Thursday
Evening Bible Study
May
28, 2009
Introduction
Paul winds up the letter with some personal stuff. Remember that Paul is in
Corinth, writing to
the church in Rome.
:1-2 Phebe
:1 I commend to
you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
:2 that you may
receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in
whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many
and of myself also.
commend
– In the early church, there were no “Motel Sixes”. Typically
when you traveled, you needed to stay with friends. It was a common practice
for a church to write a letter of commendation for a person in the church,
letting people know that this person could be trusted.
Cenchrea
– Paul is writing to the Romans from Corinth. If you zoom into Corinth you notice that it’s located on an
“isthmus”. Corinth had two harbors, one on the east and one
on the west of the isthmus. Cenchrea
was the harbor on the east.
Phoebe –
She was apparently the one who traveled from Corinth to Rome to bring Paul’s letter. Her name means “bright” or “radiant”. We know nothing more of her than what
is here.
servant
– diakonos – one
who executes the commands of another; a deacon. Circle the word in your Bibles.
Paul saw it okay to have women involved in ministry.
This doesn’t mean that she was the pastor of the church. Paul taught that a
woman was not to teach or be in authority over men in the church (1Tim. 2:12). But
that still leaves lots and lots of room for ministry.
Paul trusted this gal enough to entrust her with his copy
of the letter to the Romans. Aren’t you glad she was a faithful person?
in a manner worthy – axios – suitably, worthily, in a manner
worthy of. He wants them to treat her
right. We are saints. Do we treat others
as saints ought to treat people?
a helper – prostatis – a woman set over others; a
female guardian, caring for the affairs of others and aiding them with her
resources.
The idea is
that Paul is telling them to help her because she has helped many others,
including Paul.
:3-5 Priscilla and Aquila
:3 Greet
Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
fellow
workers – sunergos – a companion in work, fellow worker. Circle the word “workers”
in your text.
Priscilla was
the wife and Aquila was the husband. The order of their names is usually given
in this order. It has been suggested that Priscilla was the prominent one in
ministry since her name always appears first.
Her name was “Prisca”, and “Priscilla” is a “diminuitive”, like calling her
“Prissy”.
Aquila was a Jew from Pontus,
which is an area in Asia, modern Turkey.
At some point in their life, they moved to Rome and lived there for a while until the Emperor
Claudius kicked all the Jews out of Rome (Acts 18:2). When they left Rome, they
went to live in Corinth,
making a living as tentmakers, when the first met Paul.
They take an interest in Paul, took him into their home, and they worked
together as tentmakers.
(Acts 18:3).
When Paul eventually leaves Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla will accompany
him to Ephesus,
where he leaves them. (Acts 18:18-19)
While they’re in Ephesus, they’ll meet a young preacher named Apollos, and
take an interest in him. Apollos had some rough edges, but they take him aside,
train him, and he becomes a powerful witness. (Acts 18:26)
When Paul comes back to Ephesus to visit, and then later writes a letter
back to the Corinthians, he mentions that they have a church in their home there in Ephesus.
(1Cor.16:19)
(1 Cor 16:19
NKJV) The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily
in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Now, as Paul is writing to the church in Rome, apparently Aquila and
Priscilla had returned to Rome, and now once again, they have a church in
their home (Rom. 16:5)
A few years from this time, just before Paul is executed in Rome, Paul
writes to Timothy in Ephesus, and Aquila and Priscilla had again moved back to Ephesus. (2Tim.4:19)
Lesson:
Friends to serve.
Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla seemed to be what we might call
“friends”. They had some things in
common, being Jewish and tentmakers. But
they had more than that, they had Jesus.
And they served the Lord together.
They were a part of what Paul might call his “leadership team”.
Paul was not always an easy guy to get along with.
The noted commentator William Hendricksen makes
the following observation:
During his missionary career Paul
had colleagues and fellow-workers. But he deemed it necessary to oppose Peter
to his face (Gal. 2:11f.). With Barnabas he had such a sharp disagreement that
the two parted company (Acts 15:39). There was a time when Paul refused to
allow Mark to remain one of his companions (Acts 15:38). He was going to
reprimand Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:2). And Demas was going to desert him (2
Tim. 4:10). But even though Prisca and Aquila in a sense stood closer to him
than any others—for they were his companions both in trade and in faith—as far
as the record shows, between Paul, on the one hand, and Prisca and Aquila, on
the other, there was always perfect harmony! (Exposition of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans [Grand Rapids: Baker,
1981], p. 503)
I think it says something about them that Paul never had a negative
thing to say of them.
:4 who risked
their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the
churches of the Gentiles.
These people risked their lives for Paul.
We aren’t sure what Paul is referring to, but there is one possible
situation. When Paul was in Ephesus, the
silversmith Demetrius provoked the entire city to riot on account of Paul. He claimed that Paul was ruining Ephesus
because so many people were turning to Jesus and not buying Demetrius’ silver
idols. The entire city went into the
huge amphitheater and were crying for action.
(Acts
19:30 NKJV) And when Paul wanted to go
in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.
Some have suggested that Priscilla and Aquila stepped in here somehow
and got Paul out of danger.
:5 Likewise
greet the church that is in their house.
They’re at it again.
They’ve opened up their home to the regular meeting of believers.
:5 Greet my
beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
beloved
– circle the word in your text.
Epainetus
– we know nothing more of this guy, other than he might have been related to
some other folks that Paul mentions to the Corinthians
firstfruits – This guy was one of the first to believe in Corinth.
Achaia –
This is the southern part of Greece, of which Corinth was a major city. This is
where Paul is writing from.
Apparently Epaenetus had moved from Corinth to Rome.
Note: Pay attention to how many
people Paul knows in Rome, even though he hasn’t been there yet himself.
:6 Greet Mary,
who labored much for us.
We know nothing about this Mary.
labored
– kopiao – to
grow weary, tired, exhausted with toil or burdens or grief. Circle the word in your
text.
:7 Greet
Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note
among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Andronicus and Junia – may have been a husband and wife.
countrymen – suggenes – of the same kin, akin to,
related by blood; in a wider sense, of the same nation, a fellow countryman
These folks might have been Jews, or Paul might
mean that they came from Tarsus, or even that they are relatives.
fellowprisoners – we don’t know what Paul means
specifically here. He wasn’t in his long
term prison mode yet. But he had been
arrested and put in jail many times (2Cor. 11:23).
among the apostles
– Sometimes the word only is used to refer to the “twelve”. But the word is
used to describe more guys than just the “twelve”. Barnabas and Paul were
called “apostles” even though they were not a part of the “twelve” (Acts
14:14).
in Christ
before me – These guys had come to Christ before Paul had.
:8 Greet Amplias,
my beloved in the Lord.
Amplias –a common name among slaves.
beloved – circle
the word in your text.
:9 Greet Urbanus,
our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
Urbanus – a common, Roman, slave name, meaning “from the city”. Circle the
words “worker” and
“beloved”.
:10 Greet Apelles,
approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
Aristobulus – He may have been
the brother of Herod Agrippa I, making him a close ally of the Emperor Claudius.
:11 Greet
Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who
are in the Lord.
Herodion my
countryman – possibly a relative of Paul’s. “Herodion” may be an indication
that this person was also related to the household of Herod. Many of the Herods
had names similar to this.
Narcissus
– Scholars think that he was the personal
secretary of Emperor Claudius.
It is possible that at least two households
within the palace had Christians in them. These may have been some of the folks
Paul mentions when he in prison in Rome and writes back to the Philippians:
(Phil 4:22 NKJV)
All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's
household.
:12 Greet
Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis,
who labored much in the Lord.
Tryphena and
Tryphosa – probably sisters, possibly twins. Both their names come from the
same root word, meaning “softness”
labored
– kopiao – to
grow weary, tired, exhausted with toil or burdens or grief. Circle the words
“labored” (2x) and “beloved”
:13 Greet Rufus,
chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
This doesn’t mean that Paul was a brother of Rufus, it means that he
considered Rufus’ mother to be like a mother to him.
(Rom 16:13 NLT) …his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.
Circle the word “mine”.
Mark tells us –
(Mark 15:21
NKJV) Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of
Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to
bear His cross.
It’s possible that this Rufus was the son of the man who carried the cross of
Jesus. What an incredible legacy to grow up with.
:14 Greet
Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with
them.
The language
indicates that one of the house churches was among these folks.
:15 Greet
Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints
who are with them.
…and his sister
– do you think Paul had a problem remembering some names like I do?
:16 Greet one
another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
kiss – philema – a
kiss; a sign of fraternal affection, Christians were accustomed to welcome or
dismiss their companions in the faith. Circle the word in your text.
Not the same as
our kisses. The men
kissed men, women kissed women.
The kiss was either on the forehead, cheek, or in the case of men, on the
beard.
The kiss was to be “holy”. Pure. Nothing sensuous. Just simple, brotherly
love.
You see in Paul’s letter a picture of the church looked like in Rome.
After Paul mentions Phoebe, he mentions 28 people, and a couple of common
traits keep popping up. I had you circle them.
Lesson
Loving
The church is all about loving one another. Jesus said,
(John 13:34-35
NKJV) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I
have loved you, that you also love one another. {35} "By this all will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
The chief thing that will show the world that we belong to
Jesus is that we love one another like He loves us.
What’s difficult is that we tend to love a little differently than God
loves.
Our love tends to be based on things we like about people. Usually we tend
to love people that are a little more like us.
We are drawn to people who dress like we do, enjoy the same food as we do,
like the same movies that we do, people who smell like we do.
But did you notice the wide variety of people in the church in Rome?
Simple tentmakers.
Slaves. Men and women. People of high standing in the imperial court.
Often our churches are made up of people who are from the same economic or
educational background. We often are people from the same political bent. They
say when it comes to race and color, that Sunday morning is the most segregated
day of the week.
It shouldn’t be so. We ought to love one another.
The longer you spend in one church, you are going to run into people that
you don’t really care for much.
Some people are rude and obnoxious. Some tell bad jokes. Some
people are socially awkward – they get you into a conversation and expect you
to carry the conversation while they just stare at you.
Do you love them?
John wrote,
(1 John 4:7-8
NKJV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone
who loves is born of God and knows God. {8} He who does not love does not know
God, for God is love.
Lesson
Serving
The church is all about serving the Lord together.
Some of that serving requires hard work. Working until you are exhausted.
Sometimes we don’t really want to be serving anyone…
Illustration
Have you ever stopped to define what you think a mature
Christian looks like?
Is it someone who knows a lot of facts about the Bible?
Is it someone who knows how to quote Bible verses from memory?
Is it someone who knows stories of what God did in the Jesus movement in
the 60’s and 70’s?
Is it someone who has been going to the same church for twenty years?
Is it someone who is in charge of a ministry and has lots of people to boss
around?
I’d say that each of those things might be a bit deceptive
and not exactly what a mature Christian looks like.
A mature Christian is one who has learned to serve Christ.
Jesus said,
(Mark 10:42-45 NKJV) …"You know that those who
are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones
exercise authority over them. {43} "Yet it shall not be so among you; but
whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. {44} "And whoever of
you desires to be first shall be slave of all. {45} "For even the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
How long do you have to know the Lord before you can serve Him? You can
start right away.
You can serve in an official capacity – like being an usher, teaching a
Children’s class, or helping in the kitchen.
You can serve in an unofficial capacity – picking up trash around the
grounds, making a point to look for new people in church and being kind and
friendly to them, praying over the prayer list each week.
Just learn to serve, not be served.
:17-18 A warning
:17 Now I urge
you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the
doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
note – skopeo – to look at, observe,
contemplate
The idea is to pay close attention to someone who fits this
description.
Don’t ignore them. Mark them.
divisions
– dichostasia – dissension,
division. Literally, “twice standing”. These people are causing people to
divide into groups.
offenses – skandalon – the movable trigger of a
trap, any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall
We saw Paul use this word when he was talking
about handling the “gray” issues –
(Rom 14:13 NKJV)
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this,
not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
Whereas Paul was trying to show the people how to
operate in love and not cause another person to stumble, these people were
forcing certain issues and causing others to stumble.
“If he stumbles, why should I care?” they might
say.
doctrine
– didache – teaching;
that which is taught
This is a pretty broad word. Don’t just think of it describing only things
like who God is or how we are saved. It can carry some pretty practical things
as well.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about things like not being angry
at others, learning to forgive, not lusting in your heart, loving your enemies,
praying, not being anxious about the future, not judging others, and practicing
what you preach. At the end of it all …
(Mat 7:28
NKJV) And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were
astonished at His teaching,
avoid – ekklino – to
turn aside, keep aloof from one's society; to shun one
Lesson
Watch out for dividers.
Some cause division through bad doctrine.
Through history there have been groups that come up and divide the church
with their bad doctrine. Groups like Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses,
Mormons, and even people in some of the mainline denominations who would deny
that Jesus is God, or that the Bible is the Word of God.
Some cause division in the name of keeping doctrine pure.
I call them “heresy-hunters”.
Often their books take things that pastors say out of context, twisting words,
and causing the church to think in a very small manner.
Eventually people with this mindset get to the point where
it’s just “me and you, and I’m beginning to worry about you”.
Some cause division by causing people in church to take sides.
Sometimes it’s not an issue of doctrine, but just not liking the way
someone does something in church.
Most church splits are not over doctrine, but over very silly things like
deciding what color the carpet should be.
These people will force you to take their side of an argument or
disagreement.
We’ve seen churches (including our own) split over the strangest things.
:18 For those
who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by
smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
belly – koilia – the
whole belly; the innermost part of a man, the soul, heart
Lesson
Division and selfishness.
If you’re ever going to learn to get
along with others in this life, you’re going to have to learn somewhere along
the line that you can’t always have it your way. There comes a time when you
have to sacrifice your rights and your desires for the sake of others.
Paul wrote,
(Phil 2:1-4 NLT) Is there
any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any
fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? {2} Then make me truly
happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working
together with one heart and purpose. {3} Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on
others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. {4} Don't think only
about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are
doing.
Unity comes when you
are willing to sacrifice your own comfort for the sake of others. Unity only
can come when you are willing to humble yourself and to serve others.
Too often we can fall
into a trap of thinking that true happiness comes when we finally get all of
our needs met.
But the truth is that
God’s desire for us finding true fulfillment is in learning to meet the needs
of others and helping them out.
smooth words – chrestologia – fair speaking; the words
“sound good”
flattering speech – eulogia
– praise; polished language; this is
the word often used for a “benediction”, a “eulogy”
deceive – exapatao – to deceive; to cheat
simple – akakos – harmless, free from guilt. Literally, “not evil”. NIV has “naïve”, NAS has “unsuspecting”.
Lesson
Watch out for flattery.
Illustration
Men
seldom flatter without a purpose;
and they who listen to such music may expect to pay the piper.
Aesop (Fl. C. 550 B.C.)
Illustration
Flattery is like chewing gum--enjoy it briefly, but don't
swallow it!
--James S. Hewett, Illustrations
Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 207.
Illustration
In ancient Greece, the politically
crafty philosopher Aristippus
had learned to get along in court by flattering the tyrant King Denys. Aristippus looked
down his nose at some of his less prosperous fellow philosophers and wise men
who would not stoop that low. One day he saw his colleague Diogenes washing some
vegetables and he said to him disdainfully: “If you would only learn to flatter
King Denys you would not have to be washing lentils.”
Diogenes looked up slowly and in the
same tone replied, “And you, if you had only learned to live on lentils, would not have
to flatter King Denys.”
--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 206.
(Prov 26:28 NLT) A lying tongue hates
its victims, and flattery causes ruin.
:19 For your
obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I
want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
wise – sophos – wise; cultivated, learned
good – agathos – of good constitution or
nature; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy
simple – akeraios – unmixed, pure as in wines
or metals; of the mind, without a mixture of evil, free from guile, innocent,
simple
evil – kakos – of a bad nature; base,
wrong, wicked; troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful
Lesson
Be innocent with wickedness.
I don’t think we need to be so naïve that we don’t know what is evil,
but we certainly don’t need to be playing with fire.
I know that some pastors listen to some of the garbage radio talk
shows, supposedly so they can know what their people are listening to. That’s a dangerous approach. God says,
(Deu 12:29-31 NKJV) "When the LORD your God cuts off from
before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and
dwell in their land, {30} "take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared
to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not
inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I
also will do likewise.' {31} "You shall not worship the LORD your God in
that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to
their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their
gods.
You don’t need to be experienced in evil things. You need to stay away from them.
I grew up as a pretty good kid. I received the Lord in eighth grade. I
didn’t do drugs. I didn’t smoke. I
didn’t drink. I have to admit that there
were times when people would be sharing their testimony about the hard life
they had before Jesus, that I’d kind of wish I had experienced some of those
things. That’s a dangerous thing to wish
for. Stay far away from evil.
Lesson
Be smart with the good
things.
We don’t need to be ignorant of everything. Know what’s good. Get a doctorate in what is good. There’s too many good things to do that you
don’t need to waste time with the bad stuff.
:20 And the God
of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
If we keep ourselves innocent in evil things, and smart in good things,
we’ll see victory over Satan.
crush – suntribo – break, to break in pieces;
crush
Lesson
Victory comes in
obedience.
Sometimes we can’t help it when we’re tempted.
Luther said, “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you
can keep it from building a nest in your hair.”
Joseph couldn’t control whether or not he was tempted:
(Gen
39:7-10 NKJV) And it came to pass after
these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said,
"Lie with me." {8} But he refused and said to his master's wife,
"Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has
committed all that he has to my hand. {9} "There is no one greater in this
house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are
his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
{10} So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to
lie with her or to be with her.
Joseph worked for this household. He was going to be near this woman every
day. He could do nothing about that
aspect.
(Gen
39:11-13 NKJV) But it happened about
this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men
of the house was inside, {12} that she caught him by his garment, saying,
"Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran
outside. {13} And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her
hand and fled outside,
But when the temptation came too close, he ran.
It cost him. He
ended up in prison for a false accusation.
But he still stayed close to the Lord.
And God rewarded him for his obedience.
:20 The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
:21 Timothy, my
fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.
Timothy – Paul’s younger disciple. During Paul’s second and third
journeys, Timothy would often be sent on short assignments to check up on the
churches.
Timothy had been with Paul earlier in Macedonia, when he had written to
the Corinthians –
(2
Cor 1:1 NKJV) Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which
is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
Now Timothy is in Corinth with Paul when he writes to the Romans.
fellow worker – sunergos – a companion in work, fellow
worker
:22 I, Tertius,
who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.
This can be a bit confusing if you don’t understand the way Paul worked. Who
is “Tertius”?
He’s Paul’s secretary.
Paul is dictating this letter to Tertius. Tertius can’t resist and inserts this
little greeting from himself.
:23 Gaius, my
host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of
the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
Gaius – there was a man named Gaius in the Corinthian church
(1Cor. 1:14)
(1
Cor 1:14 NKJV) I thank God that I
baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
treasurer – Erastus was the city treasurer in Corinth, a
prominent man.
:24 The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
:25 Now to Him
who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus
Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world
began
:26 but now has
been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all
nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to
the faith;
The mystery is that God would ever do something as radical as saving
pig-dog Gentiles.
:27 to God,
alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
:25 to establish
– sterizo (“steroids”) – to make stable, place firmly, fix; to strengthen, make firm
Lesson
Stability comes from God
The world around us is lacking a bit of stability.
Illustration
It’s not just the stock
market that’s been telegraphing “trouble” about the economy. The price of thoroughbreds has watched
Wall Street’s gyrations. Yearlings that sold for an average of $27,295 in 1994
were fetching $54,506 in 2000. But recent sales have seen a 20 percent declines from
a year ago.
Moral: If you invest in horses, don’t expect stable prices.
Sometimes we wonder how we can ever keep going. We want to quit and run
away. God is strong enough to keep us steady.
Jude writes,
(Jude 1:24 NKJV) Now to Him who is able
to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of
His glory with exceeding joy,
Isaiah writes,
(Isa 40:28-31 NKJV) Have you not known? Have
you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the
earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. {29} He gives power to
the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. {30} Even the
youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, {31} But those who wait
on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like
eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Are you waiting eagerly and expectantly for the Lord? Are
you looking for Him to show up?
He’ll renew your strength, whether it’s enough for you to
mount up with eagles’
wings, or just enough to keep walking.