Epistles of Paul 88

In the earlier chapters about God's plan of salvation and various Christian living principles that was up to chapter 12. And an interesting brethren is that throughout Romans it actually is a very encouraging epistle. It's not like in Corinthians, which is very corrective. It really is encouraging.

And then, in chapter 13, he discussed about conduct with the world, proper conduct, respecting authorities. And then on chapter 14, he explained about not to judge those that are weak or new in the faith on different matters of, let's call it, opinions. In other words, over doubtful things. In other words, he was not talking about doctrinal issues. And then on the 15th chapter of Romans, Romans 15, he started talking to those that are strong. In other words, those that are sound doctrinally and mature in Christian living. And how those that are more mature can help those that are weak, to help those that are weak, carry their load until they are able to carry it by themselves or able to understand. And then he showed how Christ did the same thing for us. And that's the same thing for us. And so in verses 5 and 6 of Romans 15, he shows how God is a God of patience and comfort. And we need to be like-minded towards one another. In other words, whether we are strong or whether we are weak, we need to be like-minded. And that's similar to what he said in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 3 and 4. So in verse 9, then he goes on and says, the promise to Abraham ultimately pointed to God's intent that all nations would believe, would all nations would have an opportunity to be saved for salvation. And this is very encouraging, again, because he's writing to the Gentiles. And previously it was thought that only those that were circumcised, or Jews, or Israelites, that would have that opportunity.

And he made it very clear that that was not so. And so he showed that God was going to extend his mercy and God's plan of salvation to the Gentiles, to everybody. Now, the Jews had not grasped that previously. Therefore, Paul emphasized that very, very exciting good news.

Paul admits also, and we see that in verse 16, that he had this burning responsibility, this commission given to him by God to preach this gospel, to preach this good news, particularly to the Gentiles. And in verse 17, so let's just read Romans 15 verse 17, he says, Therefore I have reason to glory to Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. And so, you always see that he has this responsibility, and he had a reason to have great joy for this responsibility, or rather this most honorable and important work that God had given him, which is not only an honor that it was granted to him, but that there was a success in this ministry, and he was having successes. God was blessing it with different successes.

And then in verse 19, he says, in mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God.

And so, he shows that he was preaching, and he was sent, and he went preaching, not by his own power and might, but by God's Spirit, by the mighty power of God.

And therefore, he had, therefore, the signs of being an apostle, of one that was sent by God, and God backed him up with that. So, that in a nutshell, that Paul described that that was his God-given responsibility. And so now, he moves forward, starting from verse 22, towards closing the letter to the Romans, and by discussing first, he is intent or desire to come and visit the brethren. So, so far we've seen that this epistle has been an encouraging one. It's not been one of, of, you've got to work on this, you've got to work on that. Yes, there was a little bit about encouraging the ones that are weak, be kind to them, but overall, it's a very positive epistle. And so now, he moves towards closing the letter, and in Matthew, in verse 22, he says, for this reason, I also have been much injured from coming to you. And so he says, there have been things that have prevented me from coming to see you. I've wanted to come and visit you, but just circumstances have prevented me to come and see you. And so in verse 23, he says, but now, no longer having a place in these parts and having a great desire these many years to come to you. Whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. And so he says, his plan is, as he's completing now, his third missionary trip. So he's writing this letter from Corinth, and now he's planning to go back to Jerusalem. He's gonna then, when he goes to Jerusalem, then his plan is to do, let's call it, a fourth trip to go to Spain. And on his way to Spain, in words, let's call it the Iberian Peninsula, because in those days there was no two countries there, like Portugal and Spain. So it was just one area, that's what it was called, that whole region. So once you go to that region, then you would stop off in Rome on the way there.

And as we know, it did not work out that way. Because when he got to Jerusalem, he was falsely accused, and he was taken prisoner, and then he appealed to Caesar, and he ended up going to Rome as a prisoner. So not the way he intended to go to Rome, but he did go to Rome. But he went to Rome as a prisoner. It is possible, we believe, that later on he may have gone to Spain after his first Roman captivity.

Later on, he had a second Roman captivity, during which he died. All right, continue reading in verse 24, in the latter part, for I hope to see you on my journey, that's in the journey to Spain, and to be helped on my way there by you. In other words, I hope that you will provide some assistance, maybe some financial assistance or whatever, to help me go to Spain. If first I may enjoy your company for a while, so yes, first I want to spend a bit of time with you, enjoy your fellowship, and then go towards Spain. Verse 25, and then he said, but now I'm going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. Well, as we know, he had been collecting offerings from the churches in Achaia, that is in the southern part of Greece, and Macedonia, which is in the northern part of Greece, he had been taking offerings. And so he's going to take up that offering, that gift, as it says here, that ministering to the saints, he was going to take that to Jerusalem, because there was a famine in Jerusalem. Let's read verse 26 for it, please those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. So Paul, therefore, was now gathering this these gifts and this help that he had received from brethren in in Macedonia and Achaia. Now, I just want to show you briefly a map here that we can see here that in this third missionary trip, he went through the areas of Galatia, and then he stopped in Ephesus, where he stayed there for more than two years from where he wrote 1 Corinthians as we went through, basically a corrective letter. Then he wanted to get news about that letter. He was hoping to meet Titus, and then he went further up, and he came further north, and then he met Titus there for the pie. He met Titus there, and then he wrote 2 Corinthians, which was very encouraged with the news of what happened there. And then we know that he went further west towards Berea, and he may have gone up to Illyricum, and then he came back, and he went further down to Corinth, and from there he wrote this letter to the Romans. And after that, his intent was to go back and to go to Jerusalem, to actually give that gift to the brethren. So that was basically his intent.

Right, so let's just now read verse 27. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors, for if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. So the Gentiles received the blessings from the early beginnings of the Church, which was basically from Jerusalem and where it started, and those blessings that they received were spiritual blessings or spiritual gifts. You know, the Gospel, the understanding of the Gospel and the truth, it's now their turn, he's saying, to return the blessings, but now in physical ways. So that's what he's saying here in verse 27. Now, verse 28, Therefore, when I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. And so again he says that once I go to Jerusalem and I've delivered this fruit to them, which is my intent and desire, I will then do, let's call it a fourth missionary trip, come and visit you on the way to Spain. We see in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 11, 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 11, you see, for if we have some spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? In Y in the section of 1 Corinthians 9, he's talking about that he hears sound, all that sound, to the brethren in Corinthians, the Gospel, spiritual understanding. And so, is it wrong if we reap physical things from you? And now he's telling them that they need to be doing the same. As we know here in 1 Corinthians 9 verse 11, continues now in verse 12, because we can see that he's talking about receiving tithes. In other words, if others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless, we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we heed the Gospel of Christ. The analogy I have is, for instance, when I go and serve in Brazil or other countries, the tithes there don't go to finance my troops or my stay there at all. The tithes that are taken there are used a little bit to help a little bit the work there in Brazil. The reason I say is to help the work a little bit in Brazil is because the little tithes that they have doesn't even cover a fraction of the expenses there. So we have to send, comparing, compared to what they give, we have to send a lot from the States. I'm not complaining, I'm just explaining, and this is similar, Yah, that is giving the principle that you received spiritual blessings, you should be prepared to attribute some of that in your tithes to God. And so that's what he's saying, Yah, in Romans chapter 15 verse 28. Now continue now in verse 29, but I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. What he's saying is that he'll come to them with the blessing of this wonderful good news of salvation, and I will explain it in more detail. I'll come to you and explain how salvation is now valid for Gentiles. And then he continues in verse 30 and 31. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me. So he says, he knew, he knew that when he was going to go to Jerusalem, he knew that he was going to have a tough time. He knew there were a lot of accusations against him.

He knew that there were many false ideas about what he was doing. And so I'll be a part of it. So he says, please pray for me. Verse 31, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. And so he says, please pray that I may be delivered from those that are going to try and attack me and going to put difficulties in my life. So please pray for that. Verse 32, that I might come to you with joy by the will of God and may be refreshed together with you. So his hope is that he would come and see the Romans with great joy. That was his hope, that he would go there and see the Romans with great joy.

Let's just look at the book of Acts to see what happened to Paul as he went back to Jerusalem. So in Acts chapter 20, Acts chapter 20, Acts chapter 20 verse 23, Acts chapter 20 verse 23, it says here, and I'm going to read from verse 22 because it's beginning of a paragraph, and see now, I go bound in the spirit of Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

So he knew that he was going to get problems, and he is now in chapter 20 of Acts. He is actually on his way back. He is now talking to the Ephesian brethren. As I showed you in this map, let me put it up for you again so you can see where are we in this trip. Let's look at this map again.

And he came from Corinth. Here in Acts 20, he is now in Ephesus. He was there briefly, very briefly, and he says, I am going to find difficulties when I go there. And that's why he called for the elders. He called for the elders, and he told him that there's going to be troubles. You read the very few verses after verse 23, where he says in other that wolves, he says that wolves will come from amongst you. He says that there will be trials. That you read that in verse 29. For an elder said, After my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not spit in the flock. Also from amongst yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. So he knew that there was going to be an attack on the church in Ephesus.

He also was saying goodbye to them, because he was saying, this will be the last time I'll see you.

And then he went to Jerusalem. On his way to Jerusalem, look for instance Yah in chapter 21 verse 3 and 4. In chapter 21 verse 3 and 4 he says, and when we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left. And you can see Yah on the map that they passed it, Cyprus on the left.

And then and then he goes on and landed at Tyre. So they landed all the way down here at Tyre.

All right. And there the ship was to unload her cargo. And we read in verse 4, and finding the disciples, that's Acts 21 verse 4, we stayed there seven days. So we stayed there for a week. And they told Paul, these disciples inspired, they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. And that's what he says. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. Why? Because they knew, and they were near Yah, they knew it was this big, big resistance, let's call it conspiracy, building up against him. And then we read in verse 8, still in Acts 21 verse 8, it says, And on the next day we were, Paul's companions, departed and came to Caesarea and entered the house of Philip, the evangelist. So that they now enter into Philip's house, which is one of those seven deacons of Acts chapter 6. And it says, who was one of the seven and stayed with him.

All right. So verse 9, now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. In other words, their daughters, or by God's pardon, his daughters, were warning him not to go to Jerusalem.

And verse 10 and 11 says, And we stayed many days.

A certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. So we stayed, so there were the iron Caesarea. And many days a prophet, so we look at the map with Caesarea, a prophet came from Judea to Caesarea.

And that his name was Agabus. And when he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And so we see that he had many warnings. He had many warnings not to go to Jerusalem. Now let's continue in verse 33. That's Romans chapter 15 verse 33. And he says, Now the God of peace, Abba Goparin, we just read verse 32, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God and may be refreshed together with you in adversity. Correct. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. So that's how he basically ended this section and shows, hey, he basically completed the whole objective of this gospel to the Romans. He completed by doing what? By showing God's plan and our mutual responsibility of bearing one another's difficulties and challenges when people are struggling, help them, not to argue about doubtful things like opinions, this opinion, that opinion, but strive after whatever makes peace, as we read in Romans 14 verse 18. He says, Romans 14 verse 18, he says, But for he who serves God in these things is accepted to God and improve on man. Therefore, let us pursue, verse 19, the things which make for peace and to build up the church, that you may defy one another to build up the church. Those that are spiritually mature help the weaker ones, and therefore we build up the church. Now I want you to notice something here in verse 33.

It talks about the God of peace, but look at it. He started in verse 5 of the same chapter. In verse 5, he says, Now made the God of patience and comfort. So we may have hope to be like-minded.

Then in verse 13, he says, May now the God of hope that to fill you to fill you up with joy and peace. That's what he says, the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. And now in verse 33, he says, the God of peace, peace reconciliation first by Jesus Christ, and Christ and the Father give us peace of mind. God's peace, that God's peace may reign in us. So that was his basically very encouraging message to the Romans. Now in chapter 16, it's like the final greetings, sending greetings to everybody. And so in this chapter, there is no explicit teaching, except at the end of the chapter, he gives them a warning, as we will see just now towards the end of the chapter. He gives them a warning just to be wise, wise as a serpent, as harmless as a dove. He gives them a warning, but there's no in this chapter, there's no explicit teaching, but he lists a number of people that for most cases we don't know who they are, but shows yeah Paul's concern for, in my account if I'm wrong correct me, but about 26 people in Rome, and yeah Paul knows their works. And note, he had never been to Rome. He had never been to Rome, but he is sending greetings to 26 brethren in Rome, naming them individually by name.

So it is an amazing concern that he has for people, an amazing memory remembering those names.

Now how did he know all these people? Again, because he'd never been to Rome. Well, it's possible, there's a possibility that many of these brethren had visited other areas. You see, remember that Rome was a capital city of the empire, and many people come in and out of Rome, or some brethren had visited Rome and mentioned to him about some of the people that are in Rome.

And therefore, some of these people maybe had even migrated to Rome or visited from Rome areas where Paul was and then went back to Rome. So there are different possibilities. Now, we have here another point here, as we start reading in verse one. I comment to you, Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the church in St. Crea. Now, where is St. Crea?

He was writing this epistleia from Corinth. Now, St. Crea was a city due east of Corinth, just due east, a little bit east of, and he was saying, I comment to you, Phoebe, our sister was a servant of the church in St. Crea. So it's just like being a satellite city of Corinth, and it appears that Phoebe went to Rome, and she was probably the one that delivered this letter. Here we have this sister that was going to Rome. She was going to travel to Rome, and so it appears that she's the one that brought this epistle, carried with her this letter, to the Romans. Now, I wanted to pay attention here to the word servant. In verse one, I comment to you, Phoebe, our sister who is a servant. The word here, in this specific instance, is the Greek 1249, which is the echinos, which is a word which is used for the office of a dicke or dicke-nes.

Now, it's not the word dolos, servant, the Greek 1401. For instance, in Philippians 1 verse 1, it says, dolos, which is servants. Philippians 1 verse 1 says, it says, yeah, Paul and Timothy, bond servants of Jesus Christ. You see, so it's a word related to being servants, bond servants.

So the word here is not the word of dicke-nes. Now, the word for dicke-nes, you can see, is also used the Ein Philippians 1 verse 1, a little later, with the bishops and dicke-nes. So you can see that word is used for dicke-nes. Another example is in 1 Timothy. I beg your pardon. 1 Timothy 3. And you know, chapter 3 of Timothy is that section that talks about offices of elders and dicke-nes. And then in verse 8, it says, likewise dicke-nes.

That word there is the same word, diacke-nes. Then also in verse 12, you see that in verse 12, let dicke-nes, diacke-nes. And also then in verse 10, let them serve as dicke-nes. That's a slightly different word. It's diaconea, not as diaconos, but diaconea. But it says, let his first be tested, let them serve as dicke-nes, being found blameless. So you can see, the example here is that this lady, as we can see here in Romans 16, verse 1, phobey, she was very probably a dicke-nes.

It's interesting that it also says, who is a servant or dicke-nes of the church? You see, so strongly suggests that it is a church recognized position of the church in St. Crea. So she, so it appears that she's a dicke-nes of the church in that, in that, let's call it, satellite town of Corinth. Verse 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. So she has been serving and helping a lot of people in that church area. Could it be in, maybe helping people that had needs, helping them with housekeeping, with cooking, whatever it may be, bravely in the church went out and served for them as a dicke-nes. Verse 3, and so he's saying, well, accept phobia, and then he says, okay, and Yah is greetings. Yah has the greetings. Yah has those greetings that Yah likes. It's note that there are at least seven, maybe nine, ladies that he's referring to, and the first one being Priscilla in verse 3. Then in verse 6 we got Mary.

Then in verse 7 we've got Junia. There is a question mark that Junia may be a name which is also masculine, so like Junius, but it appears that it could have been a couple, and Ronicus and Junia.

So there is a possibility. And then we also see more ladies in verse 7. It says, Greet and Ronic, I beg your pardon, in verse 12, greet Trifenia and Triphosa. And then it says, we have labored in the Lord, and Greek the beloved purses, who labored much in the Lord as well. So here are three ladies mentioned in verse 12. Then we see in verse 13, we see Rufus' mother. In verse 13 he's talking about Rufus' mother. He says, Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother.

So there is also another lady. Now, it says, his mother and mine. It's more along the lines of that. It was to him like a mother. She was to him like a mother. So in affection. Now in verse 15, we have Greet Philologus and Julia. There are some people that have a question whether Julia was a lady, because it could be Julius, or a Greek word more around that Julius, but it appears that it's a couple.

And then we have a Nerus' sister. It says, Nerus is any sister. And so we have at least seven, maybe nine, ladies that is greeting you in this list of 26 people. So these were pointed out by Paul as hard workers, outstanding examples in the church. These ladies provided a great help in the ministry in their own way, helping by serving. And then, and obviously it starts with Aquila and Priscilla, which is a husband and wife team.

And maybe the reason we mentioned her first is maybe she was more outgoing or more dominant type personality, but it was definitely a couple there. Then we read in verse four, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. They were responsible for helping and serving the churches, and at times they risked their own lives to help Paul.

Verse five, Greet Mary, who labored much for us, of Beggar Para, verse five. Likewise, Greet the church that is in their house. In verse five, so the church was in their house. So we have had churches in people's homes, small groups, churches at home. I remember when United started in South Africa in Johannesburg, the first few meetings was in somebody's home. And then what happened is that in Rome, what happened is that Claudius passed a decree that all Jews were to leave Rome, and so they left Rome and went to Corinth.

And that's what happened to Priscilla and Aquila. They had been in Rome, they left Rome, and they came to Corinth. We're reading Acts 18 verse 2 during Paul's second journey, Acts 18 verse 2, that they met Paul in Corinth, Acts 18 verse 2. Now remember, he's writing Romans from Corinth. So Acts 18 verse 2, we read here, and he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome, and he came to them.

And so then we see, and so because he was of the same trade, he, Paul, stayed with them, Priscilla and Aquila, and worked for by occupation, they were tent makers. So Paul worked with them, and then later we read in verse 18 when Paul left Corinth, and went to Ephesus, and where he stayed in Ephesus for a few years. We read that in verse 18, still in Acts 18 verse 18. So Paul still remained a good while, then he took leave for the of the brethren, and sailed to Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with them.

So they traveled with Paul, and then, and he had his head cut off at St. Korea, for he had taken a vow, and then in verse 19, they came to Ephesus. So they came with Paul at the end of the second journey, and they went with Paul to Ephesus, and we know he was in Ephesus for quite a while. And he went to Ephesus and left him there, but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

And so it's possible that these two, Priscilla and Aquila, were instrumental in helping developing the work of the Church in Ephesus. We know that afterwards, when Paul left, we read the eye in verse 22, that he left, he landed at Caesarea, and then he went to Antioch. So that was the end of his second trip. But we can see then, in verse 24, that there was a man, a certain Jew, named Apollos, and then he was very eloquent in scriptures.

But he didn't fully understand all the truth correctly. And so he's reading verse 26 of Acts 18. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside, privately, and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And so we can see, Priscilla and Paul were very active in the work in various ways, and they helped in a gentle and kind way, helped Apollos to understand the truth a little bit better.

Also in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 19, 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 19, 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 19.

1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 19. 1 Corinthians chapter 16. He says, The churches of Asia greet you, Aquila and Priscilla greet you, heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in the house. And so Priscilla and Aquila, when they were in Asia, in Ephesus, they also opened up their home to have church at home. And therefore, by what we see in this letter to the Romans, we see that they went back to Rome, because in this letter to the Romans, Paul is writing and saying, Please greet them when you get there, when you are there in Rome. Please greet them. So, and again in Rome, they had a church in their home. We see that, as we read, in Romans 16, where verse verse verse four, I think, verse five, Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

So, we see that in the early years, there were churches where started gathering in people's homes. If the groups were small, maybe just one or two handfuls of people, then they'll meet at people's homes. Maybe even some of them got bigger. We see that also in Philharmon chapter two.

We can see archipas having a church around, and we see in Colossians chapter four, verse 15, Nervous in Laudasia also having a church in his home. It was probably only around about the third century that the church of God, various congregations, began to meet by in buildings. Maybe not just people's homes, but in some buildings. Whether they built buildings or they rented them, it's not very clear. Continue now in chapter 16 verse five. Then he says, greetings to Epinetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. So, he was the first one that was converted in that area, that region, Achaia, in that province. He was the first one that was converted. In verse six, we see another greeting to Mary, which labeled much for us, a great worker. Now, some commentators say that maybe her name was Miriam, which would be more of a Jewish name. And if that's the case, then she was a Jewess. In verse seven, we see others, a husband and wife, a teen, probably, maybe husband and wife, a teen of Adronikos and Juniors. But, as I mentioned, it could be Juniors. And so, maybe they were just people of the same tribe as Paul, in the words, of Benjamin, of the Benjamin descent. And, interesting, it says they were in jail with Paul. It says, yeah, who are Junior, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners. So, they were in jail within. We don't know when it happened. Maybe there were some times that Paul was in Judea and then was temporarily put into jail. We don't know. We don't have that description. It also says, yeah, who are of note. That means they had an excellent repetition, not only to Paul, but excellent repetition, or very well known by the Apostles. It says, who are of note among the Apostles, who also were in Christ before me. In other words, they were converted before Paul was converted, and now they are in Rome. In verse 8, greet amplias, my beloved, in the Lord.

Now, that is a very high praise from an Apostle to a fellow Christian. In verse 9, greet urbanus, my fellow working Christ, and stackers, my beloved. And so, yeah, we have maybe the first one, urbanus, my fellow worker, could be that he was also a minister, and stackers, someone that he really cared for, as in verse 5. So we can see being a man of great compassion and love.

Now let's move on to verse 10. This is Negrita, a palace approved in Christ. The word approved, documents, means approved through testing. So he had been proven and tested that he was faithful. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Now, it's possible that Aristobulus might not have been converted himself, but some members of his household could have been, for instance, some of his slaves. So maybe he was a well-known Roman. Maybe he could have even been dead by the time this was written. We don't know. We just don't know. But it does not appear that it was converted, but it was those that worked in his house. Maybe his slaves, as I mentioned. In verse 11, Greet erosion, my country man. So again, probably another member of the of Benjamin, another Benjamin, Benjamin Knight. Then he talks about Greet those who are of the household of narcissists. Now, again, this is very similar to the situation of Aristobulus in verse 10, which is the household of narcissists. So again, it's those of that either household or of that family that are in the church, because others were not in the church, because it says of household or narcissists who are in the Lord. So it's those that were in the church. Verse 12, Greek, triphina and triphosa, those two ladies, some believed they were twins because of their names being very similar. And then it also greet the beloved persons. So another lady that served the Lord. Verse 13, this another servant and his mother, as I mentioned to you, that his mother was like a mother to Paul. Verse 14, and then in now verse 14, it mentions a number of people, and it says, and the brethren were with them. So it could be a group of people that are part of this congregation in this one, let's call it, home church, home congregation. Maybe it was a congregation in the home, and he has these people that were part of that congregation in that home greet them. And the same thing is similar in verse 15, another possible congregation. He says, mentions these people and all the saints who are with them in words in that little nuclear congregation that they had in. And in verse 16, it says, greet one another with a holy kiss. Now, some people in an American culture find it difficult to maybe comprehend, but if you go to certain countries in Europe and in the Middle East, it is more of a culture of people kissing each other on the cheek. This is very true as well when I got to see family in Portugal, very common to kiss on one cheek and then kiss on the other cheek. But this is along the lines of a very special one because it was not just family, but it is a holy, godly relationship. To us today, maybe more like a genuine hug, not just maybe a handshake, but a real genuine hug, that probably would be more similar to a situation today in the American culture.

Verse 17, now in verse 17, Paul has to warn them, and this is a section that says, like I mentioned, the soul epistle is an encouraging epistle, but here in verses 17 through 19, he's warning them to watch out for their spiritual enemies because they would be spiritual enemies that are going to come sooner or later to cause problems, to cause the visions and offenses contrary to doctrine. That's what he says. Now I heard you break from note. In other words, take note. The Greek word is scopio, which means consider. Take heed. Look at. Pay attention. The King James Version uses the word mark, and we have sometimes used that word mark as like, mark them as like black sheep type of thing, really black thing. No, that's not the intent. It's more along, hey, take note if people are teaching false doctrine, for instance, if somebody comes to church and start telling you, you don't have to keep the Sabbath, then obviously we will just fellowship that person. We'll tell him, look, you can't come yet. And therefore, watch those that create the vision and offenses contrary to our doctrine, which we know is a doctrine that we have learned, as it says. Verse 18, For those who are such, do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but they are barely, and by smooth words and flattering speech, deceive the hearts of the simple. And so Yah is saying, hey, just because you are in the church, just because you baptized, don't think you can't be deceived. Don't think you cannot be deceived. You can be deceived. So be careful, because these are very cunning. They've got smooth words. They're very deceitful. Be careful, they're flattering speech, but it's to deceive the hearts of the simple. And that reminds you of Matthew 10 verse 16, which says, Be as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. We are to be very careful, very wise, but don't cause harm. In other words, we're going to have the wisdom of a serpent, in other words, to protect us from unnecessary exposure to harm. But harmless like a dove, that means avoiding, therefore, any sinful action to escape that danger or any evil action. So that's what it says. Be careful of those. And verse 19, For your obedience has become unknown to all. Therefore, I'm glad on your behalf, but I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. You know, you've been faithful. This letter is an encouraging letter. You've been faithful, but, you know, be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil, as I explained to you. Harmless like a dove. Now verse 20 says, But the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. This is prophesied right in Genesis chapter 3, when there was Eve was deceived and Adam's son following the so-baying God, and in fact both the so-baying God, but then there was that punishment to Satan that he would be crushed. And there it says here, And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. There was in the future that will happen. Verse 21, Timothy, and now he gives greetings from the people that are with him, those that are with Paul, Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sossypater, my countryman, Grechew. And then the scribe, you know, was the person that Paul dictated this letter to, and he was the one that actually wrote it. Let's call it the topographer, the scribe.

I, Tertius, who wrote the Sippus, so Grechew in the Lord as well. And then verse 23, Gaius, my host, and the host of the whole church, Grechew. In other words, he was a man that that opened up his house and says, well, come and stay with me. Come and stay in my house. I've got a spare room for you. And he had to open up a home for Paul, and he had to open up a home to many other people in the church as well. And so he says, Gaius, my host, and host of the whole church, Grechew. He asks us, the treasure of the city, Grechew. And quarters, a brother, treats you. So, Grechew. So there is a number of people there that were with Paul. So Paul, as he concludes this letter, he sends greetings to a number of brethren in Rome, many of them that he knew, and he then has greetings from those that are with him. And then verses 25 through 27, it's like a closing prayer. It's like a closing prayer to this letter. And then it says, verse 25, now to him, which is obviously God, who is able to establish you according to my gospel, and who is able to teach you to make you understand, understand according to my gospel, according to the good news about Christ and his role in this great plan of salvation, which I've explained to you in this letter. And this plan has been hidden from mankind, but it's now revealed to God's people, to the church. And he says, yeah, according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation, it was this plan that has been hidden of the mystery, mystery that Gentiles will have salvation and all in God's great plan. And as this letter explained, this plan of salvation, which was kept secret since the world began, people didn't understand it. But now, made manifest by the prophetic scriptures. You know, the prophecies are now clearly opened in our eyes, and we can understand it, and it's being made known to all nations. Yeah, all nations don't fully understand it, but it's being made known to all nations. According to the commandment, he says, the instruction of the Everlasting God, for what purpose? For obedience to the faith. It was for us to obey and live this way. And this to him, to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.

Amen. And so that's how he finishes Romans. And then, as we described, he now is going to go to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, he becomes a prisoner, he's sent to to Rome as a prisoner, and the follow epistles that will follow will be what we call present epistles, because it's epistles that he wrote while he was in Rome as a prisoner. And so in the next study, we'll start with Philharmon.