Read Romans 16:21–24
Questions from the Scripture text: Who greets them with Paul (Romans 16:21)? What does the apostle call him? What three others? What does the apostle call them? Who greets them in Romans 16:22? In Whom? What is his relation to the manuscript they receive? Who greets them in Romans 16:23? What is he doing for Paul? For whom else? Who else greets them? What is his position in the city? Who is the last one that greets them? With what word does the apostle describe him? What salutation, greater than a greeting, concludes the letter (Romans 16:24)? From Whom? Unto whom?
How can Christians be more encouraged? Romans 16:21–24 prepares us for the midweek sermon in the prayer meeting. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians can gain encouragement by honoring those who encourage them, and especially by receiving Christ’s own grace.
The apostle has expressed delight in many individuals in the Roman church (Romans 16:3-15), urging them also to delight in one another (Romans 16:16), and warning against those who would divide the church or cause or make the church spiritually corrupting to one another (Romans 16:17-20).
Now, he concludes the letter (in the original, Romans 16:21-14 is found at the end of chapter 14) with greetings/expressions of pleasure from others that are with him. Of each of these men, Paul says something to commend them and their greeting. In this way, not only are they the more encouraged by the greeting, but they also are able more to honor the brother who greets them. By what attributes does God encourage us in others’ relation to us and commend them to us to be honored?
The work of gospel ministry. Timothy is his fellow worker. He is well-known, having ministered long with Paul and being named as coauthor in six of Paul’s letters and being described as the most likeminded man to Paul (cf. Philippians 2:20). But it is the work for which they are especially esteemed. He summarizes Timothy, who needs no introduction, as “my fellow worker.” Work is honorable, and a greeting from a worker valuable. And this is all the more true when it is gospel work.
Believers from long-standing families of faith. Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater have the same ancestry as Paul. As we saw in Romans 16:3-16, this increases his affection for them due to God’s joint providence to them. But he has also taught the Roman church to esteem Jewish believers as natural branches to whom a covenantal heritage and right to the gospel belong (cf. Romans 11:23–32). Not only are these three with Paul at Corinth, but his naming them as he is about to leave for Jerusalem probably indicates that they are Israelite-background delegates to accompany the gift for the Judean church. There is an honor to long-standing families of faith, whose households have been in the covenant as natural branches for many generations. We should take encouragement from the welcome/greetings and esteem them highly for God’s blessing to and through them.
Humble servants and growing students. Though there is evidence in other letters that Paul employed a scribe, Tertius is the only one whose name we know. There are often lesser-known saints in service of those who are being used in more visible ways. They should be an encouragement to us and are worthy of honor. Having opportunity to write one sentence of Romans directly from himself, the apostle authorizes him to include two short words in the Greek that show he has “really gotten it” during the process of writing: “in the Lord.”
His delighting in them has been produced in him from his union with Christ, and their preciousness to him is especially because they are in union with Christ. Several large sections of the letter have taught this, and the man whose hand wrote it is an example of the reality that was described.
Believers of earthly means and influence. By hosting Paul, Gaius (Gaius Titius Justus, cf. Acts 18:7, 1 Corinthians 1:14) ended up hosting many others, as well as meetings of the church. For his house to accommodate them indicates that he is a man of means. As city treasurer, Erastus also would have had means and influence. An inscription from the time period identifies an Erastus as the next level higher in the city government, the “public works commissioner,” who might well be the same man at a different point in his career. These men are esteemed not merely for being of means, but because they viewed their means and their expertise as belonging to the Lord. In connection with the gift to the Judean church, it may well be that the Corinthian church had delegated the city treasurer as part of the team to give an account of how the monies were delivered and spent! Being someone of means in the church gives an opportunity to distinguish oneself by generosity and humility. Those who have done such are worthy of honor.
Humble believers who other faithful churches have honored. It is implied that Quartus was a gentile from Corinth who was part of the team that was departing to take the gift to Jerusalem. All we are told is that he is “a brother.” He was probably voted upon by his congregation on account of faithfulness and integrity, but we’re just told that he’s a “brother.” That is enough. There does not need to be a distinguishing mark above this for us to honor someone.
The greatest encouragement. These men were in Corinth, and although they couldn’t be in Rome, their greetings could. So their greetings came by way of this letter. The last line of the letter is reserved for an infinitely greater gift from a much further absentee. “Our Lord Jesus Christ” could not be in Rome because He is on the throne of glory (even now, as you read this devotional!). Yet, by His apostle, He could send to Rome (and to you, Christian reader) His grace. By His Spirit, He would use His own Word not just to express delight in the believers there but to work His own life, gladness, and strength in them. How marvelous! And “be with you all” reminds us that this is for every Christian everywhere. The other men in this section do not know you. But our Lord Jesus Christ personally knows you and communicates His grace to you by this letter, if you are a Christian. Amen! Praise God!
Whom do you know who work hard in the ministry? Whom do you know from multi-generational covenant families? Whom do you know who are humble servants and growing students of the Bible’s theology? Whom do you know that is a believer of earthly means that has not been “ruined” by them but is employing them humbly as belonging entirely to the Lord? How does this passage help you receive what encouragements they give you? How will you seek to honor them as we have learned? But what is your greatest encouragement?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for using us to encourage one another. Help us to increase our honor for Your servants so that we might draw even more encouragement from them. But, most of all, thank You for communicating Your own grace to us through Your Word. Grant that we might grow in and by that grace, we ask in Your own Name, Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP197 “Christian Unity” or TPH534 “Fill Thou My Life, O Lord, My God”
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