What is the main purpose of this chapter. He was addressing by name many people he had come across during his missionary journey. Today we going to see who did Paul mentioned and why them.
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 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. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfriuits of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Romans 16:1-7 NKJV
Most of what Paul was writing here was to greet people or welcome them as part of God’s kingdom. Paul said some are servant of the church, some risk their own life because of Paul. He continues to tell them to greet all all the churches of the Gentiles. He furthermore continue to tell them to greet other for they are labors for Jesus Christ. He also said to greet those who were in Christ before he was. No matter who they are or what may have happened to them go ahead and greet them in the Lord.
Paul continued to write within this chapter to let the people know of others that had help him along the way and others that are in Jesus Christ. To greet them with his full blessing and don’t push them aside.
When we think about stewardship and one of t’s is touch. The touch deals with relationship. As a good steward of God is our relationship with other. How do we handle our affairs with others. How do we build upon our relationship with people we meet or associate with. God wants us to good steward when it is dealing with our relationship with others.
Paul encounter many of people along his journey but he built a strong bond with some. ROMANS 16 is about the relationship he had built among the saints. From building that relationship he just was telling them, since I have know this people and they are labors in Christ also greet them as if it was me. Don’t turn them away but love on them.
Love on them as Christian should do. You never known what they have experience because their faith in God. All of chapter 16 is a reminder of our stewardship when it comes to relationship with others because if they didn’t play a part in spreading the word or helping out Paul as he made his journey across the land, he wouldn’t have put this in the scriptures.
Continue with me as we look further into the book of Romans and understanding the things that Paul wrote. His final words in the letter to those in Rome
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