• Intro and Purpose of the Text — Paul —expression of appreciation for the body of Christ
• His High Regard for Fellow Believers
  • His desire to be with them
  • The close personal relationship
  • The personal ministry of Paul
    • The time, the labor, the tears, the teaching — 1Th 2
    • The people of Ephesus — Act 20
• The Special Commendation for Phoebe — Rom 15:1-2
  • Her name means — bright or radiant
    • Pagan mythology
      • Artemis — bright moon goddess
      • Diana — Roman goddess
    • Jews adopted Greek names
    • In church at Cenchrea
      • Corinthian seaport
      • Paul had been there — Act 18:18
    • Carried the letter?
  • She is a "sister" in Christ — not flesh
  • She is a "servant" of the church
  • She is not an ordained officer
    • The Word — not technical, but service
  • She is a very vital and important servant of the church
  • She is a "strengthener" to Paul and to many — to us
    • Faithful
  • She is to be worthily received
    • As a saint — acceptance
  • She is to be eagerly helped
  • She is highly commended

Common Practice — Church Letters

• The Special Greetings to Others — Rom 15:3-16
  • Aquila and Priscilla — Jewish
    • Their relationship — fellow-workers
      • 1Co 16:19; 2Ti 4:19; Act 18:2, 18, 24-26
    • Their occupation
    • Their loyalty — risked their lives
    • Their hospitality — The church in their house
      • Every home a church
  • Epaenetus
    • The first believer in Asia
    • Paul will never forget him
    • "First fruits for Christ" Not Paul many more to follow
    • God is still saving His chosen — the predestined ones
  • Mary — Jewish name
    • The worker
    • The helper
    • Gets things done
  • Andronicus and Junias — Men
    • Relatives?
    • Fellow-countrymen
    • Jews
    • In Christ before Paul
    • In high regard by the Apostles
    • In prison together
      • Shared suffering
  • Ampliatus
    • Whom I love in the Lord
    • Catacombs in Rome has a tomb marked "Ampliatus"
    • Close personal attachment
  • Urbanus
    • Fellow worker in Christ
  • Stachys
    • My beloved my dear friend
  • Appeles
    • Tested and approved in Christ
    • What a tribute
    • What an epitaph
    • Tested and approved
    • True — Dependable
  • The household of Aristobulus
    • May have been the grandson of King Herod the Great
    • His household evidently had some believers
    • Influential on Roman leaders
    • Herodian
      • Relative
      • Fellow countryman slaves?
  • The household of Narcissus who are in the Lord
    • Narcissus
      • Slave — became personal secretary of Emporer Claudius
      • Wealthy
      • Claudius murdered
        • Nero took over
      • Took over the household of Narcissus
      • He forced Narcissus to commit suicide
      • Believers in His household
        • Paul does not forget them
  • Tryphena and Tryohosa — sisters?
    • Women — hard workers
    • "Dainty" and delicate
    • Persis — woman worker — a dear friend
  • Rufus and his mother
    • Chosen in the Lord
    • Rufus and Alexander
    • Sons of Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross
    • The mother — to Paul
    • Paul —appreciation
  • Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes and —
    • The brothers with them
    • Group of business associates — real estate, insurance
  • Philologus, Julia, Nerves and his sister, and Olympas
    • And all the saints with them
    • Philologus — "Lover of the Word"
    • They had some influence among Roman leadership
    • Infiltrated with the Gospel
    • Penetrated
    • A house church?
  • Greet one another with a holy kiss
    • Symbol of affection
    • A greeting — must be sincere
      • Must be holy
      • In the Lord
    • Justin Martyr — included in the service
  • All the churches of Christ send greetings
    • Paul —travels
    • The churches would ask him to send greetings
      • Concern
      • Care
      • Consideration
• Summarizing Observations
  • The family of believers
    • They work together
    • There is diversity
    • There is unity — not perfect
    • They express appreciation
    • They suffer together
  • The importance of personal ministry
    • Labor, work, sacrifice, tears
    • Helping, strengthening, encouraging, growing
    • Paul — people
      • The work of the Lord
  • Concerning men and women
    • Close working relationship
    • Avoid two extremes
      • Ordaining women to church office
      • Failing to recognize and appreciate the devotion to the Lord and vital service of godly women
  • The value of small churches
    • The church in the home
  • What produces this kind of relationship
    • Of ministry Jew and Gentile — one penetrating
    • The doctrines of God's sovereign grace
    • The truth produces
    • Total depravity
    • Unconditionally — election — humility
    • Atonement
    • Security freedom