Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (11.5)

The Epistle to the Romans

Romans 16:1-27 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Greetings and Love Expressed

v.l Phebe was a servant (literally "daikonos") who ministered to the sick and poor ladies in the church.

v.2  “As becometh  saints” can mean that they should receive her in a Christian manner, or it can mean that they should receive her because they were Christians.

v.4 We are not certain when Priscilla and Aquila “laid down their own necks” for Paul.

v.5 The early churches were all house churches (ie, church that is in their house). Epaenetus was the first convert (ie, first fruit) of Achaia.

v.7 We are not told of why they were imprisoned with Paul.

v.8-15 Paul mentions a long list of faithful Christians. Though we are not told what they did, God remembers each of them by name.

v.16 This was an expression of affection and mutual equality. Though we need not follow the form we should learn the principle, eg. greet one another, shake hands.

v.17 They were to be hospitable to faithful ministers but not to those that caused divisions and offences through wrong doctrines and wrong practices. They were to mark them, ie, to note their actions so that they would not be allowed to pursue their divisive practices. They were to avoid them, ie, not to fellowship with them. Every epistle in the Bible warns against false teachers!

v.18 No man is correct on every point of doctrine and we should not separate from every man that has an error in his understanding (except in the fundamental doctrines) but we must separate from those whom we believe serve their own belly using Christianity as a business.

v.19 They were obedient to ministers and therefore prone to be deceived by false teachers. They were not only to avoid doing evil but to avoid evil done unto them. They were to be wise in doing good deeds, and simple (innocent) concerning evil deeds.

v.20 Though the false teachers would cause divisions, they could rest assured that the God of peace shall give them the victory, especially, at the Day of Judgement.

v.22 Tertius was Paul’s scribe. Paul seldom wrote his letters with his own handwriting, though to authenticate his epistles he usually wrote the salutation (1CO16:21, 2TH 3:17).

v.25  Mystery does not mean something obscure or incomprehensible but rather something that was previously unknown and undiscoverable by human wisdom until revealed by God.

v.26 Obedience of faith, ie, that they should be obedient to trust Christ.

v.27 Only God's wisdom could have conceived the wonderful salvation-plan!