Life Application New Testament Commentary (Life Application Bible Commentary) by Livingstone

Author:Livingstone
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: RELIGION / Biblical Commentary / New Testament
ISBN: 9781414371023
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2016-06-30T23:00:00+00:00

ROMANS 16

PAUL GREETS HIS FRIENDS / 16:1-16

Rome was the capital of the empire. As Jerusalem was the center of Jewish life, Rome was the world’s political, religious, social, and economic center. As Paul preached in the eastern part of the empire, he went first to the key cities—Jerusalem, Antioch in Syria, Philippi, Corinth, Athens, Ephesus. Along the way he met many believers who eventually ended up in Rome. The fact that Paul knew the whereabouts of so many of his friends and coworkers gives us a glimpse into the interest this great missionary had in the people to whom he ministered and who ministered to him. This final chapter reveals a treasury of friends Paul expected to see in Rome.

16:1-2 Phoebe was known as a servant or deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Apparently she was a wealthy person who helped support Paul’s ministry. Phoebe was highly regarded in the church. Furthermore, because Paul specifically says that she would be coming to Rome, it is likely that she delivered this letter from Corinth to Rome. This provides evidence that women had important roles in the early church, as well as important roles in business. Cenchrea, the town where Phoebe lived, was the eastern port of Corinth, six miles from the city center (see Acts 18:18). The church here was probably a daughter church of the one in Corinth. Paul asked that the believers receive Phoebe as one who is worthy of high honor and to help her in any way they could. Believers who traveled from one place to another could always be assured of a warm welcome and kind hospitality from other believers. How Phoebe helped Paul and others is unknown, but those she helped were obviously very grateful. Life within the body of Christ is a constant exchange of help. Those who are helped one day are given the privilege in Christ of being the helpers the next day. We need to make sure we are participating in both roles in the local church where we worship.

16:3-5a Priscilla and Aquila were a married couple who had become Paul’s close friends. They, along with all other Jews, had been expelled from Rome in A.D. 49 by Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:2-3) and had moved to Corinth. There they met Paul while he was on his second missionary journey, and they invited him to live and work with them. At some point, they moved back to Rome when they were allowed to return (the Emperor Claudius died five years after issuing the edict expelling Jews from Rome, so it is possible that many returned then). Later, they went back to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:19). Paul was indebted to these dear friends, even explaining to the others that they risked their lives for him. What they did is no longer known, but Paul had faced plenty of danger and had heard many threats against himself. This was certainly true in Ephesus (see Acts 18:6-10; 19:28-31; 1 Corinthians 15:32). Somehow Priscilla and Aquila intervened at one time to save Paul.

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