Leon Morris explains that this section demonstrates that the Letter to the Romans “was a letter to real people and, as far as we can see, ordinary people; it was not written to professional theologians.”

After such a thorough letter, we get a glimpse into what the early church in Rome was like.

Convergence of people, all strata, all backgrounds, alive.

Paul greets so many people by name.

This shows us a lot about who he was as a person, as a pastor, Apostle.

Romans 16:1–16 (ESV) Personal Greetings

16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

• Phoebe. Bright one.
• Patron of many – admirable.
• Cenchreae was a port of Corinth, and a church must have bloomed there.
• Welcome her – People needed to be vouched for. Inn’s were bad news. Fraudsters would also take advantage of Christian’s hospitality and generosity, so it helps to be vouched for.
• She may have been the courier of this letter to Rome.
• Patron of many and of myself.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house.

• Prisca and Aquila! 6 times, three by Paul three by Luke.
• Always mentioned together - Usually Priscilla is mentioned before Aquila? – Personality?
• Tent makers, met in Corinth.
• From Rome, banished by Claudia’s, 2 years later in Ephesus, now returned to Rome.
• Instructed Apollos – Discipling couple.
• Risked their necks – amazing.
• Greet the church in their house.

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

• First convert in Asia Minor, (all the cities in Revelation 2-3) now in Rome.

6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

• Hard work is repeatedly mentioned by Paul.
• Worked hard… for you. – Imagine the reverse?
• What was there to do in the early church? Mainly service.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.

• Kinsman. Jews? Maybe more than that, the word is also used mentioning Herodian, Jason, and Sosipater,
• Fellow prisoners – Deep bond. Spending time in prison together will do that.
• Well known to the apostles
• First.

8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

• Perhaps a slave – Lightfoot dug into as much as he could find on these people and mentions one.

9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.

• Urbanus - Common Roman name.
• Unusual Greek name (corn)

10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.

• Tried and proven true/trustworthy

Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.

• Belong to the family of
• Aristobulus… father who didn’t know the Lord.
• Lightfoot believed this to be of the family of the herods
• May have been brother of Agrippa 1 / grandson of Herod the great.

11 Greet my kinsman Herodion.

• Apelles may have been Abel, Jewish name.

Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus.

• What a name.
• In the Lord, Barclay and Lightfoot think he was secretary to emperor Claudias.
• If this are all true…apelles, aristobulus etc, then there were multiple believers in the royal circles.
• 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you•, especially those of Caesar’s household. (Philippians 4:21–22, ESV)

12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa.

• Delicate and Dainty. Probably twin.

Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.

• Hard work

13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.

• Chosen
• A mother to me as well

14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.

• We don't know anything about these guys.

15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

• Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, the mother of Rufus, and Julia. These are women who worked for the Lord.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

• ONE ANOTHER
• Muah!