Individuals are important. Romans 16:3-16 Mentioning names is a letter conveys the appreciation and esteem we have for those who other believers have not met. It also indicates that we support them and the work they do for the Lord. These verses give us an understanding of the value of different gifts and information as to how early Christians developed and maintained unity. First century Christianity and twenty-first Christianity should be similar.
No matter where people are on the social and/or financial scale, faith in Christ levels us all. We are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ and are brothers and sisters in Christ. Slaves and wealthy people met together in Rome in “house-churches” as one in Christ. In the church they were all equal in their privileges and responsibilities.
Those whose names are listed here, are noted by their own sphere of service for the Lord by the apostle Paul, who could write what the Spirit of God saw was being done by them. Nothing of what we do can be thought of as being overlooked. The Lord knows who are His and what they do as well as the motive behind their actions. The list of people at the conclusion of this epistle indicates that the Gospel being explained to the Roman believers, was being lived out by people in their very midst.
Aquila and Priscilla were a married couple who effectively worked together for the Lord in whatever community they lived. They were tent-makers by trade and Paul joined them in that endeavor so he would not be chargeable to those who the Lord saved in Corinth. They were both believers before they met Paul and had left Rome when the Jews were put out of Rome by Claudius. They had resided at Corinth and Ephesus before they returned to Rome where an assembly of believers met in their house. This couple and Rufus are the only ones in this list that are mentioned elsewhere in the scriptures.
They are an example to us as to know how valuable a couple who are committed to the Lord and His work can be to all around them. Apollos had learned the truth of God “more perfectly” in their home. Paul was encouraged by them when they labored together in a very ungodly city. Like them, assemblies today are blessed by married couples who open their homes and hearts to the saints and minister grace to the Lord’s people. Open homes, spiritual gifts, finances and physical labor are all ways a godly couple can be used by God today.
Epaenetus who was one of the first converts to Christianity in Asia, was obviously a brother who was greatly appreciated. Those who maintain a gracious spirit and are compassionate toward others, may not be well known or out-front in all that goes on, but they put strength in the backbone of an assembly.
Mary’s labor is a technical term that means she was likely spending all or most of her time in the service of the Lord by serving His people. Andronicus and Junia were also a Jewish couple who may have been brought to Rome as prisoners or slaves after Jerusalem fell. They were known by other apostles as a couple who could be counted on and were likely among the early believers before Paul was saved. They must have been some of those early saints who openly witnessed to the power of the Gospel.
Amplias, Urbane, Stachys and Apelles were likely slaves but that did not hinder Paul’s appreciation for their care, help and labor for the Lord’s servant. It is good for the Lord’s people to know how much we appreciate others and honor them no matter what their situation in society is. Those who serve and suffer with us, give us great joy just to know that their faith in Christ is as real to them as it is to us. Our attitude toward them should be to give them honor that is due them, even though they may be limited in opportunities because of harsh circumstances.
Aristobulus is a famous name because of his forebearers and was likely a person of note himself who may have paid a big price as a Christian. His household is named specifically, which leads us to think many of them were saved. What a blessing it is when a family and those associated with it, are all in the kingdom of God. We need to keep praying for our children and grandchildren to be saved and live for the Lord in this dark day of ungodliness all around them.
Herodian was a relative of Paul by nature who was likely a slave or freedman who was taken to Rome. It was not uncommon for slaves and freedmen to have certain liberties in Rome which would enable those believers to meet with other Christians in local churches. By the way the text reads, it would seem like some of the household of Narcissus may not have been saved or “in the Lord.” However, the Gospel message had reached into that house and there was a testimony of God’s saving grace.
We praise God whenever we hear of children, teenagers or adults being saved in a family unit. It may be as a result of a Sunday School teacher whose interest in the Gospel moves them to connect with a family. Sometimes a Christian lady contacts her neighbor and the result at a later time is the neighbor is saved by God’s grace. A Christian at his workplace may reach out to another fellow-worker and God begins to work in a family bringing some of them to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Three women, Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis must have connected with Paul somewhere before they were taken to Rome likely as servants or slaves. We do not want to forget those who did what they could for the Lord when they were able. Often a person is incapacitated for some reason and they feel like they are forgotten and useless. It is important that we remember those who gave of themselves openly and faithfully when they could, and are now restricted by ill health or age.
Rufus seems to have been a very special person who may have been a son of Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross after Jesus. If he was that person, he would have realized the significance of being personally linked to the Lord Jesus Christ. His mother treated Paul like a son and Rufus had been “chosen in the Lord” for some particular purpose. We never know what we will do or have done that has brought glory to our Lord, but it is important that we be ready for every good work.
Association with those who have served the Lord in some way is a great privilege. That privilege includes a responsibility to apply ourselves to what God gives us to do even though it may be far different than those who have gone before us. God has given gifts and He gives us the grace to use those gifts for our Lord and Savior.
The five Greek names in verse fourteen are linked together and inference is made about other people in the same group. Those people may have been brethren who were in a house-church in some specific part of the city. In verse fifteen another specific group is named after Philologus and Julia his wife, a brother and his sister and Olympas. This was probably another local assembly in a different part of the city where they could come together in fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers near to where they lived.
Putting all of these people together in his heart, the apostle Paul let them know how important they should be to each other when they met. The “holy kiss” would remind us that our love for each other as brothers and sisters in Christ needs to be expressed in some way. If I were to avoid greeting my brothers and sisters with gladness and/or fellowship, that would indicate something is wrong with me.
Affection in the family of God should be able to be demonstrated in some way. Our unity in Christ needs to be continually nurtured and promoted. Our greetings, both when we come and when we go, reveals our attitude of heart and soul toward the saints of God.
Christians are equal in Christ whether male of female, Jews or Gentiles, bond or free; we are all one in Christ. The apostles were not freelance preachers and they appreciated their coworkers in the furtherance of the Gospel. These things we need to know and practice in any work we do for the Lord. It is important for us to build up and honor other Christians as fellow-laborers in the Gospel. The most vulnerable among us in a local assembly are the young people who are out in the world at schools where they are being indoctrinated with things that are not right and need to know we love them and want to help and honor them when we can.
To be used as an example of what God's intention is of His people, is a great privilege and honor. Any labor for the Lord is of value to the saints of God wherever they are found. Couples working together for the Lord, faithful sisters and trustworthy brethren are always worthy of our commendation from one assembly to another. These postscripts on the pages of divine inspiration should awaken in each of us a desire to be found faithful in whatever service for the Lord we have been called to do.