Romans

Lesson 16 w/AnswersRomans Chapter 16

We conclude our study of Romans with Chapter 16, one of the most fascinating chapters in the Bible that you may ever read, as it gives us unique insight into Paul and his circle of friends. You will discover some interesting things during this study, as Paul finishes his letter to the church in Rome. Make sure that you read this chapter and note something about each person Paul mentions.

Roman coin

Read Romans Chapter 16 from the Contemporary English Version (CEV) below, or from your favorite version.





Romans 16

Personal Greetings

1I have good things to say about Phoebe, who is a leader in the church at Cenchreae. 2Welcome her in a way that is proper for someone who has faith in the Lord and is one of God’s own people. Help her in any way you can. After all, she has proved to be a respected leader for many others, including me.

3Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila. They have not only served Christ Jesus together with me, 4but they have even risked their lives for me. I am grateful for them and so are all the Gentile churches. 5Greet the church that meets in their home.

Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who was the first person in Asia to have faith in Christ.

6Greet Mary, who has worked so hard for you.

7Greet my relatives Andronicus and Junias, who were in jail with me. They are highly respected by the apostles and were followers of Christ before I was.

8Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend whose faith is in the Lord.

9Greet Urbanus, who serves Christ along with us.

Greet my dear friend Stachys.

10Greet Apelles, a faithful servant of Christ.

Greet Aristobulus and his family.

11Greet Herodion, who is a relative of mine.

Greet Narcissus and the others in his family, who have faith in the Lord.

12Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who work hard for the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis. She also works hard for the Lord.

13Greet Rufus, that special servant of the Lord, and greet his mother, who has been like a mother to me.

14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, and Hermas, as well as our friends who are with them.

15Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all of God’s people who are with them.

16Be sure to give each other a warm greeting.

All of Christ’s churches greet you.

17My friends, I beg you to watch out for anyone who causes trouble and divides the church by refusing to do what all of you were taught. Stay away from them! 18They want to serve themselves and not Christ the Lord. Their flattery and fancy talk fool people who don’t know any better. 19I am glad that everyone knows how well you obey the Lord. But still, I want you to understand what is good and not have anything to do with evil. 20Then God, who gives peace, will soon crush Satan under your feet. I pray that our Lord Jesus will be kind to you.

21Timothy, who works with me, sends his greetings, and so do my relatives, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater.

22I, Tertius, also send my greetings. I am a follower of the Lord, and I wrote this letter.

23-24Gaius welcomes me and the whole church into his home, and he sends his greetings.

Erastus, the city treasurer, and our dear friend Quartus send their greetings too.
Paul’s Closing Prayer

25Praise God! He can make you strong by means of my good news, which is the message about Jesus Christ. For ages and ages this message was kept secret, 26but now at last it has been told. The eternal God commanded his prophets to write about the good news, so that all nations would obey and have faith. 27And now, because of Jesus Christ, we can praise the only wise God forever! Amen.

© Copyright 1995 by American Bible Society


Now answer the following questions related to the people whom Paul has endorsed to the believers in Rome:

  1. The first of Paul’s friends and co-workers that we encounter is a lady named Phoebe—she is the one delivering this letter to the Romans. What role does Paul say that she has in the church?
    1. ANSWER: He informs us that she is a leader in the church, and specifically the Greek word he used means she served in the role of Deacon. Here’s an excellent example of women serving in a leadership position and being given the honor of caring Paul’s letter to Rome. Her church was located in Cenchreae, the seaport east of Corinth.
  2. Paul now lists the other co-workers (25 people, plus families) that he is recommending to the church at Rome in Romans 16 verses 3 through 16. Read through the list below and note who each of these associates were. We can also infer from this long list of the people Paul both worked with and had a close personal relationship with, that he was not a "one man show." Note that many of his recommended associates were women, unlike the custom of the day that devalued women and their role in society. Paul did not take that approach, just as Jesus did not. As a result, his friends and associates came from a wide variety of ethnic groups.
    1. Who did Paul say had worked with him and risked their lives for him?
      1. ANSWER: Priscilla and Aquila.
    2. Who was the first person in Asia to be saved through Christ?
      1. ANSWER: Epaenetus.
    3. Who were the "relatives," or Jewish friends, who were in jail with him?
      1. ANSWER: Andronicus and Junias.
    4. Who else did Paul say was a "relative," or Jewish friend, of his?
      1. ANSWER: Herodian.
    5. Paul mentions two men and also their families. Unlike the other folks that he has recommended, he also recommends the families of these two men. What are their names?
      1. ANSWER: Aristobulus and Narcissus and their families.
    6. Paul also describes someone as a "special servant of the Lord." Who is that?
      1. ANSWER: Rufus.
    7. Who wrote this letter as Paul dictated it?
      1. ANSWER: Tertius.
    8. Who else sent greetings to the church in Rome?
      1. ANSWER: Timothy, the pastor at Ephesus; as well as Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater.
    9. Who has the church in his home and welcomes Paul in Corinth?
      1. ANSWER: Gaius
    10. Who was the Corinth City Treasurer whom Paul also commended?
      1. ANSWER: Erastus. In some Bible versions, he is referred to as the director of public works—literally, the city’s steward.

In his letter, Paul implores them to be aware of false teachers, and tells them that he wants them to know that God is going to crush Satan under his feet. Paul concludes by again telling them that, in the past, the Gospel was kept secret; but "now at last it has been told." This previously-unknown truth—that Jesus is the promised Messiah—is now being widely proclaimed to both the Jews and the Gentiles, so that "all nations would obey and have faith."

What a powerful letter Paul has written—full of judgment, instruction, and, most of all, full of God’s grace. This great grace is available to all who will believe on the name of Jesus.

Let’s conclude our study of Romans by reading three key texts from the New International Version (NIV):

  • Joel 2:32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
  • Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
  • Romans 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

What a marvelous promise from God: salvation is open to all! Let’s get that word out to everyone with the same zeal and determination that Paul and his fellow workers possessed. What a glorious study indeed!

May God bless you as you continue to study His Holy Word with us.

In Christ,

Wes

[2016]

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