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Timothy: Romans 16:1-16
Personal Greetings

1 But I commend our sister Phoebe to you, being a servant of the assembly in Cenchrea,

2 that you may receive her in the Lord, as is worthy of the saints, and may assist her in whatever thing she may need of you. For she also became a helper of many, and of myself.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

4 who laid down their neck for my soul, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the nations.

5 And greet the assembly at their house, and my beloved Epenetus, who is a firstfruit of Achaia for Christ.

6 Greet Mary, who did much labor for us.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners, noted among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.

9 Greet Urbanus, our helper in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.

10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ; Greet those of Aristobulus.

11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of Narcissus, those being in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those laboring in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has labored in many things in the Lord.

13 Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers with them.

15 Greet Philologus and Julias, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I am grateful for the blessed Sabbath day that You have given us. I am happy to rest on Your Sabbath and thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon us, Your people. I also thank You for allowing me to continue living in this physical body and to serve You. I am thankful for the blessings You have given my family. I pray that Christ will give me strength, and that the Holy Spirit will pour wisdom into me. I am thankful for Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Dear Father, I would like to present my understanding of Romans 16:1-16.

Dear Father, I understand that in this passage, the Apostle Paul wrote a greeting to his brothers and sisters in faith in Rome whom he knew or had worked with. He loved and appreciated each one of them, as they were true children of God who lived according to His will and worked diligently to serve Him through the various ministries in the Church. He was grateful for them sharing the burden of his apostolic office.

Dear Father, I understand that in verses 1 and 2, Paul introduced Phoebe to the Church in Rome. Phoebe was a deaconess in the Church in Cenchreae, and this was likely her first time visiting the Church in Rome and delivering Paul’s letter. He asked them to receive her as a sister in Christ and to assist her in any way she may need, as she had been a benefactor to many Christians, including Paul.

Dear Father, I understand that in verses 3 and 4, Paul greeted Priscilla and Aquila, who were living in Rome and active in the Church there. Through these brief words of Paul, I understand that Priscilla and Aquila were willing to risk their lives for Paul, allowing him to escape danger and continue his mission to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Thus, the people of God in the Churches among the Gentiles were appreciative of them.

Dear Father, from verse 5 to 15, I understand that some Christians in Rome gathered together to worship God in the house of Priscilla and Aquila. Paul listed many of God’s people who were not mentioned in other parts of the Bible, but each one was a shining example of faith in God and a strong desire to serve Him. They all treated Paul with great kindness, and he loved and appreciated them, so he took the time to write a greeting to each person. The Church in Rome at that time was truly blessed with many of God’s people who were strong in faith and passionate about serving the Lord.

Dear Father, I understand that in verse 16, Paul advised the Lord’s people to greet each other with a holy kiss according to the custom of greeting each other by kissing on the cheek of Middle Eastern and European peoples at that time. Today, that custom still exists. Paul added the word “holy” to emphasize that God’s people’s holy kiss must be filled with love and affection and cannot be abused to commit sexual immorality. I understand that God’s people from ethnic groups that do not have the habit of greeting each other with a kiss do not need to follow this advice but can greet each other according to the local custom, as long as those customs do not relate to superstition.

Dear Father, I understand that the most important thing is for God’s people not to create opportunities to stumble themselves and others. Therefore, men and women should avoid intimate contact as it can be an opportunity for demons to trap and tempt them.

Dear Father, I have also learned that God’s people in each locality must always be connected, support each other, build each other up, and serve God together. Local Churches must also connect with each other to have unity in the Church as a whole, but not to establish denominations. The early Church was not divided into denominations; in fact, the establishment of denominations is the biggest division among the community of God’s people.

Dear Father, may You bless the Church with a great revival so that Your people can break free from all denominations and return to the truth, purity, and unity of the early Church before the coming of Christ. I thank You, Father, and pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
04/15/2023