By Pastor Rich Paradis
As
we continue in this letter, we move toward it conclusion, and will now be asked
to consider a long list of folks that Paul has on his heart. We will most
likely be struck by the fact that a lot of the names on this list are hard to
say and even harder to necessarily recognize! Who are these folks? While a few
of them will be recognizable to us, all of them were not only recognizable but
also important to Paul. He is teaching us a valuable lesson here as he offers
this list at the end of one of the most theological letters of all of his
writing: People are important to gospel ministry!
I.
Some
Introductory Thoughts
a.
In
a time where many of the personal parts of life seem to be gone, (i.e. knowing
your neighbors, engaging those that you come in contact with, etc.) there is a
wonderful opportunity for us to discuss the priority of people in gospel
ministry. I recently read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s little book “Wait ‘Til Next
Year”. It was an interesting story of her own life growing up in the greater
New York City area and it was filled with folks that she had lived life with
and had affected her life in many ways.
b.
In
a similar way, Paul will take some time at the end of a very theologically reasoned
letter to demonstrate that part of being a theologian, church planter,
missionary and Christian is to know and love other believers.
c.
Paul
would appear from the letter itself to be all of the things listed above, but
he would also appear to be a “people person” in all of the best ways. He was
not a name-dropper, he was a “fellow worker”. He was not a “user of people”, he
was a friend and lover of people. And the list will continue as the chapter
unfolds.
d.
Do
you love people? As we concluded chapter 15, I challenged us to think through
those in our spiritual journeys that we were indebted to. The Gentiles of
Macedonia and Achaia were indebted and grateful to the Jewish believers that
had ministered the gospel to them. With this in mind, they were sending an
offering by way of Paul to those that were hurting in Jerusalem. Paul would
deliver this offering to them personally before his desired departure for Rome
and ultimately Spain.
e.
Theology
and people don’t have to, and shouldn’t be placed, at opposite ends of the
relational scale. People are who Jesus came to die for! People will be the ones
that will spend eternity in heaven with Him!! People can and do make a big
difference to those that are committed to being “living sacrifices” and
“offering oneself as an offering of worship to God”.
II.
A
Few People We Do Recognize Romans 16:1-4
a.
As
the chapter opens, we are introduced to the one who delivered the letter to the
Roman churches to them, Phoebe. Verse 1
gives a bit more information on her as we find out that she was a servant of
the church which is at Cenchrea. This seaport town is about 6-8 miles east of
Corinth, the place of writing of this letter by Paul.
b.
The
word “servant” is interesting in this verse and has led to some ongoing
discussion in the church. The word is “diakonos”, from which we get our word
“deacon”. Do we have a woman deacon or do we have a woman who is servant who
ministers to those that are hurting around and in the church? We don’t know,
but we are given some clue that this woman was evidently recognized by the
church in this servant role as she is introduced as a “servant of the church”.
But without question, Paul is not recognizing her position in the church as much
as he is recognizing her helping spirit in and around the church. She has been
a helper of many according to Verse 2,
even to Paul himself. The appeal of Paul is to help her in any way that she may
have need because she has been a helper to so many others.
c.
Next
on the list is Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila. Verse 3 introduces them as “fellow workers in Christ Jesus”. Acts
18:2 shares with us the occasion of their meeting Paul. The Jews had been
ordered out of Rome by the Emperor Claudius, so they made their way to Corinth
and Paul connected with them during his 2nd Missionary journey. They
were tentmakers and Paul had been taught this same skill as a youth, as was the
custom of the day to teach your sons a manual trade whether rich or poor. But
they are not being recognized for merely working together in the tent making
trade. They are being recognized by Paul for the work that they did together
for the gospel.
d.
We
read in the next verse of these two fellow believers and workers “risking their
own neck”. For what we are not sure, nor does the text tell us, but Verse 4 says that whatever this act or
series of acts was it benefitted many and was well known. Both Paul himself and
all of the Gentile churches both knew about it and appreciated it.
III.
A
Bunch of People That We Don’t Recognize (But Paul Does!) Romans
16:5-15
a.
As
the list goes on, there are now a number of people listed that we know either
very little about, or nothing beyond the fact that Paul noted them as important
to his ministry.
b.
It
is interesting to note a few things about this list though.
i.
It
is extremely diversified. There are males, females, slaves, freedmen, Jews,
Gentiles, well-to-do, and well thought of included. I think we are getting an
interesting view of the church at Rome as we hear this list unfold.
ii.
There
is a predominant mention of women in it. A third of those mentioned are women.
All of the ones described as “hard-working” are women.
iii.
House
churches are mentioned at least once, and perhaps either 3 or 5 times depending
on your thoughts on Verses 10-11 and 14-15. These houses churches don’t seem to
be segregated to Jewish and Gentile factions, probably some of the reason for
the “stronger and weaker” brother conversations already.
iv.
Paul
is speaking in very intimate terms with them. He is very honest, affirming and
positive in his recognitions. Words like beloved, hard-working, kinsmen,
approved, choice man, and brethren are wonderful terms that any of us would
love to be known by another for.
c.
Without
taking the time to look at each of these folks, again we have demonstrated for
us the scope of Paul’s relationships. He is a man that loves the Lord and loves
people!
IV.
A
Practice That We Don’t Continue (Or Do We?) Today Romans
16:16
a.
As
Paul closes this paragraph, he shares a term that strikes terror in many of us.
That term, in Verse 16, is that of a
holy kiss. What does this mean? Are we
supposed to be doing that too? Let’s look…
b.
The
first word is “holy”. It means “containing nothing objectionable or debatable,
the kiss spoken of here would have been of the purest love”.
c.
The
second word is “kiss”. It means “the kiss with which, as a sign of fraternal
affection, Christians were accustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in
the faith”.
d.
This
“holy kiss” was a sign of affection, contemporary with the times and the
culture that demonstrated the connection that was had with both the Lord and
one another.
e.
Should
we do that today? Of course we should! Why? Because people are an important
part of gospel ministry!!
V.
An
Application For All Of Us
a.
Who
are those folks that you have served alongside of “in Christ” that have made a
big difference?
b.
Would
anyone list you on their list of “commendations”?
c.
Are
you careful to recognize those that matter to you spiritually? If not, how
could you improve that part of your ministry going forward?
d.
Do
you take time and effort to receive and offer signs of affection that reflect
both holiness and love for those that you care for?
e.
What
difference could the reading of Paul’s list make for a believer? A
non-believer?
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