<\/p>\n
Topic: Greetings, Honour and Final Benediction<\/strong> Introduction<\/strong> Greeting the Saints (16:1 \u2013 16)<\/strong> Phoebe was evidently a deaconess on her way to Rome, and hence the carrier of the letter. \u201cReceive her\u2026give her any help she may need\u201d (verse 2) are good instructions for believers today. Paul was simply asking the saints to help her.<\/p>\n Priscilla and Aquila were very dear friends to Paul. You can read about them in Acts 18, 1 Corinthians 16:19 and 2 Timothy 4:19. The incident where these two saints risked their lives for Paul (verse 4) is not recorded in the New Testament. Priscilla and Aquila had earlier left Rome because of persecution. They had met Paul in Corinth, and now were building a church in their house back in Rome.<\/p>\n Nine women are mentioned in this chapter (verses 1,3,6,12,13 and 15). Some critics have accused Paul of being \u201cagainst women,\u201d but no man ever did more to free women from heathen slavery and dignify them in the manner God intended from the beginning. Paul teaches that women have a special and important place in the ministry of the local church.<\/p>\n In three verses, Paul mentions his \u201crelatives\u201d (verses 7, 11 and 21). This does not necessarily mean a blood relative, but more likely fellow Jews, possibly of the tribe of Benjamin. Verse 7 mentions two men who were saved before Paul was, and were also noted by the apostles. They were not apostles themselves, but were held in honor among the apostles.<\/p>\n Rufus (verse 13) is an interesting man. Mark 15:21 states that the man Simon who carried the cross was the father of Alexander and Rufus. These two men were probably well known among the churches at the time Mark wrote his Gospel. It is possible that Simon was actually the father of this Rufus mentioned here.<\/p>\n Some Sinners to avoid\u00a0(16:17 \u2013 20)<\/strong> Believers who cause trouble because of their selfish desires (usually pride) are not to be received into the local fellowship. \u201cKeep away from them (verse 17).\u201d The church must keep an eye on people who go from one church to another, causing trouble and division. These people may know how to fool the simple. However, the discerning saint will see through their disguises. Conquer the evil one \u2014 do not let him conquer you.<\/p>\n Some Servants to honour (16:21 \u2013 24)<\/strong> Gaius (verse 23) may be the same person mentioned in Acts 19:29. Or, he may be the \u201cGaius\u201d of Derbe (Acts 20:4). He is surely the Gaius of 1 Corinthians 1:14, one whom Paul baptized during his ministry at Corinth. Paul was at Corinth when he wrote to the Romans, so this would mean he was probably staying at the home of Gaius. Notice how many different people the Lord used to give us His Word.<\/p>\n Erastus was the \u201ccity\u2019s director of public works,\u201d thus showing that the Gospel had reached into the official families of the city (see above). He may be the same man mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:20. Finally, Paul mentions \u201cour brother Quartus.\u201d No believer is too insignificant for Paul to mention.<\/p>\n Paul signed his letters personally (verse 24). Lastly, in verses 25 \u2013 27, he went on to add this great doxology that emphasizes the mystery of the church. The prophets mentioned in verse 26 are the New Testament prophets through whom God revealed the truths of the church and His Gospel of grace. Thus, the letter to the Romans is completed. If we understand it and apply it, verse 27 will be true: \u201cTo the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong> Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. What does Paul suggest as appropriate way of dealing with those whose sins affect the entire Church body? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Topic: Greetings, Honour and Final Benediction Text: Romans 16:1 \u2013 27 Memory Verse: Romans 16:17 Introduction Today\u2019s lesson brings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62474923,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[25826],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-studies"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4q0JC-bc","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":332,"url":"https:\/\/amazinggbc.de\/de\/2017\/03\/29\/amazing-grace-baptist-church-bible-studies-material-lesson-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":694,"position":0},"title":"AMAZING GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, BIBLE STUDIES MATERIAL, LESSON 2","author":"revfosu","date":"M\u00e4rz 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Introducing Paul and his Gospel in the Letter to the Romans (Romans 1:1-17) From last\u00a0 week\u2019s studies, we sought to introduce the letter to Romans. 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This material focuses on Paul\u2019s skillful response to the issue by pointing them to the sufficiency of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Bible Studies"","block_context":{"text":"Bible Studies","link":"https:\/\/amazinggbc.de\/de\/category\/bible-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":452,"url":"https:\/\/amazinggbc.de\/de\/2017\/05\/03\/amazing-grace-baptist-church-hamburg-sunday-school-material-lesson-7-by-rev-john-kwasi-fosu\/","url_meta":{"origin":694,"position":5},"title":"AMAZING GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, HAMBURG – BIBLE STUDY MATERIAL, LESSON 7, BY REV. JOHN KWASI FOSU","author":"revfosu","date":"Mai 3, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Topic:\u00a0 The Universal Condition of\u00a0\u00a0 Humankind Text: Romans 3:1-20 \u00a0Introduction It is obvious from our previous studies that Paul has introduced the sinful condition of Gentiles in chapter 1 and in Chapter 2 he talked about the sin of the Jews as well. 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\nText: Romans 16:1 \u2013 27<\/em>
\nMemory Verse: Romans 16:17<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nToday\u2019s lesson brings us to the final session of our studies in the book of Romans. Three major issues that Paul talks about in this concluding study include some saints to greet, some sinners to avoid and servants to honour. As we read this list of names, we cannot help but be impressed with the fact that Paul loved people and was interested in them. Probably Paul had led many of these to know the Lord. Remember that Paul had never visited Rome. Thus, he probably met these saints in other cities. Just like the Messiah, he knew the sheep by name and had a personal concern for each one.<\/p>\n
\nIt seems that the believers in Rome did not meet in one general assembly but were members of various household groups [Note verses 5, 10 and 11]. There was no \u201cchurch at Rome\u201d in the organized sense (compare Philippians 1:1). Rome was a very large city, and it is possible that some of the assemblies were composed mainly of Jewish believers.<\/p>\n
\nThis warning sounds strange in a chapter filled with warm greetings, but Paul knew the dangers in the churches and wanted to warn the saints. Certainly, we as believers are to love and forgive one another. However, sins against the church body must be dealt with according to scriptural discipline.<\/p>\n
\nIn these four verses we first find Timothy, Paul\u2019s son in the faith and a servant of the Lord (Philippians 2:19 \u2013 23). Lucius was associated with Paul in his early ministry at Antioch (Acts 13:1). Jason traveled with Paul from Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9). Sosipater was a Berean (Acts 20:4 \u2013 \u201cSopater\u201d). Paul loved these companions and could not have ministered without them. Tertius (verse 22) was the secretary to whom Paul dictated the letter, as the Spirit directed. Probably he was Roman, known by the believers to whom the letter was sent.<\/p>\n
\nAs we conclude our studies of Romans, it is important to remind ourselves that we have looked at the themes of Romans which are doctrinal (Romans 1-8), national (Romans 9-11) and practical (Romans 12-16). In today\u2019s lesson that serves as final aspect of the letter, it is important to emphasize that, Paul focusses on building relationship in the Church. He does that by greeting the saints, encouraging the members to avoid some sinners and honouring the servants.<\/p>\n
\n2. What was the role of Tertius in the letter of Romans?
\n3. To what extent are you prepared to honour some faithful servants in the Church?
\n4. In which ways does Romans 16 suggest that in the Gospel ministry, one\u2019s gender is not be a barrier for involvement?<\/p>\n