16:1 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.
This chapter is rarely taught, perhaps due to the lack of knowledge regarding most of the names mentioned. Here we are introduced to Phoebe, a deaconess at the church at Cenchreae (the eastern harbor of Corinth on the Saronic Gulf about seven miles east of Corinth), possibly a church started by the church in Corinth (see Acts 18:18). Paul asks that she be commended for her work in the church but also as the person who brought them this epistle. He asks that she be taken care of and given anything she needs.
16:3 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. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 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. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Paul lists 26 different individuals and five related people groups in these 14 verses that he wishes to greet (Greek ‘aspázomai’, to embrace, to salute, etc.) Asking them to greet one another with a holy kiss (a kiss was the acceptable and standard way to greet someone in that time period, however, only rarely mouth to mouth). What makes a kiss a holy kiss is not known; it is considered a kiss of affection but not romantic (see 1 Peter 5:14).
With the exception of Prisca and Aquila (see Acts 18:2, 18, 26; 2 Timothy 4:9); the church in their house (see 1 Corinthians 16:19); Rufus (see Mark 15:21); Hermes (see Acts 14:12); and possibly Mary (common name in Scripture), this is the only location where these people appear in the Bible.
16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Now in his final instructions, Paul pleads with his readers to watch out for and avoid people that cause division within the church and those that create theological obstacles that are contrary to the gospel message. As these individuals do not serve Jesus, only their own appetites (Greek ‘koilía’, stomach, referring to self-gratification, physical lusts and desires). Paul explains that they use smooth talk and flattery to deceive those that are naïve. How is that possible? Without knowledge of the Word of God, people can be influenced to believe a wide variety of misconceptions, especially if taught by someone vulnerable to deception themselves and gifted in the art of persuasion. Where do these people come from? Sadly, from within the church.
In Jude 4 we read, “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” The phrase the ESV uses to translate the Greek word ‘pareisdyō’ is a perfect description of someone who, desiring to enter quietly without being noticed, creeps into a church or perhaps unsuspectedly into a Christian’s life. Jude says they were long ago condemned (God knew from the beginning of time who would be against Him, see also 1 Peter 2:6-8). Jude also calls these individuals, “ungodly people” who pervert the grace of God (see also Galatians 2:2-5 and 2 Peter 2:1-3). The Greek word ‘metatithēmai’ (translated here as ‘pervert’) can also be translated as ‘exchange’ or ‘change’. If God’s grace is changed or perverted in any way, it doesn’t take a scholar to see that it could change the way people see and understand God. We need to remember that religion is man’s attempt to reach God, however in reality, Jesus did all the work and provided the way, in simple terms, Christianity is about a relationship. Since grace is a free gift that we do not deserve, many people attempt to earn their salvation by adding some procedure or process (also known as ritual) in their lives, thus perverting God’s grace. We are not to let any ritual, tradition or any other ‘process’ interfere in our relationship with Jesus or cause us to take your eyes off Jesus.
The Bible clearly teaches that some of the church’s greatest challenges will come from within the church. For example, in chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation we see that five of the seven churches that received letters dictated by Jesus, point out problems from within the church (Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea). Plus, we see that Jesus and each of the epistle writers, including Paul, all spoke about the problem of false teaching and the existence of otherwise evil influences coming in the church.
How do ideas, teachings, perversions and other heresies enter the church or a Christian’s life unnoticed? One way has been through our humanity and trust in the world instead of God, often fueled by our sinful and lustful side of life. The other, and quite possibly the biggest problem of the church throughout its history, Biblical ignorance. If Paul and all of the epistle writers were concerned about corruption, perversion and deception near the beginning of Christianity, we can easily see how it has mutated into innumerable divisions, denominations and variations. Some remain true to God’s Word, while sadly, many have deviated away from the truth. How can this be fixed? Only by the Holy Spirit. Through prayer, reading and studying the Bible and dedicate our lives to Jesus. Ignorance can only be replaced with sound knowledge, Christians need to spend time in or go back to the only book that counts, the Bible.
18:19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The church in Rome was apparently well respected by other churches and their obedience to Jesus and God’s Word was well known. Paul acknowledged their practice by saying he rejoices over them but then warns them to be wise in their discernment of what is good and remain innocent from doing what is evil. Paul understood that the best way to remain in compliance with what Jesus taught was to always be thinking of Him and doing those things He calls us to do (see Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:4-7; Colossians 4:2-4). It is only when we are distracted when we take our eyes off Jesus. He encourages them by saying that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under their feet (same reference to God he used in Romans 15:33). The word ‘soon’ is the Greek “en táchei,” refers to something done quickly (see Acts 12:7; 12:18), not necessarily something done in a short period of time. The message is simply that even though God is victorious over Satan, there is work that needs to be done. Work that can only be done through the grace offered by Jesus.
16:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
Paul now lists those that wish to convey greetings to the people of the church in Rome. Beginning with Paul’s protégé and fellow worker (see Acts 16:1-5 and the books of 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy). Then Lucius who is mentioned in Acts 13:1; and Jason was a key figure during the uproar in Ephesus (see Acts 17:1-9); but there is no previous mention of Sosipater (although there was a Sopater mentioned in Acts 20:4-6, which may be a shorter way to say Sosipater). The person writing this letter for Paul was apparently Tertius, whose name only appears this one time in Scripture. Gaius, on the other hand, appears regularly in the Biblical text (see Acts 19:29; 20:4; 1 Corinthians 1:14; 3 John 1); as well as Erastus (see Acts 19:22; 2 Timothy 4:20); however very little is known about Quartus, as his name only appears here.
16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
The word ‘doxology’ comes from the Greek ‘dóxa’, meaning to think, recognize, referring to one’s favorable opinion of something. The word can be found 166 times in the New Testament, 16 times in the book of Romans, and is most often translated as ‘glory’, as it is here in verse 27. Today the term doxology, depending on denomination or group, is often connected to a hymn or some order of worship. However, in the Bible when a section of text is called a Doxology by the translator, it is usually a short (and often concise) statement of praise to God.
Here Paul identifies God as being able to strengthen them as taught by Jesus and the gospel to preach Jesus as the Christ according to the revelation (Greek ‘apokálupsis’, unveiling) of the mystery (Greek ‘mustērion’, something hidden) that had been a secret since the beginning of time (see 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2), but now has been disclosed and made known through the Bible’s prophetic writings and by command of God the Father, the revealing of the church and the gospel message to all nations, offering salvation to those who believe and have faith in Jesus. All glory, praise and honor belong to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ!