SIGNING THE BACK OF THE YEARBOOK
by Steve Zeisler
We live in a world that is desperate to understand and to succeed in having
relationships. The disintegration of a culture is experienced most profoundly
in the disintegration of relationships. I read the following opinion piece
in the newspaper this week by James Jarvis, a professional psychologist:
The two main conduits of the information highway are the personal
computer and the television. Both instruments tend to be used as solitary
pursuits, and isolation is a crazy-making machine. It has become easier
to ask a stranger a question on Internet than to walk down the hall at the
office, or pick up the phone and ask the same question of a friend...The
isolation and ease of using the information superhighway also tend to soften
impulse control. Imagine the possibilities:a couple of glasses of wine,
a handful of credit cards, and 24-hour shopping channels, where you just
punch buttons and order. It won't take long to run up a bill you'll later
regret. With access to every movie ever made only a remote control away,
how many hours and weekends will we while away in escapist activity? What
will happen to the already fragile social fabric of our society if we become
even more isolated from one another?...I don't have answers to these questions.
But we as Christians are convinced that the answers are our heritage and
our hope, and that they are found in Scripture.
We have come to the end of one of the great books of the Bible, the letter
of the apostle Paul to the Romans. Knowing that we are living in a world
that is disintegrating, that is experienced as a sadness by many as relationships
deteriorate, we can be encouraged. The last chapters of Romans have wonderful
insight into the nature of relationships: What does it mean to be friends?
What does it mean to love somebody? What does it mean to reach out toward
people who are different and may even be difficult? What makes possible
the love within the Christian community that is greater than the love that
can be experienced anywhere else?
In chapter 16 we come to a long list of names of people who come from two
places. Paul is going to send his greetings to a couple of dozen folks in
Rome who will receive this letter, and send greetings from those who are
with him in Corinth, where he is writing. We want to look closely at these
names and take seriously what we read here. In this apparently mundane passage,
we have insight into the possibilities of relationships that can be thrilling
to us and that give us a word to offer those around us who are hurting.
Let me attempt an analogy. You could say that Paul's letter to the Christians
in Rome in many ways resembles a high school yearbook. High school years
are meant to be building blocks for life. From ages fourteen to eighteen
we are supposed to learn skills, knowledge, and an approach to life that
will get us launched into early adulthood. These truths are to be remembered,
and life should be built on them.
One of the records of high school experience is a yearbook. It is the history
of the events, ideas, and accomplishments that took place during the year.
The book of Romans is a bit similar. It is a record of truths that can be
building blocks for life. What we read in this part of the Scriptures can
serve as a foundation for us. These are the essentials that we ought to
be reminded of again and again, upon which we ought to build our lives.
At the end of the school year most high school students approach their friends
with yearbook and pen in hand and say, "Would you sign the back?"
This week I dug out the yearbook from my senior year. It was a very interesting
experience. I had completely forgotten a fair amount of the references in
the handwritten notes in the back. I could hardly recall who some of the
people were, and I could only barely remember the teachers and classes they
mentioned. And on the other hand, there were a few notes that were very
poignant. I found myself thinking, "I haven't seen that person since
I was eighteen years old, and I'd love to know how they're doing."
So in the same way that at the back of most high school yearbooks we find
a collection of handwritten names, greetings, memories, and thoughts about
life at that stage; by analogy we find at the end of the book of Romans
some very personal words, too.
Great Help and Godly Courage
Let's begin now with verses 1-5:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church
in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the
saints and to give her any help that she may need from you, for she has
been a great help to many people, including me.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked
their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are
grateful for them.
Greet also the church that meets in their house.
Let's stop here in the middle of verse 5. The two longest references to
individuals in this yearbook, an individual in one case and a couple in
the other, are found at the beginning of the chapter. We are going to find
much shorter statements naming and describing other people as we go on.
These first individuals represent two groups that we will discover in the
course of thinking through the chapter. One is the group of people whose
origins are in Corinth where Paul is staying for three months and writing
this letter, and Phoebe represents that group. It says that she was from
the church in Cenchrea, which was part of greater metropolitan Corinth.
She was known to Paul because of his ministry in Corinth.
Verse 2 turns our attention to Priscilla and Aquila, who are in Rome, as
are the majority of those named here. Paul is writing to them and speaking
of them words of encouragement, greeting, hope, and so on to those who will
receive the letter.
One of the characteristics of the entire list of names is its variety. Most
notably, we observe that men and women are named together in their ministries,
their mutual involvement, their friendship, and their impact on the world
they live in. It was unusual in the era in which this was written to see
men and women so obviously enjoying fellowship and mutual ministry and involvement
together. It is striking that the first person mentioned representing the
Corinthian group and the first person mentioned representing the Roman group
are each women: Phoebe in the one case, and Priscilla, with her husband
Aquila, in the second. Further variety in Paul's list is seen in the combination
of slaves and high government officials, couples and singles, Jews and Gentiles,
and homeowners and itinerants.
Let's look at Phoebe first of all. There are two very strong words in Greek
that are used to describe her. The first is diakonos: "I commend
to you our sister Phoebe, a diakononof the church in Cenchrea."
This is the word from which we get our word deacon. It means somebody who
is called to serve, and is usually used of them when they have been tested,
when their gift of service and their willingness to serve are widely recognized
and well-formed. This is not someone whose service is occasional or sporadic.
Phoebe was characterized by a heart of service, and the church appreciated
her for it. She is the one who traveled to Rome bearing this letter to the
Roman church. Paul is saying, "I commend her to you." They would
have opened the letter and read it, and when they finally got to chapter
16, in response they would turn to thank her.
The second word that is used of Phoebe is prostatis: "She has
been a prostatis to many people, including me." This is someone
whose help is foundational or critical to other people. She was someone
who did a tremendous amount for others. Her help established their lives
so that they could be successful. To be called a diakonos and a prostatis
was a very significant thing. He is speaking of her in very strong terms;
she is someone he counts on. And he is personally grateful for the help
he has received from her.
Marriage and Ministry
Then we turn to those in Rome. "Greet Priscilla and Aquila...."
They are two of the people in the New Testament whose history and lives
are most stimulating to study. Prisca was the woman's name originally, and
she was given a diminutive form of it, Priscilla, most often by Paul. The
change was an expression of endearment. Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned
six times in the New Testament. In four of the six times her name appears
first, an observation that has led to speculation. One theory is that she
was a noblewoman who married a slave and went off with him to serve the
Lord. Another is that her personality was the more outstanding one and that
she tended to be the one you thought of first when you thought of the two
of them.
Whatever speculations are true, what stands out about Priscilla and Aquila
is that they ministered together everywhere. Priscilla and Aquila are a
wonderful example of having ministry as a couple. I commend the study of
their lives to you if you would like to think about what it means to join
with a marriage partner together in ministry. By persecution at times and
by choice at other times, they traveled around the Mediterranean world in
the service of Christ. They also worked together in the business of tent-making.
Note carefully at what Paul says of these two: "...[They are] fellow
workers in Christ Jesus." They had a teaching ministry that is mentioned
specifically in Acts. Paul views them as his fellows or comrades. "They
risked their lives for me," he says further. They were people who were
willing to do the difficult, dangerous things that required courage.
"Churches of the Gentiles everywhere are grateful for them." the
improper Claudius persecuted the Jews in Rome and banished many of them.
Priscilla and Aquila fled Rome in this persecution. They went to Corinth
where they met Paul, traveled with him to Ephesus, and ministered there.
He left them behind and came back and joined them in ministry later. They
went back again to Corinth and now finally are again in Rome. And everywhere
they have gone, Gentile people especially have appreciated this Jewish couple
for their courage and godliness.
Being Hospitable
Lastly, verse 5 says, "Greet also the church that meets in their house."
That too is characteristic of them. Wherever they were, they always made
their home available as a place for people to meet for fellowship, learning,
growth, and challenge.
Let me observe something about our community. We live at a crossroads. This
is a place where tourists come to enjoy the beautiful weather and the wonderful
conditions of life, see the sights, and so on. People come to Stanford hospital
for treatment of difficult medical problems. Frequently we have these folks
in this congregation. They are often afraid, and they need to be treated
hospitably. Many come to the great universities and to the multinational
corporations that have their headquarters here. We have opportunity after
opportunity to be welcoming to others, to show hospitality, to open our
homes and our hearts, to be kind, and to extend ourselves. It is one of
the great marks of real Christianity for people to take up the opportunity
to make their homes a place where Jesus can minister to others.
Clearly Priscilla and Aquila were that sort of people. They didn't depend
on having a specific location or on having things go well to practice hospitality.
They were hospitable in Rome, Ephesus, and Corinth. They were hospitable
when it was dangerous and when conditions were congenial; it didn't make
any difference. They didn't have to be bolstered by everybody around them
in order to succeed at their ministry. They were who they were from the
inside. Their lives were created by Christ who lived within them.
Let's continue with the rest of the people who were in Rome who will receive
greetings from the apostle. Verses 5b-16:
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to
Christ in the province of Asia.
Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me.
They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before
I was.
Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
Greet Herodion, my relative.
Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the
Lord.
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to
me, too.
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with
them.
Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the
saints with them.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ send greetings.
If you were to take my high school yearbook and read the names Jim, Nancy,
Beth, Bill, Frank, and Duane; you wouldn't know any of these people. The
little jokes that they wrote about what we experienced together would mean
nothing to you. And to some extent we have the same problem here. Unlike
Aquila and Prisca, most of the people in this list are known to us only
because of their reference here.
Memories
Yet I would suggest five themes that draw these people together. The first
is Paul's memories of people with whom he had specific experiences. Let's
go through the list and pick out some of these. "Epenetus, my dear
friend, was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia." Paul
had tried on two missionary journeys to get into the Roman province of Asia
and was unable to do so. The first missionary journey ended before he attempted
going north. On the second missionary journey, we are told, the Spirit specifically
forbade him entrance to the region, including the great city of Ephesus,
which would later become a center for ministry. Eventually he was allowed
to go there on his third missionary journey. I think he remembers longing
to have influence in that area and seeing the first person finally come
to Christ---this man Epenetus. I hope you have people in your life whom
you have seen come to Christ. You can remember the time when they did not
believe. Maybe doors were closed for awhile and later they were opened.
It is an encouragement to remember specific people and the stories of their
conversion.
In the beginning of verse 7 we see Adronicus and Junias, whom he calls "my
relatives." Now, there are six people in this chapter who are going
to get the title "my relatives." Often we think of Paul as having
dropped out of the sky like the lone ranger, as if he came from nowhere
and was loved by no one: the gunslinger for Jesus. But he mentions these
people who are his relatives. We don't know exactly in what sense they were
related to him. These two, Andronicus and Junias, may be husband and wife
if the name Junias is actually Junia (there are some manuscripts that list
it as the woman's name Junia and some that list it as the man's name Junias).
Or they may be brothers and or cousins. What they are for sure though, are
his relatives who had been in prison with him. "They are outstanding
among the apostles [sent ones], and they were in Christ before I was."
What do you think it would have been like to have been Andronicus and Junias
(or Junia), to have seen the young Paul when he hated Christ and his people,
cheered at their deaths, caused their imprisonment, and traveled about breathing
fire and anger against them; to have been in Christ before him and to have
seen his hatred? Did they pray for him? Did they fear him and run from him?
Probably both. And yet some time later they were in prison together. They
were those who had become outstanding among the apostles; they were sent
forth in ministry themselves. They were not apostles in the sense that Paul
and the twelve were. But they were ones sent into the Lord's service. And
Paul is grateful for them. Paul also greets another relative, Herodion,
about whom he doesn't mention anything.
The man Apelles in verse 10 has a wonderful epithet attached to his name.
He is "tested and approved in Christ." It doesn't say what the
test was. I would love to know, wouldn't you? He went through some fire,
some series of demands, some harshness; in which others would have failed
the test; they would have quit and not been approved. But he didn't quit.
The Lord put him through something, and Paul remembers it. He says of Apelles,
"greet him, the one who has been tested and who has the stamp of Jesus'
approval on him." I remember Ray Stedman's saying about this man once
that he thought the statement "tested and approved in Christ"
would be a great epitaph.
In verse 13 Paul says, "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother,
who has been a mother to me, too." These are very interesting people.
Do you remember the story of Jesus' crucifixion? He was arrested at night,
spent the night before his tormentors, was beaten thirty-nine times with
a cat-o'-nine-tails, and was bleeding. Weakened as he approached his execution
carrying his cross to Golgotha, he stumbled. There was a man from Cyrene
(Africa), a black man who was standing by the side of the road. The Roman
soldiers pressed him into service and said, "You carry the cross."
Simon was his name. We know from the gospel account of Mark that he later
became a believer. His son Rufus is this man here. Simon didn't intend to
become a Christian that day nor to carry Jesus' cross. Yet he was so impressed
with Jesus, the one he had been drafted to serve, that he later became his
slave for life. And so Rufus came to know Paul at some point, and they have
a friendship.
Then Paul mentions, wonderfully, Rufus' mother. He doesn't name her, perhaps
because she fills the role of a mother to him, and when you think of your
mother you don't think of her name; she is just Mom. What a tender thought
that is. Paul was probably an adult or at least a young adult when he met
her, but she was there for him, as his own parents may well not have been.
She was a source of maternal care and support.
Paul remembers a second group of people not so much for particular events
that he refers to, but just for the feeling he has for them. He says Epenetus
is his dear friend, and he will use that phrase again. "Greet Ampliatus,
whom I love in the Lord." We don't know anything about him except that
when Paul thinks of him, he says he loves him. At the end of verse 9 he
says, "Greet my dear friend Stachys." How they came to be friends
we don't know. Persis, who has a couple things said about her, is also called
"my dear friend." And she is "another woman who has worked
very hard in the Lord." These were his friends, his beloved, his comrades,
both men and women. And for the most part all we know is that he cared for
these people.
Hard Work in Humble and High Places
Then there is a third group of people we can characterize by what he calls
their service to their Lord, using especially the phrase "hard work."
In verse 6 he says, "Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you."
We don't know whether he knows Mary well or has only heard that she was
working hard for the church in Rome. We don't know whether he has feelings
of affection for her---he doesn't say. He says only, "Greet Mary, who
works hard." It is a good thing to have said of you that other people
recognize that you are in it from the heart and your effort is serious.
In verse 9 he says, "Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ."
He too is highlighted for his work, his effort, his gifts, and his involvement.
There is a very interesting couple of names in verse 12: "Greet Tryphena
and Tryphosa, those women who worked hard in the Lord." Many think
Tryphena and Tryphosa were twins. These are the kind of names you give twins,
especially identical twins. It may well be that these are elderly women,
perhaps unmarried; they are not mentioned as having family. Their names
mean Dainty and Delicate, and yet instead of daintiness---folded hands,
sweet voices, and doilies adorning their home---what they are noted for
again is hard work. And also, finally, Persis, as we have already seen,
works very hard in the Lord.
Fourthly, there are people mentioned in groups without much more appellation
given to them than the groups they are in. At the end of verse 10 he says,
"Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus." And
at the end of verse 11, "Greet those in the household of Narcissus
who are in the Lord." These were probably communities of slaves that
were taken over by Caesar. When a slave-owner died, if his family couldn't
sustain the holdings the slaves would be impressed into Caesar's estates.
Though now owned by Casesar they would be designated as "the household
of...." The names Aristobulus and Narcissus are known in secular history.
Both of them have a position of some power and influence near the center
of Caesar's court. Slaves were often the best educated and the most valuable
people in the Roman court. They did very important work---writing, making
economic decisions, and had many other influential responsibilities. They
had a lot of influence. There is some possibility that instead of naming
the individual people, in case this document should fall into the wrong
hands, Paul just says, "Greet the brothers and sisters who are close
to the emperor, who have opportunity for ministry near the center of governmental
power." He is prayerfully aware of their service to Christ.
Together in Christ
Finally, in the last two groups Paul merely mentions series of names in
verse 14 (and in 15 below): "Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas,
Hermas and the brothers with them." These are all men's names. They
evidently have a community, perhaps a bachelors' quarters or a fraternity
of some kind. They may be young single men who were in training for ministry
(like interns here at PBC). They, too, receive encouragement from the apostle.
I have very fond memories of my last two years of college and the subsequent
year before getting married. I was living with a group of brothers, and
we had adventures together going places, having Bible studies, and having
people stay at our house. I never knew who would be there when I got up.
Fun, excitement, and comradeship were part of that era of my life. Something
similar may be in view here.
In verse 15 Paul mentions a house church or another community: "Greet
Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints
with them." Again we don't know anything about them except that these
saints gathered together. "Give them my best, let them know I care
about them," he says.
One of the things about this list that is interesting to me, as I mentioned
already, is the amazing variety of people and the variety of things Paul
has to say about them. Not everything here is obviously spiritual, for one
thing---hard work, someone's being a mother to him, memories, his relatives.
And yet some of the concerns are deeply spiritual. In any case, everything
here is Christian, whether it's conversion to Christ or just the caring
of an ordinary group of people for each other. The Lord fills all of this.
All the ways these people cared for each other grew from commitment to Christ,
and that is what gives this passage its encouraging character.
We have Christian friends too. We are part of a community. We are people
who will have memories of one another in the Lord. None of the other groups
of people that call for our allegiance---clubs to which we pay dues or those
we share hobbies with---have the weight, or depth of being together with
brothers and sisters in Christ for fellowship, ministry, growth laughter,
tears, and prayer.
My high school yearbook will someday be lost forever; no one will ever refer
to it again. The notes at the back are of no consequence. But these names
will never be lost, because the Scriptures will last into eternity. The
world to come will have this letter to the Romans in it, and all of these
people will be named. You and I will have a chance someday to meet them.
We can ask about the story of Epenetus' conversion. We can ask Tryphena
and Tryphosa what hard work it was that they did in the Lord. These memories,
these friends, these greetings, as ordinary as they are, will last forever
because Jesus Christ surrounds them. And we have an opportunity to live
like that as well, to be engaged with each other in things that really matter.
We live in a world where relationships are deteriorating, and yet we can
swim against the tide.
A Great Honor and a Warning
Let me introduce you to the rest of the names beginning with verse 21 (we'll
skip a paragraph for a moment). These are the people who are in Corinth
sending the letter with Paul:
Timothy, my fellow worker, send his greetings to you, as do
Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.
Note the last three of Paul's relatives who are mentioned. Timothy, of course,
was one of the stalwarts who served with the apostle in various ministries.
He is one of the great figures in the New Testament.
Verse 22:
I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his
greetings.
Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus
send you their greetings.
Again we have slaves, high-born, city officials, itinerants, and relatives---a
great mixture of folks. This was the community that sent Phoebe with the
letter with these greetings included.
One of the interesting verses in Romans is verse 22: "I, Tertius, who
wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord." Tertius means third
in Latin. His brother Quartus, or fourth, is also mentioned. Number three
and number four were almost certainly slaves' names. They weren't even given
the honor of an ordinary human name, just numbers.
Paul's habit when he wrote letters was to walk back and forth, composing
out loud and thinking as he went along. He probably had very bad eyesight
and would have found handwriting difficult himself, so he had a secretary
taking dictation. In this case it was Tertius. And finally at the end of
the great letter to the Romans he says, "Tertius, say a word of your
own---" So we read, "I, Tertius, greet you." And this Tertius
who is so disregarded by his station in life that he doesn't have a regular
name, gets to be one of two people who include original material into what
may be the greatest document ever written.
A Word of Warning
Finally, let's note the paragraph beginning in verse 17:
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions
and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have
learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,
but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds
of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of
joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent
about what is evil.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
This is a warning from Paul that is similar to the warnings Jesus issued.
Wherever you have real Christianity---lives that are being changed, communities
of people that are built on love, people who are really joyful and honest
in their care for each other; the real thing---you are going to have leeches
who will attach themselves to it. They are in it for their appetite, not
for Christ's sake. They are effective in deceit and flattery. They know
the lingo and how to look right. But they will divide and put up obstacles.
We must expect them, and not be surprised when we realize who they are.
And Paul says, "Ignore them. The day will come when the Lord will crush
Satan under your feet." We don't need to work especially hard at fighting
back. We just need to forbid them influence or a voice.
In conclusion let's read the benediction in the last verses of the book
of Romans. Now we move from the ordinary greetings to ordinary people, the
signatures in the back of the yearbook, to remembering again eternal things,
the lasting mysteries. We remember the prophets who have gone before and
have written of these things, and the gospel that is life-saving. Paul casts
our vision from the immediate to the horizon and bids us remember who we
are in the Lord. He bids us remember that the gospel as he taught it and
as we received it is sufficient to give life.
Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the
proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery
hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic
writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe
and obey him---to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ!
Amen.
Catalog No. 4360
Romans 16:1-27
27th Message
Steve Zeisler
March 13, 1993
Copyright (C) 1995 Discovery Publishing, a ministry of Peninsula Bible Church.
This data file is the sole property of Discovery Publishing, a ministry
of Peninsula Bible Church. It may be copied only in its entirety for circulation
freely without charge. All copies of this data file must contain the above
copyright notice. This data file may not be copied in part, edited, revised,
copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications, recordings,
broadcasts, performances, displays or other products offered for sale, without
the written permission of Discovery Publishing. Requests for permission
should be made in writing and addressed to Discovery Publishing, 3505 Middlefield
Rd. Palo Alto, CA. 94306-3695.