Romans 16 Class Notes

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TLC Women’s Bible Study Romans 16 Paul Spurlock 5/1/18

And so we come to the conclusion of Paul’s great letter to the Christians that make up the church in Rome! It is truly in class by itself among Paul’s epistles in terms of length, breadth of subjects, theological depth and impact upon Christianity (e.g. Luther & the Reformation!). Even its ending is different: in no other epistle does Paul write such a lengthy list of personal greetings—and this to a church he’s still yet to visit! And in no other letter does Paul launch into such a “substantial warning about false teachers.” 1 Such a unique ending has led some to wonder if Paul actually wrote the ending or if it was added in later! Yet most take as from Paul. After all, Romans is a special book and so a unique and/or special ending is just what we might expect from Paul—and get!

16:1-23 Letters of commendation were common in antiquity. They served as a way to provide bona fides for visitors who were unknown to those who were asked to receive the visitor(s). Paul addresses five or so house churches. The majority of the names are Greek in origin. Commentators make note of at least four slave-class sounding names.2 This reveals the gentile majority and multi-socioeconomic composition of the church. 16:1 “Phoebe” was a “servant” (Greek “diakonas”) a “deacon” or “deaconess,” something any Christian can be and ought to be (a servant). 16:3 “Prisca and Aquila” also led a house church in Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:19 & 2 Tim. 4:19). “Prisca” is called “Priscilla” in Acts 18 three times. “Prisca” is her formal name; “Priscilla” is essentially a nickname and/or an endearing way to say her name (like our “Roberta” and “Robbie”). 16:5 Older manuscripts say “Asia.” Less ancient manuscripts (e.g. NKJV read “Acaia”). This is but one example of a “textual variant” in the Bible that critics use to say “Ah ha! An error in the Bible!” But this is also an example of how such variants are completely inconsequential! 16:6 Since six different Jewish “Marys” are mentioned in the New Testament, this is most likely not the mother of Jesus. 16:7 Was “Junias” a female apostle!? The majority of scholars believe “Junias” is a feminine name. It would seem so since Paul seems to greet individuals (“Epaenetus”-v. 5) and couples (“Prisca and Aquila”-v. 3) and likely “Andronicus and Junias” here. So, in other words, if Junias is female: —Was she an “outstanding” apostle herself? —Or was she “outstanding” in the opinion of the 12 Apostles? —Or, was Paul using the word “apostle” (means “messenger” or “sent one”) in a looser or casual sense like he seems to do at Philippians 2:25 - “But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger (apostle) and minister to my need.” In this sense “messenger” would suggest a meaning of “traveling missionary.” Interestingly, some who think that the Bible does not allow for female elders do not have a problem with female apostles since that is a

1

Douglas Moo, The New International Commentary on the New Testament,The Epistle to the Romans, p. 912.

2

Moo, p. 918.

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distinct office of that of elder. So, then, if Junias is indeed a female apostle, this does not conflict with the view of male-only elders since the roles are not the same. 3 16:9 “Urbanus” = man of the “urban” center / city. Are “Tryphaena and Tryphosa” twin sisters? Similar-sounding names were given to twins in antiquity and the same is still common today. 16:13 “Rufus” was a common name and is likely the same “Rufus” mentioned in Mark 15:21 (son of Simon the Cyrene (North Africa) who was pressed into service to help Jesus carry the cross). “Also his mother and mine” most likely refers the reality of Rufus’ mother being like a mother to Paul too due to her hospitality. At this point it would be expected for many to wonder: “Who cares about a list of names? How does that serve the purpose of being Scripture that edifies us?” Commentators offer two substantive answers: first, the extensive list demonstrates that Paul is no “lone ranger” servant of Christ. Second, in listing nine women, the Word makes it clear that women are just as important as men in serving the Lord! 16:16 Are we TLCers disobedient because we do not practice the teaching to “Greet one another with a holy kiss”? No. Such greetings were (& still are) common in the Middle East and parts of Europe. The point is to greet each other as is customary, with sincerity & familial love. 16:17 The warning to “keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them” is a reference to false teachers. Typically, the top two groups in the NT era that promulgated false teachings were gnostics and Judaizers. Some gnostics taught extreme asceticism while others were the opposite—since all matter was considered evil and, this would include our bodies, one could “do whatever you want with your body!” Judaizers sought to squelch nascent Christianity by insisting on maintaining Old Covenant ritualistic practices. 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” may be a figure of speech that describes what will occur when the efforts of the false teachers are overcome. It may also refer to the “judgment coming” of God in 70 AD upon “Jerusalem, Jerusalem [& her religious establishment], who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! (Mt. 23:37a). After 70 AD, the Church exploded in growth due to the removal of the religious establishment in Jerusalem that was crushed along with the city. 16:25-26 The “revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested” is nothing short of the reality that God’s plan all along was to use the Jews & the Jewish Messiah to reach all nations/gentiles with the gospel and form them into one “Israel of God” / the Church! See also 1 Cor 2:7, Eph. 1:9, 3:3, 3:9, (especially 5:32), 6:9 & Col. 1:26-27, etc.—they mention the “mystery” as well and as also referring to the nature of the Church. So, Paul closes the epistle to the Romans as he began, preaching that it isn’t ethnicity, heritage or keeping the Old Covenant Law that matters, but being in Christ via “obedience of faith,” another way of affirming what he said in his allbook theme verse at 1:17 — “AND THE RIGHTEOUS ONE BY FAITH SHALL LIVE.” (Young’s Living Translation—the most literal word for word translation in English). 3

What is TLC’s position on women’s leadership roles in the church? Persuaded that the role of “elder” / “overseer” is for men only (due to 1 Tim. 3 & Tit. 1), the role of elder / overseer at TLC is held by men. Presently, and for many years now, we’ve had four elders. The four are to be the senior pastor, the executive pastor, and typically the next two oldest male pastors. But, since “pastor” (which only occurs once in the Bible at Eph. 4:11) is not viewed as the same office as “overseer” / “elder” (e.g., 1 Tim. 3:1, etc.) and, since no similar Biblical restriction is (in TLC’s view) applied to the role of pastor, we have women (non-elder) pastors. At TLC, all pastors, regardless of gender, must have a four-year college degree and successfully write and defend his/her “doctrinal statement” (what he/she believes from the Bible) before the rest of the TLC pastors.

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