As Paul begins to close this letter, he adds a number of personal greetings. Although it's often easy to blow through a laundry list of names like this to get back to the "good stuff", we'll try to see what we can learn about Paul and living in community with believers from looking at this section.
In both the first name mentioned and 1/3rd of the total names included in these greetings, we see that Paul had friendships and working relationships with a number of women. This shouldn't be overlooked, since women were often treated as second-class citizens in Jewish and Greco-Roman culture, or at least as if they had little wisdom to offer men. But as Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Although some Christians in the past and today have been known to have a low view of women, this is not the result of correctly applying what the Bible teaches to be true.
Phoebe was likely carrying this letter to Rome, meaning that she would be the first person the Roman Christians would ask to clarify anything in Paul's letter. This is probably why Paul speaks well of her and mentions her significant role (usually a specific office in this context) in the church at Cenchrea. (v.1-2)
As we go through this list, another observation we can make is the number of friends Paul had in a city he had not even visited yet! This might not seem unusual in our electronic world where people commonly have dozens or hundreds of so called "friends" on facebook or other online communities. But for Paul to have relationships over long distances at this time would have required tremendous investment on his part. As we look at this "laundry list" of names we can ask ourselves whether or not we are willing to invest in people with the passion that Paul did.
Priscilla (or Prisca) and Aquila were a husband and wife team that Paul had worked with both in ministry and in making tents to support themselves. (Acts 18:2-3) It is significant that Priscilla is mentioned first, implying, in Paul's culture and time period, that she had a higher station in either society or in her role in the church community. This again affirms the value and equality of women in Biblical teaching. (v.3) These friends of Paul had also in some way risked their lives on Paul's behalf! No wonder they show up early on this list! (v.4) At this time, Priscilla and Aquila were hosting church meetings at their home. (v.5)
Epenetus was the first to believe in Christ under Paul's ministry in Asia. (v.5) This is another example of faith for us. It's hard to do something when no one else is doing it. But Epenetus chose to trust in Christ when no one else in his community was doing so. (Remember that Paul's focus has been in going to places that had not heard of Jesus Christ. See Romans 15:20.)
Mary is said to have worked hard for the Christians in Rome. The Greek used here for "worked" means "to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief)". This was not a woman who simply faithfully kept her self occupied with service to other Christians. (Although that's honorable in itself.) She poured out her life in painful sacrifice to others. And Paul recognizes her for that. (v.6)
Andronicus and Junias were likely another husband and wife team. It's interesting that Paul refers to them both as apostles. Although some Christian thinkers still debate whether or not this applied to both of them, I don't see any reason that Junias, a woman, should have been ruled out for this distinction. He also commends them for coming to faith in Christ before even Paul did. (v.7)
Next- More Distinguished Believers In The Church At Rome
Coffee House Question- Can you think of someone you know or knew from a Christian church that made a strong, positive impression on you? What were they like?
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