Romans Series 2
13 - Final Greetings
Romans chapter 16 verse 13 creates an interesting possibility. The New English Bible translates it “Give my greetings to Rufus, an outstanding follower of the Lord.” Could it be that Rufus is the son of Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry the cross for Jesus? In Mark chapter 15 verse 21 we read of, “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus”, who was passing by on his way in from the country. The family was evidently known to Mark who wrote his gospel primarily for Roman readers. Did that chance encounter on the Calvary road lead to the conversion of a father and his son?
What is beyond dispute is that behind all these names mentioned in Paul’s closing chapter lies a story. “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (verse16) he writes. There was much affection in the early church. Now he makes his final appeal. It is for unity and trouble makers are to be avoided. There are enemies of the cross. They are not your friends. The Message puts verses 17 - 20 into these words: “Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.
And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters – I couldn’t be more proud of you! – I want you also to be smart making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!”
Paul paid the church in Rome a great compliment. In chapter 16 verse 19 he says, “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you.” A church characterized by obedience must bring great gladness to Father’s heart.
Romans was a letter Paul found very difficult to bring to an end. Here he goes again with personal greetings! After greeting well over twenty saints by name, he closes with regards from eight believers who were with him in Corinth when he wrote the letter! Paul was not only a soul-winner, but a friend maker.
His team listed here includes Timothy, his right-hand man; Lucius of Cyrene, a leading light in the Antioch church; Jason who had given Paul hospitality in Thessalonica and Sosipater from Berea. Also his amanuensis, or scribe, Tertius, inserts his own greetings. It seems that Paul’s host, Gaius, was a man of means, judging by verse 23. ‘Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy.’ Gaius was one of the few people Paul himself baptised. This is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1 verse 14.
There is the possibility that Erastus, mentioned in verse 23 and the city’s director of public works in Corinth, is the same person whose name was unearthed by Professor Shear in archaeological excavations in 1929. He founded a pavement bearing this Latin inscription, “Erastus, curator of public buildings laid this pavement at his own expense.” Not many mighty, not many noble are called – but some are!
There is a burial place on the Appian Way devoted to the ashes of Imperial freedman and slaves, dated around the middle of the first century A.D. which yields these names: - Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Rufus, Hermes, Hermas, Philologus. Could it be that the holy lives of chapter 16 may have lived close to the court of the Emperor Nero?
The persecution of Christians under the Emperor Nero was excruciatingly sadistic. Christians were rolled in pitch and set alight to form living torches for his gardens. Some were sewn into the skins of wild beasts and flung to savage hunting dogs. Others were shut in ships which were sunk in the River Tiber.
Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, states that the population of Rome at the time of Paul’s letter would have been around one million. The Christian church in Rome consisted of 5 house groups or cells numbering 100 souls. Paul appeals to them to live attractive lives in the local community, surrounded as they are by the watching stares of puzzled pagans.
Paul’s overrunning heart signs off with a great ascription of glory. The sum and substance of the whole gospel is Jesus Christ. It’s all about Him. The gospel – veiled so long, promised so long – is now known at last. Paul preached the gospel which Jesus Christ offered: the dream of God that some day the knowledge of Him would cover the whole earth. This doxology is translated by Moffatt as:
“Now to Him who can strengthen you by my gospel, by the preaching of Jesus Christ, by revealing the secret purpose which after the silence of long ages has now been disclosed and made known on the basis of the prophetic scriptures (by command of the eternal God) to all the Gentiles, for their obedience to the faith – to the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ for ever and ever: Amen” (16 verses 25 - 27).
Romans contains the ABC of Christian education and until its lessons are learned we are ignorant of true Christian principles. David Pawson makes the important point that not many Jews wrote letters in Israel. In fact Paul’s epistles are the longest letters from the ancient world. Romans runs to 7,114 words. David Pawson states that one third of the New Testament is letters and no other religion uses letters to communicate God’s word to its followers. This makes God’s Word both personal and practical. God is teaching us not in lectures, but in letters written by the most enthusiastic church planter ever, the coat minder at a martyr’s death, Saul of Tarsus.
I do trust that you have been blessed and helped in your understanding of the glorious Gospel of Christ as found in Paul’s Letter to the Romans.