Beauty in the Book: Romans 16
Themes
Through warm personal greetings and somber exhortations, see the incredible value of connection in the body of Christ. Explore themes of Christian service, holy wisdom, and blessed unity in this final chapter of Romans.
Questions
This chapter addresses the following questions:
How can a variety of roles impact the body of Christ?
What should we do when division starts showing up in the church?
How has God’s eternal wisdom been revealed in the Gospel (as available to the Gentiles)?
Moving Forward
This writing will break down the chapter section-by-section, offering commentary for your reflection. Don’t miss the ending titled Beauty in the Book where it all gets wrapped up in a bow—highlighting how every chapter is woven with uplifting realities of God’s goodness and grace.
Romans 16:1-16
Here, Paul sends his greetings to a variety of people, honoring many for the work they have done and continue to do. He brings 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 to life, in which he encourages the church to highly regard those who offer spiritual support:
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work… 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NIV
From Priscilla and Aquila (verse 3) who risked their lives for Paul’s sake, to Urbanus (verse 9) who was a co-worker in the cause of Christ, to Tryphena and Tryphosa (verse 12) who were hardworking servants of the Lord—all these folks and more were in partnership for the sake of the gospel and contributed to this beautiful expression of the church at work, with its many parts.
Beyond working together as the hands and feet of Jesus, we see the heart of a family interwoven amongst all of these people. It reminds me of a passage from Psalm 68:
God sets the lonely in families,
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68:6 NIV
There is such a contrast between those who yield to God’s ways and those who don’t. Like someone off in a desert—in a sun-scorched, lonely, and barren land—the one who rebels against God is choosing a life void of his provision and protection.
As the psalm goes on, we see that God refreshes his people out of his abundance. (Psalm 68:9-10) There is goodness poured out from the heart of God for those who choose to put themselves under the umbrella of his faithful care. And for those who don’t, they exile themselves to the loneliest places (though no one is ever too far gone to come back home).
For those who turn to him, God rescues the lonely and nestles them into the loving arms of his church. This concept of the church being family is not a new one, but it is sprinkled throughout Scripture as we become sons and daughters of the living God, and brothers and sisters of Christ himself. Hebrews 2 touches on this concept of family:
Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” And again,“I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” Hebrews 2:11-13 NIV
To circle back to Romans 16, we see Paul describe a man named Rufus (verse 13) whose own mother became like a mother to Paul. That’s sweet.
In verse 14, we see Paul address a group of people (Asyncritus, Phlegon, Herbes, Patrobas, and Hermas) and the “brothers” with them. The word used here for brothers is lovely for its vagueness. It’s the greek word, adelphos (ἀδελφός) which is used interchangeably to describe actual blood-brothers, fellow persons, or other believers in Christ.
Either way you swing it, we note a special camaraderie Paul had with these people that emulated family appeal—the beautiful interconnectedness of the body of Christ.
Romans 16:17-18
Paul soberly warns the church in Rome to be on guard for the ones who seek to bring division or other obstacles that keep them from holding fast to the truth of which they were taught.
This man had strong words for the one who was trying to derail the church from holding fast to the Good Gospel in the book of Galatians. Take a deep breath and check this out:
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Galatians 1:6-9 NIV
I love the line that says anyone who turns to a “different gospel” is really turning to that which isn’t a gospel at all. It is Christ alone by which we are saved; he is the good news and only rescue point for humanity. Neglecting his lifeline isn’t to simply choose another means of salvation, but to choose death by the sea of our own sin.
Because Jesus is the one way, we can find unity in the church. All else under him is secondary in nature, because he is the only way God provided to be in restored relationship.
As Jesus told his disciples in John 14:6, he’s it. He is the one way to God:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NIV
If people are to present an “alternative gospel” (which is really no gospel at all), it’s worth considering the why. Why would they do this?
Paul offers an answer to this question in Romans 16:18: anyone who isn’t aiming to live in the truth of Christ is seeking to serve their own appetite in some way.
Whether they are wanting to serve the appetite of their own unholy desires by refusing to yield to the ways of Christ, or whether they are attempting to serve the appetite of their own pride by puffing themselves up with idle notions of self-righteousness, the fact is that they are serving themselves, and when they bring these destructive ideas to naive minds, members of the church can become tangled in their webs of deception.
Paul encourages the church in Rome to run fast in the opposite direction. In verse 17 he says to watch out for the ones bringing division and to keep away.
We aren’t to handle sin haphazardly, but are encouraged to flee. Don’t walk, run.
We see it in 2 Timothy 2:22:
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
In 2 Timothy, did you catch the piece about pursuing righteousness along with others who are calling on the Lord? If you’re in a place where you are wanting to flee from evil and embrace righteousness, travel with others who love Jesus and have made it their lives’ missions to journey with him.
This very passage from Timothy goes on to encourage a person not to have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. In other words, just as we saw in Romans 16:17, keep away from that which causes division.
Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23 NIV
When we consider our connections, may we keep watch for those who aim to undermine our faith and our relationships in the church. Rather, may we pursue the righteousness of God—one who loves unity—along with others who are seeking him in truth.
Romans 16:19-20
It would seem that rather than being caught up in all the things that can divide, Paul would rather the church keep their focus elsewhere.
“…be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil…” Romans 16:19 NIV
He tells the church that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under their feet. Woah!
The author of division and lies, and of heartache and destruction, will soon be crushed. It’s as if Paul is saying, “Don’t get all worked up by the schemes of the enemy. God is greater and deserves our attention instead.”
That’s my paraphrase, of course… But Paul reminds the church at the end of verse 20 that the grace of Jesus will be with them.
Focus on what’s good. Stay unified. God’s going to crush the devil. Grace remains.
Romans 16:21-24
Paul continues on with a few more greetings, including one to Timothy. Here, he’s called a co-worker, but other times, Paul speaks to him as a son.
In 1 Timothy 1:2, Paul addresses him endearingly:
To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 1:2 NIV
This beautiful dynamic further drives home the interconnectedness of Christ’s church. In these short few verses, we see one who has truly partnered with Paul—as closely as a son—to bring forth the gospel (Timothy, verse21), along with a man who physically served by recording the letter (Tertius, verse 22) and a note to Gaius, who provided enjoyable hospitality (verse 23).
There are so many different roles and responsibilities in the church, and each one has it’s special place. Whether serving with your hands, sharing the gospel, or opening your home, may we all join in the beautiful mission of the church—for the sake of his Name.
Romans 16:25-27
Paul ends this powerful letter with the reminder of the true message of the Gospel. This reality that God has always intended to bring salvation to the Gentiles. That he always wanted their true obedience that comes by faith, and that now is the developing fulfillment of that mission.
This is the ultimate wisdom of God, as we see in Romans 16:27, that Gentiles would be welcomed into the promise of Christ.
God’s wisdom is described well in 1 Corinthians:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NIV
God’s wisdom confounds the wise and opens the eyes of the foolish. It’s by his wisdom that the door to salvation has been opened wide in the person of Christ.
Further regarding this mystery, Paul writes this in Ephesians 3:8-11:
Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:8-11 NIV
As we wrap up the book of Romans, may we rest in the steadfast love of God. In his faithfulness and mercy, and his heart to extend salvation to all who believe, in accordance with his perfect wisdom.
Beauty in the Book
Christ’s church is beautifully interconnected. In this final portion of greetings, warnings, and encouragements, we see the mission of God moved forward through the knit-together family of the everyday church.
From personal greetings to high regards, we can peer in and observe how many different roles and responsibilities shine in the early church. People gave financially, served sacrficially, and worked diligently. And more sentimentally, people stepped in as mothers, brothers, fathers, and sisters, as they beckoned each person to find their place not just in a workspace, but in a home.
God desires his church to be like family. Making sense all-the-more why Paul avidly states the people are to run from division and hold fast to the grace of Christ, trusting God as their protector and provider who will crush Satan once-and-for-all. (Even as he is already defeated in Christ.)
Our loving Father provided for the door to be opened that all might be welcomed into the family of God—jew and Gentile alike—through the person of Jesus. As you enjoy getting a glimpse of the innerworkings of the Christian family of Paul’s time, delight in how the heart of our Heavenly Father flows into our lives (and the world) through his church.
