The Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ

Studies in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

Lesson 33 : Paul Closes the Epistle (16:1–27)

COMMENDATION OF PHOEBE (16:1-2) – CENCHREAE – A “DEACONESS” – “TWO PURPOSES IN COMMENDING PHOEBE – ASSIST HER IN WHATEVER MATTER – A PATRON OR BENEFACTOR: PROVIDING HOUSING, FINANCIAL AID – GREETINGS TO ROMAN CHRISTIANS (16:3-16) – PAUL’S POSSIBLE PURPOSE IN THE NUMEROUS GREETINGS – “A GOLD MINE OFTEN OVERLOOKED” – PRISCILLA / PRISCA AND AQUILA – FELLOW MINISTRY WORKERS WHO “RISKED THEIR NECK” FOR PAUL – FAIRLY WEALTHY COUPLE WHO PROVIDED A MEETING PLACE FOR A HOUSE-CHURCH – EPAENETUS: FIRST CONVERT IN ASIA (EPHESUS, UNDER PRISCA / AQUILA?) – MARY: HARD WORKER IN THE MINISTRY – ANDRONICUS AND JUNIA: JEWISH HUSBAND AND WIFE (?) – PARTAKERS OF PRISON FOR THE GOSPEL, JUST AS PAUL – HIGHLY ESTEEMED AMONG THE MISSIONARY WORKERS – “IN CHRIST” BEFORE PAUL – AMPLIAS, URBANE, STACHYS, APELLES – MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF ARISTOBULUS – HERODION, FELLOW JEW – MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF NARCISSUS – TRYPHAENA AND TRYPHOSA, PERSIS, RUFUS: SON OF SIMON WHO CARRIED THE CROSS (?) – UNKNOWN BELIEVERS – PHILOLOGUS AND JULIA, NEREUS, HIS SISTER, AND OLYMPAS – THE HOLY KISS – GREETINGS FROM THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST – PRACTICAL: (1) NO “LONE RANGER” MISSIONARIES, (2) THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN – A WARNING, A PROMISE, AND A PRAYER FOR GRACE (16:17-20) – WHO WERE THESE FALSE TEACHERS? – CHARACTERISTICS: CAUSING DIVISION, TEACHING FALSE DOCTRINE; OUR RESPONSE: SHUN THEM – REASON TO SHUN THEM #1: THEY SERVE THEMSELVES AND NOT THE LORD – REASON TO SHUN THEM #2: THEY DECEIVE THE NAIVE – “INNOCENT” WITHOUT BEING NAIVE – GOD WILL BRUISE THE SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET – PAUL’S BENEDICTION PRAYER-WISH – GREETINGS FROM PAUL’S COMPANIONS (16:21-24) – TIMOTHY, LUCIUS, JASON, SOSIPATER – TERTIUS, PAUL’S EMANUENSIS – GAIUS OF CORINTH (?) – ERASTUS THE “AEDILE” (?) – QUARTUS – CLOSING DOXOLOGY (16:25-27)