Lessons from the Early Church in Rome Romans II Series [27] Romans 16:1-16 2

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE PAUL GREETS IN ROMANS 16? Phoebe: carried Paul’s letter to Rome commended by Paul, a servant/deacon of the church at Cenchreae, a wealthy patron of many including Paul. Prisca and Aquila: Paul’s fellow workers, tent-makers who partnered with Paul, risked life for Paul and the Gentile churches. Epaenetus: the first convert to Christ in Asia. Andronicus and Junia: the “apostles” [missionaries] of the churches, converted before Paul, once imprisoned with Paul. Mary, Tryphaena & Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus’ mother, Julia, Nereus’ sister, along with Prisca and Junia: women workers/ key leaders (9 out 24 people named were women!).

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE PAUL GREETS IN ROMANS 16? Ampliatus, Urbanus, Hermes, Julia: low social status Christians (i.e., these were common names for slaves). Family of Aristobulus/Family of Narcissus, Rufus: high-profile/ distinguished people (Aristobulus = the grandson of Herod the Great; Narcissus = well-know rich freedman who had influence on the Emperor Claudius; Rufus = son of Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross on the way to Golgotha. Herodion along with Prisca & Aquila, Andronicus and Junia): Jewish Christians like Paul. Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers: members belonging to a house church in Rome.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE PAUL GREETS IN ROMANS 16? Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas and the saints: members belonging to another house church in Rome. Stachys, Apelles: we know nothing about them except how Paul described them, “beloved” (Stachys) and “approved” (Apelles).

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH IN ROME? 1) Lesson from the PEOPLE of the Roman Church: Diversity in unity. Diversity: heterogeneity (not homogeneity) as the norm In ethnicity: Jews and Gentiles In social status: slaves and high-profile people In socio-economic level: wealthy and poor In gender: men and women In culture and customs: vegetarians and meat-eaters In other differences?: personality, life-stage, etc. Unity: in Christ (4x)/in the Lord (5x)

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH IN ROME? 1) Lesson from the PEOPLE of the Roman Church: Diversity in unity. Their key to diversity was their CENTER: Their center was not affinity, ethnicity, or life-stage but CHRIST who has broken down all barriers. We are to follow their example of UNITY [IN Christ] and DIVERSITY [FOR Christ]!

Christ Has Broken Down the Dividing Walls The same is true today. It is of course a fact that people like to worship with their own kith and kin, as experts in church growth remind us; and it may be necessary to acquiesce in different congregations according to language, which is the most formidable barrier of all. But heterogeneity is of the essence of the church, since it is the one and only community in the world in which Christ has broken down all dividing walls. The vision we have been given of the church triumphant is of a company drawn from “every nation, tribe, people and language”, who are all singing God’s praises in unison (Revelation 7:9). So we must declare that a homogeneous church is a defective church, which must work penitently and perseveringly towards heterogeneity. - John R. W. Stott

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH IN ROME? 2) Lesson from the HOUSE CHURCHES of the Roman Church: Focus on relational spiritual community as the “hub” of the church life. 5 Greet also the church in their house. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. to the family of Aristobulus….to the family of Narcissus. (vs.10,11)  

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH IN ROME? 2) Lesson from the HOUSE CHURCHES of the Roman Church: Focus on relational spiritual community as the “hub” of the church life. Why meet at homes? It was more than lack of optimal places—the intentional reason was to practice “ONE-ANOTHERNESS” of relational gatherings [“ekklesia”] as the church. Their house churches were [1] intentionally family-like, [2] organically relational, [3] and focused on teaching and fellowship—as opposed to the Old Covenant way: temple-centered, ceremonial, dichotomous (priest vs. laity). We must shift from the consumer-oriented church life to the organic process of life as a transforming community.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer . . . 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Acts 2:42,46

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH IN ROME? 3) Lesson from the WOMEN of the Roman Church: Crucial role of the women in building a spiritually vital church. 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church… 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus…  6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7…Junia…well known to the apostles… 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet … also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.  

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH IN ROME? 3) Lesson from the WOMEN of the Roman Church: Crucial role of the women in building a spiritually vital church. Nine out of twenty-four people Paul names in his greeting were women—they were key leaders who have “worked hard” and so valuable to the church as well as to Paul. The women were the key to the spiritually vital church and ministry—they held nothing back in giving their lives to the church and Christ’s cause. We are to follow their example by encouraging and empowering our women to go all out to be used by God for his glory.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH IN ROME? 4) Lesson from the HOLY KISS of the Roman Church: Tangible expression of love and affection for one another as the family of God. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. (v.16) (cf. 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor.13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14).

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH IN ROME? 4) Lesson from the HOLY KISS of the Roman Church: Tangible expression of love and affection for one another as the family of God. What was this “holy kiss”? It was [1] customary form of greeting, [2] family affection, [3] holy and [4] physically demonstrative as brothers and sisters in Christ. The essence of the holy kiss, then, is a physical/tangible expression of our affection for one another as the family of God. We are to PRACTICE this holy kiss by using a culturally appropriate touch and expression: for some it may be a warm hug, for others it may be a firm handshake, eye-contact, tap on the back, etc.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1. Embrace and celebrate DIVERSITY IN CHRIST!  Welcome heterogeneity/diversity as the testimony of the gospel. Live out the truth of the gospel that Christ has broken down the walls. 2. Live out THE VISION OF CROSSWAY by building a transforming community organically together. Commit to your home group (house church) as the hub of your relational spiritual community. Develop your own ministry in/through the organic process of life. 3. Express your affection for one another by A HOLY HUG/HANDSHAKE. Discern the most appropriately affectionate way of greeting. Be sincere and whole-hearted in showing your Christian love.