Though Paul did not preach in Rome before he sent this epistle (Romans 15:20), he had already established a powerful network there. The last chapter of theRomans reads like a hall of frame.
The first person Paul mentioned is Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae (Romans 16:1).
Throughout the centuries, quite a number of offices have become obsolete. The most obvious one is the office of prophet. Perhaps the church hierarchy has not been able to accommodate the challenges posed by these people. Or perhaps the revelation from God is completed. He does not send any more prophets to the Church.
The service of deacons and deaconess was to meet the needs of the local churches. When a certain need arose which was best handled by deaconess, the office of deaconess was created. When the need no longer existed, the office vanished. When permanent diaconate is re-introduced in the Catholic Church in the twentieth century, women are excluded in the name of tradition. Of course, what worked in the first century is not a strong enough justification for doing it in the twentieth century. Indeed, a lot of first century practices are not put in practice anymore nowadays. For example, sharing all property in common.
Throughout the centuries, quite a number of offices have become obsolete. The most obvious one is the office of prophet. Perhaps the church hierarchy has not been able to accommodate the challenges posed by these people. Or perhaps the revelation from God is completed. He does not send any more prophets to the Church.
The service of deacons and deaconess was to meet the needs of the local churches. When a certain need arose which was best handled by deaconess, the office of deaconess was created. When the need no longer existed, the office vanished. When permanent diaconate is re-introduced in the Catholic Church in the twentieth century, women are excluded in the name of tradition. Of course, what worked in the first century is not a strong enough justification for doing it in the twentieth century. Indeed, a lot of first century practices are not put in practice anymore nowadays. For example, sharing all property in common.
The following is the Hall of Frame in Rome.
- Prisca and Aquila (Romans 16:3-4) and the church in their house (16:5). Paul calls them fellow workers in Christ. Perhaps they were the Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18.
- Urbanus (16:9), fellow worker in Christ
- Tryphaena and Tryphosa (16:12), workers in the Lord.
- beloved Persis (16:12), who worked hard in the Lord.
- Mary (16:6) who worked hard among the Romans.
- beloved Epaenetus (16:5), the first convert in Asia
- Ampliatus (16:8), beloved in the Lord
- beloved Stachys (16:9)
- Andronicus and Junias, kinsmen and fellow prisoners (16:7)
- Herodion (16:11), kinsman.
- Apelles (16:10), approved in the Lord. What does that mean?
- the family of Aristobulus (16:10)
- the family of Narcissus (16:11)
- Rufus (16:13), eminent in the Lord. Perhaps because his father had carried the cross for Jesus (Mark 15:21)
- Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas (16:14)
- Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas (16:15)
A total of 26 names of eminent people in the Church of Rome are mentioned.
Then a short list of names from his side.
Then a short list of names from his side.
- Timothy (16:21), fellow worker
- Lucius and Jason and Sosipater (16:21), kinsmen
- Tertius (16:22), copyist of this epistle
- Gaius (16:23), host of Paul
- Erastus (16:23), the city treasurer
- Quartus (16:31), brother
A total of 8 names in the Church of Corinth are mentioned. Because of the paucity of information, many of these people have nothing more than their names written down in the New Testament.
Dear Lord, teach me to work with others as a team. Amen.
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