Romans Chapter 16 "Paul's Salutations, [1-20]; First and Second Postscript." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription/ location is provided by http://www.theseason.org Romans 16:1 "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:" Romans 16:2 "That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also." Phebe is making the trip and carrying this letter to the Romans. In other words, a woman carried the letter from Paul and delivered it into the hand of the Romans. Paul is telling the Romans to accept her in high regards, and assist her in any way that she might need your assistance. Lets look at the word "succourer" from the Greek text; the word is "prostatis", # 4291 in the Strong's Greek dictionary. It is the feminine form of the word "patronus", "To stand over, to preside over, to practice, be over, and rule over." Phebe was a teacher and the head of the church at Cenchrea, she practiced or taught, and ruled over that church. Today we call them preachers, and ministers. Women always have been the church builders of the church. You will find large numbers of women on the mission field, preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ. At home some of the best teachers in the church are women. Today many pastors come down hard on the women, saying they have no right to be pastors in the church, and in saying such, they totally disregard these first two verses of Romans 16. They spout off that women should be silent in church, as they quote from I Corinthians 14. They run off to I Corinthians 14:34; "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak: but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." Their entire sermon is about the grace that God offers, but when it comes to women, they like to place you back under the law. They overlook the fact of the subject being taught here in I Corinthians 14, is "confusion caused by the speaking of many different languages in the services", and the message to keep silent in the church service is directed to both the men and women, as well as the children. When taking verse 34 out of context, you distort the entire subject given of Paul's message from I Corinthians 14:27-40. Paul was saying that when the service is being given and the word is taught, men, women and children should stop chattering in church, and talking in many different languages. Cut out the confusion and put order in your services. This applies today as well as then. Phebe was a woman that stood before the church, and she handles those proceedings that went on in the church at Cenchrea. Paul has even put the responsibility of carrying the very doctrinal letter that all churches of all times will rely upon, in the hand of Pastor Phebe. Then Paul orders them to be good to her and assist her wherever you can. Phebe has converted and taught many people, and she has even blessed Paul when he sat under her. Some preachers have a real fear against competing against a woman in a promoted position in the church. Whatever it is, it is part of their tradition, and not from the Word of God. Friend, when you add to the Word of God, as Paul said earlier, it cuts you off from the blessings of God. It is time to teach dignity and respect of all people, and saints, regardless of race, or gender, Gentile and Israel. Not that we are alike, but that we respect what we are under Christ. God uses whom ever He pleases, and to each He gives gifts. So as we continue in the salutations, we will see just who was in the church. Romans 16:3 "Greet Priscilla, and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:" It is normal in God's Word, that the man's name is always given first, but that is not the case here. The only time that you will find Aquila listed before Priscilla is before they came into the ministry. Then after their conversion, Priscilla is always listed first. Paul admired Priscilla's abilities to teach God's Word, and in his respect for her. Paul calls her "Prisca" in his salute of her in II Timothy 4:19. Priscilla and Aquila even had a church in their home, and Priscilla taught there. Romans 16:4 "Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." This is still talking of Priscilla and Aquila, and Paul is saying that they even exposed themselves openly to death, in the protection of Paul. Friend this shows us just what kind of women were in the early church. To belong to a church could be a very dangerous thing, and the women were right out in front. The Roman government had a nasty habit of feeding Christians to the lions, beating them and taking their property. Romans 16:5 "Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus , who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ." Paul is saluting the church that is meeting in Priscilla and Aquilla's home. Epaenetus is one of the first converts in the church there. Romans 16:6 "Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us." This "Mary" in the Greek manuscripts, is "Mariam", which is the only Hebrew name in the entire list of people being saluted by Paul. We see here also that another woman is active in the church. In most congregations today women are also very active in the teaching of the Word. Romans 16:7 "Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me." Andronicus was special amongst the apostles. These people were right up front in the spreading of the Gospel, even before the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. Romans 16:8 "Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord." Romans 16:9 "Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ and Stachys my beloved." Urbane is a Latin name, and we can see the mix in the early church. Romans 16:10 "Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household." The salute is to those in Aristobulus' household, servants, and family, even though Aristobulus may not have been a Christian. Romans 16:11 "Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord." Then again it is possible that Narcissus was not a Christian, but those of his household were. Romans 16:12 "Salute Trphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord." Here again Trphena and Tryphosa are women's name, and they were active in the work of the Lord. Persis is a Persian feminine name, and she was a woman in the work of the Lord. There were three women making up the teaching staff of that church. Romans 16:13 "Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine." Romans 16:14 "Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them." All of these names are Greek names, that are made up of this church body. Romans 16:15 "Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sisters, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them." Here again Julia and the sisters of Nereus are workers within the church. When Paul greets the brethren, they are unknown to Paul, but surely known to God. It was dangerous to teach God's Word then. Even today, if you teach God's Word as it is written, the religious world will come down on you. Romans 16:16 "Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you." The churches that are in Christ salute you. Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrines which ye have learned; and avoid them." Today there is a Satanic mindset that is going around saying, "we have to have unity," and it doesn't matter what you believe, but we just have to be one. Be one of what? The mess that comes from this type of thinking is just plain confusion. Paul is directing each of us to learn and pay attention to those doctrines that he has taught, as they were given directly to him from Jesus Christ. Then when anyone comes around trying to teach something different, contrary to what is written in this book of Romans or any part of the Bible, avoid them and just don't listen to them. Those false teachers that teach other then what is written by the prophets and apostles are to be avoided. Those other teachings that are not written in God's Word is what is called the "traditions of men". This should be common sense to a Christian who has studied in the Word. Romans 16:18 "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." In many cases you can tell these people, or ministers, by the size of their offering plates, and the self-serving message and speeches that touch your emotions, and get to your purse strings. Their messages deceive the hearts, or minds of the simple [innocent], but in most cases today, their minds are simple. To many Christians today, they simply don't know when their pastor is teaching out of God's Word, or simply reading out of a funny book, nor do they care. To a scholar in God's Word, that is about what you have in most of their church quarterlies. How long has it been in your church since you have studied from God's Word chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. Is your teachings from God's Word or the traditions of men. Praise God for those that do teach the entire Word as it should be taught. Romans 16:19 "For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." Paul is telling us to be wise in doing good, and innocent in things concerning evil things. We learn what is good and evil from our studying of God's Word. Teaching falsely and the traditions of men can be evil and damaging to your mind. It teaches you to lean on the man that is teaching, and not God Himself. We are to be innocent and harmless in the ways and things of the world. Romans 16:20 "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." God will bruise Satan, his Kenites, or any of Satan's realm if they come near you, when you are in the peace of God, and studying to apply His Word to your life. This only applies when you are in our Father's Word. Do you understand our Heavenly Father's plan for this earth age? For then you know what to expect and how to direct your energies to prepare yourself for these end times. God's plan allows us to understand what Satan the Antichrist will be doing, and how he intends to deceive the whole world. Part of that plan of God is knowing the Kenites that are discussed in Matthew and John, and understand how they work and gain control in their merchandising, and bringing traditions (religion) to those unaware of who they are. When we know God's plan then we can direct our energy into pleasing God. If you are going to build a building, you hire someone that knows how to read the plans, and get the work done on schedule. The scholar philosopher may think he knows a lot, but you would not think of using him on your building job. You go to the person that knows the plan, and what the outcome of the job should be. Now apply this to God's plan for the ages. He has laid out His plan in detail, right up to His return at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. God has even given us in detail the events that will take place right up to the final moments of Jesus Christ's return, and yet most of the Christians chose to ignore those warnings, and chase after men's traditions, that will lead them right into Satan the Antichrist's religious system. Friend, it helps if you love Him, but more then likely if you do not know the plan of God, you will not become a hindrance and in the way of His plan. In the closing of this Book of Romans there are two postscripts. Romans 16:21 "Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you." Romans 16:22 "Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord." Romans 16:23 "Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you." Erastus the chamberlin of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother." Romans 16:24 "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen." Romans 16:25 "Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," This is the second postscript. This is written to every Christian that has their will to have God establish them, in what ever God's will is for them. If you don't know what this revelation of the mystery that was kept secret since the world began, then your in trouble. There is no way that you can be stablished unless you are familiar with that mystery. What is this revelation that was kept secret? Let's go to Matthew 13:35 "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." " This secret has been kept secret from way back in Genesis 1:1, to 1:2. The secret was kept from the foundation of the "Kosmos", or this earth age. There were many in that multitude that God did not want to hear and understand the meanings. Matthew 13:36 "Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying "Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field." The disciples wanted to know the meanings of Jesus Christ's teaching of the parables of the tares and fig tree. The disciples heard the parables along with the rest of the people, which included many Kenites. Following the teachings, the disciples wanted to know thsee secret parables, and if you do not know the secret of this parable, you will not be able to understand any of Jesus' parables. Matthew 13:37 "He answered and said unto them, "He That soweth the good seed is the Son of man;" In other words, it was God that created the children, Adam, Eve, and the various races. Matthew 13:38 "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;" This isn't hard to understand, the "field" in the parables is the whole world. The "good seed" are the children of God, and His kingdom. Any "kingdom" is made up of the king and his dominion, or every thing in the land that he rules over. If you have doubt as to who the wicked one is, Jesus is about to tell us in the next verse. We are talking about children in the parables, people that are the offspring of either the creation of God through Adam and Eve, or the offspring of the wicked one who is Satan. The children of Satan and Eve from the Garden of Eden are the offspring of Cain the first murderer. Matthew 13:39 "The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. In other words, this identifies the Kenites. The seed or child that came from the sexual union between Eve and Satan was Cain. So Jesus is telling His disciples here, just as Paul was telling you back in Romans 16:25 that you had better know this secret, or you just will not understand any of Jesus parables or the secrets from the beginning. This is also why Jesus was only pleased with just two of the seven churches of the end times, the churches of smyrna and Philadelphia. Because they both taught this, and understood who the Kenites are and were, even in the end times. It is important that this is taught, or quite frankly, your church is not in good standing with God. This is documented in Revelations 2:9, 10; and 3:9. The mystery then is tied to the first Earth Age, and what was accomplished there. Paul discussed it in the eighth and ninth chapters of Romans, and we are to learn it. Study and learn what happen in the first earth age, and then God can use you and establish you for His service. Matthew 13:40 "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world." The Kenites are part of God's plan and purpose, just as the Pharaoh was used of God in the days of the Egyptian captivity of Moses day. When they enter our midst and try to cause confusion, we are to avoid them. Know them for what they are and do not let them take control of your mind with their confusing doctrines and traditions. It is not for you to make the separation and judgment of the Kenites, for no man can read the intent of another's mind. Therefore God will make the separation at the close of this earth age. If a Kenite hears the Word and believes on the Lord, and repents in Jesus name, then he is no longer a Kenite, but a son of God, just as you are. Matthew 13:41 "The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;" Matthew 13:42 "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:43 "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." Romans 16:26 "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandments of the everlasting God, made know to all nations for the obedience of faith:" Faith cometh from hearing the Word of God, which was written by the prophets and apostles. Faith does not come by tradition, and there is no mystery to the believers that know and understands the Word of God, but only common sense. Romans 16:27 "To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." Paul completed this doctrinal letter, and it was carried to the Romans by the woman pastor Phebe, from the church at Cenchrea.
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