Romans 16 Greetings - For The Glory of Jesus

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Greetings

Paul is giving greetings to the church in Rome asking that they greet those who are active in different churches in the region.

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

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Romans 16

Introduction:

“Paul greeted at least twenty-six people by name as well as two unnamed saints, and he also greeted several churches that were meeting in homes.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 565)

“This chapter, which has almost no explicit teaching and contains several lists of mostly unknown people, is the most extensive and intimate expression of Paul’s love and affection for other believers and coworkers found anywhere in his NT letters.” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1556)

1. “Phebe was the bearer of the Epistle to the Romans.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 754)

“Paul apparently put into Phebe’s hand this Epistle to the Romans rather than trusting it to public transportation.” (McGee, 755)

2. “Paul asked the Roman congregation to welcome her in a manner worthy of God’s people. Paul asked the church to provide her with whatever help she needed from them because she had been a staunch friend of many others including Paul himself.” (Mounce, Robert H, The New American Commentary, Volume 27, Romans. [Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995], 272)

3-16. “Nowhere else in Paul’s writing do we find such a lengthy list of personal greetings.” (Mounce, 274)

Contrary to Doctrine

17. Divisions and offenses [NKJV]. “Doctrinal falsehood and unrighteous practices (cf. Matthew 24:24; Acts 20:26-32; Galatians 1:6-8; Ephesians 4:16).” (MacArthur, 1558)

“In every group there seems to be those intent on bringing it down. Paul urged his Christian friends at Rome to be on the watch for those who stirred up dissentions.” (Mounce, 278)

18. Belly [NJV]. “These people are driven by self-interest and self-gratification, often seen in their pretentious, extravagant, and immoral lifestyles (cf. Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Timothy 3:7-8; 2 Peter 1:20-2:3; 10-19; Jude 12, 13).” (MacArthur, 1559)

Simple [KJV]. “The unsuspecting or naïve person (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).” (MacArthur, 1559)

19. “Their faith came abroad also, but the faith is manifested in obedience.” (McGee, 757)

20. This verse “suggests that these false teachers come from Satan, and one day even he shall be completely defeated.” (Wiersbe, 566)

Greetings from Friends

21. Paul is “sending them the greetings of those who were with him. Timothy, Paul’s ‘fellow worker’ (cf. vv.3, 9), sent his greetings. Timothy occupied a very special place in Paul’s heart and ministry.” (Mounce, 280)

He also sent greetings from his relatives [NASB].

22. Paul “Identifies Tertius as the scribe who wrote down Paul’s letter. Scribal assistants were widely used in antiquity.” (Mounce, 281)

23. Greetings were also sent by Gaius. Gaius was the man whose home Paul was residing at Corinth.” (1 Corinthians 1:14) (Wiersbe, 566)

A couple of other men sent their greetings.

24. This verse “was probably written by Paul’s own hand, since this was his ‘official seal’ in every letter (see 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18).” (Wiersbe, 566)

Glory to God

25. “The closing benediction is the longest one Paul ever wrote. It reflects his special ministry to the Gentiles. ‘The mystery’ has to do with God’s program of uniting believing Jews and Gentiles in the one body, the church (see Ephesians 3).” (Wiersbe, 566)

26. “God had told Israel that He would not only call her to righteousness, but appoint her as a light (of the gospel) to the nations (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; 1 Peter 1:10-11; cf. Genesis 12:3; Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 49:22; 53:11; 60:3-5; Jeremiah 31:31-33).” (MacArthur, 1560)

26. “It was through the Father that the gospel was ultimately revealed, therefore He deserves all the credit, praise and worship.” (MacArthur, 1560)

References

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Mounce, Robert H, The New American Commentary, Volume 27, Romans. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

Paul

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