Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Pray that I will …
The Names In Romans 16 Gems
Pausing to investigate that list of 36 people in Romans 16 whom Paul names one by one, yet who live in city that Paul has never visited. How is that possible? What is behind this list? Is it believable?
Bible Gem 274 – Paul’s Friends (Rom 16:1-23)
Now we come to Romans 16. The chapter of names. I will work through each name that Paul lists here. These people are all important to Paul. They are important to God therefore they are important to us. Some will make for short Gems others …
Bible Gem 275 – Phoebe (Rom 16:1-2)
Phoebe: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honour among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, …
Bible Gem 276 – Priscilla and Aquila (Rom 16:3-5)
Priscilla and Aquila Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. Also give my greetings to the …
Bible Gem 277 – Epenetus (Rom 16:5)
Epenetus Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person from the province of Asia to become a follower of Christ. Romans 16:5 What made Epenetus so dear to Paul? The verse itself contains the clues to the answers. He was the first person …
Bible Gem 278 – Mary (Rom 16:6)
Mary Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit. Romans 16:6 There are many women called Mary in the Bible but there is no reason to think that this Mary is one of the others mentioned. Remember Paul has not …
Bible Gem 279 – Andronicus and Junia (Rom 16:7)
Andronicus and Junia Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews, who were in prison with me. They are highly respected among the apostles and became followers of Christ before I did. Romans 16:7 Fellow Jews: According to the flesh, being perhaps not only of the …
Bible Gem 280 – Ampliatus (Rom 16:8)
Ampliatus Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Romans 16:8 Ampliatus is one who was Paul’s particular friend, and also a genuine Christian. Amplias in Latin means “large”. It is contracted from the Latin ampliatus meaning enlarged. Ampliatus was a Latin Roman name – …
Bible Gem 281 – Urbanus and Stachys (Rom 16:9)
Urbanus and Stachys Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ and my dear friend Stachys. (Rom 16:9) Urbanus Urbanus was a Latin name meaning “of the city”. Urbanus was a common slave name. I mentioned him in the Gem yesterday related to Ampliatus. Why do I …
Bible Gem 282 – Apelles (Rom 16:10)
Apelles Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. Romans 16:10 Origen wondered whether this wasn’t the same person as Apollos the Alexandrian Jew, whom Aquila and Priscilla met with at Ephesus. But if indeed it had been Apollos who was intended, one feels Paul …