Romans 16:13 - A Choice Christian Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Truth to Learn Some Christians stand out as “choice” within the church. Behind the Words The name “Rufus” is of Roman (Latin) origin, meaning “red.” “Chosen” is translated from the noun eklektos, which...
Romans 16:12 – Hard Working Women
Romans 16:12 - Hard Working Women Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. Truth to Learn There are many hard working women in the church! Behind the Words The names “Tryphena and Tryphosa” are Greek and are...
Romans 16:11 – This Precious Salvation
Romans 16:11 - This Precious Salvation Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Truth to Learn Some Christians put their lives in danger when they get saved. Behind the Words The word “countryman,” which we saw in verse seven,...
Romans 16:10 – Proving Ground of Faith
Romans 16:10 - Proving Ground of Faith Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Truth to Learn Christians undergo trials of their faith. Behind the Words The word translated “approved” is dokimos, derived from the verb dokimadzō, which means “to try or test...
Romans 16:9 – Hugs and Kisses
Romans 16:9 - Hugs and Kisses Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Truth to Learn Family members greet one another with signs of affection. Behind the Words The word “greet,” which we looked at back in verse three, is aspadzomai, which refers specifically to greeting...
Romans 16:8 – My Beloved Brother
Romans 16:8 - My Beloved Brother Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Truth to Learn Some people were specially honored by the Apostle Paul. Behind the Words “Amplias” is a shortened form of the Latin name Ampliatus, meaning “enlarged.” Some Greek manuscripts have the full name rather than the...
Romans 16:7 – A Distinguished Pair
Romans 16:7 - A Distinguished Pair Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Truth to Learn Some Christians are well known for their service in the church. Behind the Words The word “countrymen”...
Romans 16:6 – Hard Working Mary
Romans 16:6 - Hard Working Mary Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Truth to Learn Some people in the church work extremely hard and get little or no recognition. Behind the Words “Mary” is translated from the Greek name Miriam, which is transliterated from the Hebrew name Miryam, meaning...
Romans 16:5 – Committed and Active
Romans 16:5 - Committed and Active Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Truth to Learn Christianity involves active participation, not passive attendance. Behind the Words Notice that the word “greet” is in an italic font....
Romans 16:4 – Behind The Scenes
Romans 16:4 - Behind The Scenes who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Truth to Learn Some of the most important ministries are behind the scenes. Behind the Words The word “risked” is a...
Romans 16:3 – Secular Saints
Romans 16:3 - Secular Saints Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, Truth to Learn Just because you work at a secular job doesn’t mean God doesn’t want to use you in building up the church. Behind the Words “Greet” is translated from aspadzomai, which is made...
Romans 16:2 – Help The Helper
Romans 16:2 - Help The Helper 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. Truth to Learn Helping other...
Romans 16:1 – Phoebe the Deaconess
Romans 16:1 - Phoebe the Deaconess I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, Truth to Learn Women who serve in formal positions in a church perform an important service to God and His church. Behind the Words “Commend” is translated from...
Romans 15:33 – Peace With God
Romans 15:33 - Peace With God Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Truth to Learn God is the only source of true peace. You can be at peace with God. Behind the Words The word translated “peace” is eirēnē, which means “peace or tranquility.” The root...
Romans 15:32 – Following With Joy
Romans 15:32 - Following With Joy that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Truth to Learn Following God’s will is not always comfortable or easy but it will produce joy in our hearts. Behind the Words “Will”...
Romans 15:31 – Fearful or Following?
Romans 15:31 - Fearful or Following? 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, Truth to Learn Following God is more important than personal safety. Behind the Words The word translated “delivered” is...
Romans 15:30 – Pray for Me!
Romans 15:30 - Pray for Me! 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, Truth to Learn Christians should ask for prayer help when they need it. Behind the...
Romans 15:29 – Blessing Crammed Full
Romans 15:29 - Blessing Crammed Full But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Truth to Learn We serve Christ with His full blessing. Behind the Words “I know” is translated from the Greek verb...
Romans 15:28 – The Finisher
Romans 15:28 - The Finisher Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. Truth to Learn Christians should not just be starters, they should be finishers. Behind the Words The word translated “performed” is the Greek...
Romans 15:27 – Christian Pay-back
Romans 15:27 - Christian Pay-back 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. Truth to Learn We should be a blessing to those who have blessed us....
Romans 15:26 – Cheerful Giving
Romans 15:26 - Cheerful Giving For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. Truth to Learn Christians are to give freely to support the church and to help other Christians in financial need. Behind the...
Romans 15:25 – God’s Saints
Romans 15:25 - God's Saints But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. Truth to Learn All Christians are saints. Behind the Words The word translated “minister” should be a familiar word to us by now. It is the Greek word diakoneō, a verb meaning “to...
Romans 15:24 – A Friendly Visit
Romans 15:24 - A Friendly Visit whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. Truth to Learn Paul wanted...
Romans 15:23 – Desire to Serve
Romans 15:23 - Desire to Serve But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, Truth to Learn Paul followed his desires, except when God changed his plan. Behind the Words The word “now” is translated from...
Romans 15:22 – Submitted and Committed
Romans 15:22 - Submitted and Committed For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. Truth to Learn Doing God’s will often means not doing what we want to do. Behind the Words “For this reason” is from the Greek word dio. This is made up...
Romans 15:21 – Evangelistic Tenacity
Romans 15:21 - Evangelistic Tenacity but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand." Truth to Learn Isaiah prophesied about Gentiles believing in the Messiah. Behind the Words “Announced” is from anangellō, which is made up of...
Romans 15:20 – Singular Ambition
Romans 15:20 - Singular Ambition And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, Truth to Learn All Christians are called and gifted to build the body of Christ. Behind the Words The expression...
Romans 15:19 – Submissive Service
Romans 15:19 - Submissive Service in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Truth to Learn We need to submissively serve God wherever He leads us. Behind the...
Romans 15:18 – Give Him Credit
Romans 15:18 - Give Him Credit For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— Truth to Learn God gets all the credit for what is accomplished through us. Behind the...
Romans 15:17 – All God’s Doing
Romans 15:17 - All God's Doing Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. Truth to Learn We should take no credit for our abilities or for what we accomplish; we should give God all the credit. Behind the Words “Glory” is...
Romans 15:16 – Ministerial Calling
Romans 15:16 - Ministerial Calling that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Truth to Learn Christians are called to a ministry of proclaiming the gospel message...