As we come to the end of the life-changing book of Romans, Paul sends a long list of personal greetings to those he has worked with from the beginning of his ministry on the road to Damascus to his present situation. Rather than list all the people Paul greets here, I will summarize some thoughts about his greetings. (This is the only time I can remember not typing in every word of the Bible in this series!)
So I ask you to read Romans 16:1-16 right now and then come back to this blog. Here are some thoughts:
- Who do you know who could name every person he or she has worked with over a period of many years, remembering that Paul had only his pen and his mind, not all the memory tools we have today?
- Paul’s list is so diverse – ranging from those who were present when he was saved to those who believed in Christ before Paul did.
- He uses the word “Greet” seventeen times; it must be important to maintain long-term relationships with regular greetings.
- Paul greets entire churches on behalf of other churches – this is perfect unity!
- And Paul challenges us to greet each other with a holy greeting, not necessarily a locker room report about today’s football game; our holy greeting is in the name of perfect unity with each other and with Jesus our Lord.
Read these four verses again. I believe they summarize what we will see over and over in the Epistles to follow: pretenders who act contrary to doctrine, that is, the Word of God, while serving their own appetites.
Verses 21-23 are a closure to the letter following typical form of that day in adding a few more greetings, listing the scribe of the letter, and greeting a few others Paul has thought of while dictating. He ends with a powerful doxology:
“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith – to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Rom 16:25-27).
This doxology is worthy of parsing, because it is a wonderful summary of the resources God has graciously given us through the Lord Jesus:
- God strengthen us
- Through Paul’s gospel
- Through the preaching of Jesus
- Through the revelation of mystery kept secret for ages
- But now disclosed
- Through the prophetic writings
- God commands us
- To achieve the obedience of faith
- To give glory to the only wise God
- Through Jesus Christ!