Daily Scripture Reading Romans 16:1-27

Christians often have the mindset that those who minister to others do not need help themselves. Pastors and elders are expected to care for those in their congregation, but little thought is given as to who cares for the pastors and elders.

In today’s passage, we will read that Paul asked the Romans to help a lady who was helping others. That reminds us that while spiritually mature people need less help than those who are spiritually immature, even the most mature Christian still needs encouragement and comfort from time to time.

Paul ended chapter 15 by asking the Christians in Rome to strive together with him in prayer, so that he could be rescued from the disobedient in Judea and deliver the gift from Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem. Paul’s desire after that was to visit Rome.

Rom. 16:1 ¶ Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;

Cenchrea is mentioned in Acts 18:18 as the city where Paul had his hair cut as part of a vow.

Rom. 16:2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a benefactor of many, and of myself as well.

This verse indicates the circularity of Christianity. Phoebe was a great help to Paul and others, but Phoebe herself also needed help at times.

Christians often have the mindset that those who minister to others do not need help themselves. Pastors and elders are expected to care for those in their congregation, but little thought is given as to who cares for the pastors and elders. It is true that spiritually mature people need less help than those who are spiritually immature, but even the most mature Christian still needs encouragement and comfort from time to time.

The biblical model of church leadership is that each church be ruled by a plurality of elders. Under that model, the elders not only care for the congregation, they also care for each other.

Rom. 16:3 ¶ Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

Rom. 16:4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;

Rom. 16:5 also greet the church that is in their house.

Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned in Acts 18. They had been kicked out of Rome and met Paul in Corinth during Paul’s second missionary journey.

Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.

Rom. 16:6 Greet Mary, who has labored much for you.

Rom. 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding to the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Look at the word “kinsman”. The Bible doesn’t tell us a lot about Paul’s family, but this verse indicates he had some relatives who became Christians before Paul did. We know that Paul persecuted the church before he became a Christian. It raises the question of whether Paul was also persecuting his own relatives.

Rom. 16:8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

Rom. 16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

Rom. 16:10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

Rom. 16:11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman.

Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.

Notice again the word “kinsman”.

Rom. 16:12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord.

Greet Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.

Rom. 16:13 Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.

Look at the word “mine”. The word “mine” appears to refer to Paul’s mother.

Rom. 16:14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them.

Rom. 16:15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Rom. 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ greet you.

Rom. 16:17 ¶ Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and stumblings contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

Pay attention to the phrase “keep your eye on” as well as the phrase “turn away from them”. Paul commanded the Romans to turn away from those who were acting contrary to the teaching.

There is a mentality in modern evangelicalism that unity trumps everything. Many Christians believe the most important commandment is to be unified; thus, they do everything to be in harmony with other people, even if they have to compromise truth and biblical morality in order to do so.

Yes, the Bible talks about unity, but the Bible does not say unity is the greatest commandment. Instead, the greatest commandment is to love God. The way we love God is by obeying Him. Therefore, if we compromise biblical truth and morality in order to stay friends with someone who is leading people astray, then we are not obeying the greatest commandment which is to love God.

Rom. 16:18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own stomach, and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Rom. 16:19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all. Therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

Rom. 16:20 And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. ¶ The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Rom. 16:21 ¶ Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

Here we see the word “kinsman” again. Paul had quite a few relatives.

Rom. 16:22 ¶ I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Rom. 16:23 ¶ Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.

Rom. 16:24 [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]

Rom. 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 which has been kept secret for long ages past,

Rom. 16:26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the Gentiles, leading to obedience of faith;

Rom. 16:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

Verses 25-27 are quite a mouthful. It is one long sentence. The main idea of the sentence is the first phrase of verse 25 and then all of verse 27. The main idea is “to God be the glory forever”.

In between, from 25b-26, Paul wrote that, according to his gospel, the preaching of Jesus, and the revelation of the mystery, God is able to strengthen Christians. The mystery refers to truths revealed in the 1st century that were not revealed in the Old Testament. Paul specifically said the mystery was revealed to the Gentiles.

We were reminded in today’s passage that even the most mature Christian still needs encouragement and comfort from time to time. Yes, the role of elders is to care for the flock, but someone also has to care for the elders.

How does your church care for your elders?

What can you do to care for those who care for others?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”