accused of being in a cult.
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
The chapter begins by mentioning Phebe, a servant of the church, the only place she is mentioned, and then it refers to Epaenetus, the first person saved in that church, also the only place he is mentioned in the New Testament. If we are a healthy, normal church we will have those serving the church and we will have fruit. Paul calls him the "firstfruits" which in the Bible are given to God.
6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
This word "greet" is a very common word. We are told in Matthew when we come into a house to "greet it". In Timothy Paul says that the things he has taught us are so that we would know how to behave in the house of God. At our church we have "greeters", this is according to the word of God. We are told here to greet the saints, and to greet the house. This word can also be translated as "salute". In Matthew they saluted Jesus saying "Hail to the King of the Jews". We are also to greet Jesus, our King. In Acts Paul salutes the church. In another place this word is translated "embraced" and it is used when people part and say goodbye. This word is used 16 times in this chapter, far more than any other chapter in the Bible. Paul is demonstrating how to behave in the church of God.
7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Wow! The use of among indicates that these two were with the apostles before Paul was saved. They were with the early church, probably in Jerusalem, before the gospel went to the Gentiles and before Paul began raising up churches. So when Paul is going around terrorizing the churches, two of his kinsmen were in the church with the apostles. It is very likely they prayed for Paul. This word "of note" means "notable". In other words the apostles John and James and Peter probably knew these two. They are also Paul's fellow prisoners. In the world the people who are "of note" are given an award, a plaque, or a trophy at an award banquet. In the church those who are of note are those who are fellow prisoners of the apostolic ministry. This is what the Lord says in Matthew that we should rejoice when we are persecuted for speaking the word of God because this means we are now "of note" among the prophets.
8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
About 31 of the names in this chapter are only mentioned here. This is the way the church is, most of us labor in obscurity, we have very few who are Paul, or Peter or Timothy. Those ones are targets. Satan is not omniscient, only God is. This is very helpful to be one of the 31 in obscurity rather than the two or three that are targets.
9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
Imagine we are all raptured to the heavens at the big wedding banquet and the Lord begins to say this. It is the equivalent of "well done, thou good and faithful servant". Imagine being someone that no one knows, no one has ever heard of and yet the Lord knows you and appreciates your service.
16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
This chapter is "not the world", it is not "the antichrist kingdom". That kingdom is controlled by fear and they keep everyone in the dark about what everyone else is doing. In the Kingdom of the heavens we serve according to love and we walk in the light.
