The last chapter of Romans is often overlooked as a list of greetings to Phoebe, Priscilla and Aquila, Mary, Paul’s cousins Andronicus and Junias, Rufus and his mother, Hermes, and Olympas to name a few — in all 35 Romans, Greeks, Jews and Gentiles, women and men, prisoners and prominent citizens of Rome.
Paul mentions them for two reasons — they’re followers of Jesus and they all have a story to tell as we all do.
I’ve often said, “You can tell the story of the Bible by simply calling out the names — Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham, Moses and Joshua, etc.”
The Bible is God’s book and our story; it’s the story of God’s people from Creation to the final judgment. And isn’t it fascinating that Romans 16 begins with Phoebe, a “diakonos” or “deacon” meaning servant and a “prostatis” meaning patron. She was a rich woman with a servant’s heart, and the second person mentioned was another woman, Priscilla.
“I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who serves the church at Cenchreae. Receive her in the Lord’s name, as God’s people should, and give her any help she may need from you; for she herself has been a good friend to many people and also to me.”
— Romans 16: 1-2
Then Paul shifts from greetings to a sober warning about doctrinal purity and unity. The early church faced threats from both legalism and liberalism from insiders and persecution from outsiders.
But Martin Franzmann emphasized Paul’s warning was likely general and not aimed at specific individuals in Rome for two reasons— calling names would make a bad situation worse and it would limit his message to that particular time and place.
It’s instead a timeless call to guard against doctrinal error and disunity, a call to continually seek the truth with a loving spirit!
“I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them!” — Romans 16: 17
The first thing I noticed about the 17th verse was “keep away from them!” Don’t argue with them or attack them or in any way focus on them, which we too often do. Just “keep away from them” and focus on God. We need to stop repeating the lies and simply speak the truth… in love!
Howard Marshall connects Romans 1: 1-5 and Romans 15: 8-12 to the closing verses of Romans 16 — “Let us give glory to God!”
Now, however, that truth has been brought out into the open through the writings of the prophets; and by the command of the eternal God, it’s made known to all nations, so that all may believe and obey. To the only God, who alone is all-wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever!
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga.
