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Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word:

Romans 16:1-15 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 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. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 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. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us. 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. 8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 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 labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored 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.

To be honest with you, there are parts of the Bible that I skim through, parts that I find difficult to read. Those parts are what I call the phone books of the Bible. Younger people have no idea what a “phone book” is, but when I was growing up you had phone books. These were thick, alphabetized books where everyone who had a phone number was placed in it. Unless you paid the phone company extra, everyone had access to your phone number. It was in the Phone Book!

As you go through the Bible, there are lists of names, often hard to pronounce, written in the Book. You find lists like this in Genesis, Exodus, Chronicles, Nehemiah, Matthew and Luke. One of the greatest lists of names is in the Book of Numbers. Name after names is listed, like:

Numbers 1:5-8 (LSB) of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; of Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar ….

and it goes on and on. I confess I get sleepy reading the names. I used to wonder, “Why did God think I needed to know these people? Why didn’t He tell me more about them?” The truth is, the name is important because God put it in the Book. God put it in the Book because He wanted us to know something about that person and their way of life.

As we come to Paul’s second Amen we see a list of names that we might skip over. But if we do, we will rob ourselves of great truth that can bless us. As Paul introduces these people to the Church at Rome, he uses the same Greek word over and over again:

aspazomai

The King James sometimes translates this word as “Greet”, and other times as “Salute”. The word can mean either of these things, but it actually has a deeper meaning. It means “to receive and embrace”. The word is not just a handshake, but a drawing of someone to yourself as family, to receive with joy and welcome. The word was used to describe Jesus when He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The Bible says that the crowd:

Mark 15:18 (KJV).. began to SALUTE {aspazomai} him, Hail, King of the Jews!

Each of the people that Paul addresses have something in common. They are Christ followers who love the Lord. They are unknown to Rome, and unknown to us, but they are known to Paul and to God. Their names are written in this Book because their names are written in the Book of Life. And we know that they are saved because the fruit of their lives glorifies the Lord Jesus!

These Believers Served The Lord They Loved

Romans 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a SERVANT of the church which is at Cenchrea: 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.

As Feminism has taken over our modern age, people have begun to attack and second guess the writings of the Scripture. In particular, many have declared the writings of the Apostle Paul to be homophobic or woman hating. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Paul wrote as God the Holy Spirit gave him direction. In 1 Corinthians 14:37 the Apostle wrote:

“If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge the things that I AM WRITING TO YOU ARE A COMMAND OF THE LORD” (ESV).

Paul didn’t just make up stuff, or write of his opinion (unless he clearly said it was his opinion). Paul wrote referencing the written Word of God (the Bible) and the Living Word of God (Jesus).

Feminists and liberals “progressives” point to what Paul wrote in:

1 Timothy 2:11-15 (KJV) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve. [14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. [15] Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Following this, God established the parameters of the two offices of the Church, the Pastor and the Deacon (see 1 Timothy 3:1-13). The Overseer or Pastor is to share the Word of God and to minister, and the Office of Deacon to aid the Pastor. The Deacons are to handle the physical needs of the Church, whereas the Pastors are to “give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word”. Pastors are “Overseers”, made so by God the Holy Spirit. The command given the Pastors is:

Acts 20:28-31 (KJV) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. [29] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. [31] Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

God calls MEN to be leaders in His Church. This doesn’t mean that women aren’t appreciated, but Paul goes back to Genesis when he speaks of leadership. “Adam was first formed, then Eve”. It was to Adam that God gave the command, “Do not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17), not Eve. It was MAN’S sin that brought evil into the world, not WOMAN’S. In the Creation order, God made man to lead, and woman to support.

Did Paul hate women? No! As he commends those who serve well in the Church, he commends Phebe first. Paul trusted Phebe so much that he gave the Book of Romans to her to carry it to the Church at Rome!

Phebe was from the Church at Cenchrea {Kegchreai, pronounced keng-khreh-a’-hee}, which was a harbor on the eastern side of Corinth. Paul wrote the Book of Romans while at Cenchrea/ Corinth {keng-khreh-a’-hee}, and gave the Book to Phebe to carry to it to the Church at Rome.

Paul calls Phebe a “servant of the Church”, and she was. The Roman Empire had no postal service, so Phebe provided a vital service to the Church of Christ. Paul asked the Church at Rome to “receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints”, to show her hospitality, and to provide her a place to stay. Phebe puts us in mind of the women who supported Jesus when He walked this earth. Had His mother Mary refused to be used of God, Christ would not have been born a a virgin, fulfilling prophecy (Luke 1:26-38). When Jesus was eight days old Anna proclaimed Him Messiah (Luke 2:36-38) in the Temple. The Bible tells us that many women provided for Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 27:55; Mark 15:41), and some of these women are named:

Luke 8:2-3 (ESV) and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod ‘s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Why did God choose Phebe to deliver Paul’s letter to the Roman Church, and not a man? Because Phebe was doing as a Christian should do, honoring the Lord Jesus by serving Him through the Apostle.

God Uses Couples As Missionaries

Romans 16:3-5 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 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. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

Phebe was probably Greek, since she was from Cenchrea {keng-khreh-a’-hee} in Corinth, a Gentile area. Aquila and Priscilla were Jews, cast out of Rome by the decree of Claudius Caesar (Acts 18:2). When Paul came to Cenchrea {keng-khreh-a’-hee} on his second missionary journey, he was assisted by Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:18-19). By helping Paul this missionary couple was “laying down their own necks”. Paul was considered a traitor to the followers of Judaism, and a threat to the Roman Empire. By yoking themselves with Paul, they were risking their lives. When Paul traveled to Ephesus, he stayed in the home of “Priscilla and Aquila”, establishing a Church in their home (1 Corinthians 16:19).

God Calls Slaves To Serve Him

Romans 16:5 … Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

“Epaenetus” (the Greek Epainetos [pro. ep-a’-hee-net-os]) was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Though a Gentile, Paul calls him “well-beloved” (Greek agapētos), a word that God the Father used for Jesus (Matthew 3:17, “this is my BELOVED (agapētos) Son, in Whom I am well pleased”).

Epaenetus was a servant or a slave in the household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15), and this was the only household that Paul baptized (1 Corinthians 1:16). Epaenetus would later be granted his freedom, and as a freeman would serve the Lord Jesus by assisting Paul. The Bible says that:

Galatians 3:28 (KJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 (KJV) … there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.

When we see Epaenetus we are reminded that there are no second class citizens in the Kingdom of God. If you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, you are just as important as anyone else. “There is no iniquity with the LORD our God, NOR RESPECT OF PERSONS” (2 Chronicles 19:7; Romans 2:11). He “without respect of persons judges according to every person’s work” (1 Peter 1:17).

God Calls Without Regard To Race Or Gender

Romans 16:6 Greet Mary {Maria or Miriam}, who bestowed much labor on us.

We do not know who “Mary” is, as this was a popular name among the Jews. In the Gospels we see there are:

Mary the mother of Jesus
Mary from Magdala
Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus
Mary of Cleophas, the mother of James the less
Mary the mother of John Mark, the sister of Barnabas

Some believe this is a Mary of Rome. I don’t think so. Paul is introducing these people to the Church at Rome. If she was well known, Paul would have no need to introduce her. The truth is, we don’t know who this Mary is, nor exactly what Mary did. I think this is by design.

Mary represents the crowd of believers who quietly work behind the scenes to the glory of God. They may never be known, never be famous. But their names are written in Heaven, and they will wear a crown in glory because of tireless dedication to Jesus.

God Calls Unknowns, Anonymous, Little Known People

Romans 16:7-9 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen {syngenēs}, 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 Salute URBANE, our helper in Christ, and STACHYS my beloved.

When you hear the names “Billy Graham, John MacArthur, Charles Stanley”, everyone knows who they are (unless you’re Amish). But no one knows who these people are – no one but God and the Apostles. “Andronicus and Junia” are male and female, as Andronicus is a masculine noun and Junia a feminine noun. Their names are of Latin origin, so they are probably Gentiles and not Jews. Paul calls them “my kinsmen”, the Greek syngenēs, which means “my fellow countrymen”. Paul was a Roman citizen, and these were Roman citizens. They had also been imprisoned at some time for loving Jesus and preaching the Gospel, just as Paul had been in bondage (2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:3). These Christians stepped outside their comfort zone, suffering for the cause of Christ. They were saved before Paul was saved, and worked with the Apostles, supporting the early growth of the Church.

Beloved, those whom Christ calls to salvation, He calls to suffering and pain. We are not called to comfort, but to be light in the midst of darkness. It is easy to go with the river, with the world. We are called to go with God!

1 Peter 2:20-21 (ESV) For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Our Lord Jesus told us to “count the cost” before coming to Him. He said:

Luke 14:26-33 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

The nature of Repentance is that you give your life to Jesus. You surrender yourself, and follow Him. You probably will never be famous. In fact, you’ll probably be hated! We know nothing about “AMPLIAS, URBANE or STACHYS”. As for the other names in this extensive list:

Romans 16:10-15 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 labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored 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.

The commentaries tell me nothing about these people. Who are they? What family did they come from? Where were they born? How did they die? Where are their earthly remains buried? We do not know. Bible scholars have made educated guesses, but the truth is you will not know all about these people until you get to Heaven.

These people all had one thing in common: They loved and received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Their names are written in the Book of Life by the Blood of the Lamb. We will meet them one day in glory, IF our names are in the book.Is YOUR NAME in the Book of Life?

When Paul wrote the Church at Philippi, he mentioned other unknown people who served the Lord with him. Paul wrote:

Philippians 4:1-3 (KJV) Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, [my] dearly beloved. [2] I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. [3] And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellowlabourers, whose names [are] in the book of life.

Paul knew that these people had their names written in the Book of Life, and commanded that they “stand fast in the Lord”. Those who are saved cling to Jesus! He told them, “be of the same mind in the Lord”. Those who are saved cling to one another! They work together with one common goal. Paul said, they “labored with me in the gospel”. They did not languish, they labored. They worked to promote the Kingdom of Christ.

Those Who Are In The Book Of Life Are
In One Accord With Jesus

Romans 16:16-17 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Word Study: What binds believers together is not opinion, but DOCTRINE, the Greek didachē which means “Biblical teaching”. The Apostle warns believers to examine those around them. If the believers around you are not living according to the clear teachings of God’s Word, if these reported “believers” are causing “DIVISIONS {dichostasia} and OFFENSES {skandalon}”, then we are to withdraw fellowship from them.

We are not to cater to the Biblically divisive and scandalous crowd. We are to AVOID THEM.

When you as believers cater to that which the Bible warns against, you aid in the spread of cancer throughout the Body of Christ. This is what happened in Corinth. Paul told the Corinthian believers:

1 Corinthians 3:3 (NKJV) … for you are still carnal. For where [there are] envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like [mere] men?

The Church of Jesus Christ is able to defeat Satan, “Bruising him under your feet” (Romans 16:20), but NOT if you tolerate those who do not live according to the rule of Christ’s Word. Paul says of these divisive pretenders:

Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

People who are always rejecting God’s Word, who are always complaining and finding fault, they are not serving Jesus. They are serving themselves. They are in our midst to “deceive the hearts of the simple”. Paul marked those who worked with him and the Apostles in spreading the Gospel of Christ. He commended them to the Roman Church. But those who stand against God’s Word …. stand against them in love. Rebuke them in the name of Jesus, and pray that they might repent while they can.

Beloved, if your name is in the Book of Life, then you love this Bible, this Book that leads to eternal life. If you don’t, dear friend, I suspect that your name is not in the Book. And that saddens me, for you will leave this life and burn forever and ever. Please repent today. Turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and follow His Word daily. May Christ bless your hearts. Amen.