Romans 16:21-16:24 - Greetings From Co-Workers

Matthew Henry (8/6/02)

16:21: As he had done in greeting those in Rome, he does by including the greetings of those with him. The goal remains to promote unity among the various churches. Additionally, the naming of those with him adds greater credence to his writings. Some of those noted were doubtless known in Rome, such as Timothy, and possibly Lucius - who is likely that one of Cyrene. (Ac 13:1 - At Antioch, the church had prophets and teachers like Barnabas, Simeon Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been raised with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.) Jason would be known for what he had gone through in Thessalonica on Paul's behalf. (Ac 17:5-6 - The Jews became jealous and formed a mob. They came to Jason's house, hoping to drag Paul out. Since they couldn't find him, they took Jason and some other brothers instead, shouting before the authorities that they were causing upset.) Sopater was of Berea. (Ac 20:4 - Sopater, son of Pyrrhus from Berea went with him, as did Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius, Tychicus, and Trophimus.) These, he calls kindred for more cause than their being Jewish, but claims them as near kindred.
16:22: Paul's use of a scribe was not due to laziness or inflated self-importance, but for the simple reason that his own writing was almost illegible. (Gal 6:11 - See how large my own writing is.) Some think that Tertius is another name of Silas, for both mean 'third,' the one in Latin, and the other in Hebrew. It is unknown whether Paul dictated, or whether the letter was a transcription from his own writing. In this, we see that even the least of services rendered to Christ in serving His Church is remembered.
16:23: It is unclear whether this Gaius is the same as any of the others noted in Scripture. (Ac 20:4 - Among those accompanying Paul was Gaius of Derbe. Ac 19:29 - In the confusion that filled the city, they dragged Gaius and Aristarchus, who had been traveling with Paul from Macedonia, into the theatre. 1Co 1:14 - I give God thanks that none of you, other than Crispus and Gaius, were baptized by my hand.) Neither do we know whether any of these is to be identified with that one to whom John wrote his third letter. Whoever he was, he is noted for his willingness to act the host to the whole church, not just to the important, but to all Christian strangers that might come his way. Erastus was apparently among those few persons of worldly note who are called by Christ. His position did not restrain him from looking after Paul and caring for the Church. (Ac 19:22 - Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia, while he remained in Asia for a time. 2Ti 4:20 - Erastus has remained at Corinth, while Trophimus had to be left at Miletus due to illness.) As God is our Father, all we his children are brothers.
16:24: No comments.

Adam Clarke (8/6/02)

16:21: Nobody doubts that this is the same Timothy to whom Paul's later letters are addressed. (Ac 16:1 - He came to Derbe and Lystra, finding there a disciple by name of Timothy, son of a Jewish believer and a Greek father.) Lucius is likely Luke, who wrote Acts. Jason is likely him of Thessalonica who befriended Paul at such risk. (Ac 17:7 - Jason has welcomed them, and they all disobey Caesar, claiming Jesus as another king.) Sosipater was the Berean, born to Pyrrhus the Jew. (Ac 20:4 - Sopater of Berea, along with others, went with him.) It is likely that he continued on to Judea with Paul.
16:22: If this Tertius is Silas, why would he use a different name here, than is used elsewhere in Scripture? As to those who claim Paul wrote the letter originally in Syriac, with Tertius translating to Greek, the wording denies this, for Tertius says he wrote the letter, not that he transcribed it. Having faithfully taken Paul's dictation, he here includes his own greeting.
16:23: This and the following verse may be Tertius' writing or Paul's. Gaius was a common name. (Ac 19:29 - They dragged Gaius and Aristarchus into the theatre, those two having come with Paul from Macedonia.) This could well be that Gaius. He is noted for providing lodging to all such apostles and messengers as came to Corinth. He must, therefore, have been a man of means, as well as a man of piety. One supposes that Erastus is the same as is noted elsewhere. (Ac 19:22 - Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. 2Ti 4:20a - Erastus remained at Corinth.) This last would align well with the timing of this letter to Rome. He was charged with collecting such tolls and customs as belonged to Corinth, and with paying them out for public works. He was, then, a man of high credit. But, if he held office at this time, how could he have been traveling with Paul? It seems likely that the office was a former position of his, and the title remained, much as it would for our President. Quartus may, perhaps, have been Tertius' brother, or perhaps Erastus'. It seems just as likely, though, that he is included as a brother in the Lord, and no more.
16:24: That this verse so echoes v20 suggests that this section from v22 to was Tertius' own words. Some manuscripts do not include this verse. Others place the closing section of this letter after chapter 14.

Barnes' Notes (8/6/02)

16:21: Timothy was with Paul for quite awhile. (Ac 16:1 - In Lystra, he met Timothy, a disciple born to a Jewish mother and a Greek father. His mother was a believer. 1Co 16:10 - If Timothy comes, know that he is with you in Christ and fear not; for he is doing the Lord's work just as I am. 2Co 1:1 - Paul is joined by Timothy in writing to the church in Corinth. 2Co 1:19 - Not only Paul, but also Silvanus and Timothy had preached in Corinth, and all spoke of the very same Christ Jesus, Son of God. Php 2:29 - Receive him in the Lord joyfully. Have great regard for him, and men like him. 1Th 3:2 - We sent Timothy to strengthen you in your faith. 1Ti 1:2 - Timothy, Paul's child in faith, is the recipient of the letter, upon whom Paul prays a blessing of mercy and peace from God and Christ. Heb 13:23 - Note that brother Timothy has been released, and if he comes soon, I will join him in coming to see you.) Lucius is noted as a prophet from Cyrene, first met at Antioch (Ac 13:1). (Ro 16:7 - Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, my fellow prisoners, outstanding among the apostles, and longer in Christ than I.)
16:22: Tertius, who acted as scribe on this letter, joins Paul in his greetings to Rome. Paul seems to have habitually used such scribes in his writing, adding his closing salutations in his own hand. (Col 4:18 - I, Paul, write this greeting myself. Remember my imprisonment, and may grace be with you. 2Th 3:17 - I, Paul, write this greeting myself, as I do in every letter. This is the way I write. 1Co 16:21 - The greeting is in my own hand-Paul.) Tertius was not just a hired man, but a fellow Christian.
16:23: Gaius is noted as having taken Paul in with no thought of repayment, and of giving this same hospitality to any and all who came in service to Christ. He was baptized by Paul. (1Co 1:14 - No one else in Corinth was baptized by me, except Crispus and Gaius.) It seems quite likely that he was the recipient of John's third letter. (3Jn 1 - The elder writes to beloved Gaius, a truly beloved friend.) He must have been well off, and had clearly opened his house to the service of Christians, and for worship. (Ac 19:22 - He sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia. 2Ti 4:20 - Erastus later stayed on in Corinth.) Erastus had charge of the city's finances. He was an important man, and proof of Paul's words that not all who came to Christ were from the lowest ranks. (1Co 1:26 - Consider your calling. Not many among you were considered wise, nor mighty. Not many of you were from nobility.) That there were not many implies that there were some.
16:24: No comments.

Wycliffe (8/6/02)

16:21: Timothy is well known, but the identity of these three others cannot be established beyond question. It is possible that Lucius is the Cyrene (Ac 13:1 - a prophet or teacher in Antioch), that Jason is of Thessalonica (Ac 17:5-9 - A jealous mob headed by Jews took him from his house when they found Paul wasn't there. They laid blame on him for insurrections in other cities of the empire, saying that he claimed a king other than Caesar in this Jesus.) Likewise, Sosipater may be the same man noted in Acts. (Ac 20:4 - Sopater of Berea went with Paul, along with many others.)
16:22: Tertius, who wrote the letter for Paul, adds his own greetings.
16:23: Gaius may be him noted in 1Co 1:14 - I baptized none, except for Crispus and Gaius. He is noted for hosting the whole church, suggesting that there was a church meeting in his house. Erastus being the city treasurer shows that Christianity had reached into the upper classes of society.
16:24: No comments.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (8/6/02)

16:21: (Ac 16:1-5 - In Lystra he met Timothy, a disciple born to mixed parents, his mother being a Jewish believer, and his father a Greek. He was well known to the church both in Lystra, and in Iconium. He had Timothy circumcised to appease the Jews in the area who knew his father was Greek, and took him along. The two of them went through the cities announcing what had been decided by the elders of the Jerusalem church, and so the churches in the area were strengthened, and their numbers increased constantly.) Lucius would not be Luke, for Lucas would properly expand to Lucanus. Rather, this seems likely to be Lucius of Cyrene, the prophet at Antioch, from whence Paul was called to missions. (Ac 13:1). Jason likely joined Paul in Thessalonica (Ac 17:5), and came on to Corinth. Sopater also appears to have been in Thessalonica (Ac 20:4).
16:22: Tertius is Paul's scribe for this letter. This was a normal way for Paul to write. (Gal 6:11 - Look how large my own writing must be.) Tertius, however, wants his own Christian affection for his recipients to be known.
16:23: (Ac 20:4 - Gaius of Derbe was amongst those joining Paul, along with Sopater and Timothy.) This could well be the same Gaius Paul baptized in Corinth, from whence this letter is written. He may also be the one to whom John wrote. (3Jn 1 - The elder writes to Gaius, a truly beloved friend. Ac 19:22 - Paul sends Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. 2Ti 4:20 - Erastus remains in Corinth later. 1Co 1:1 - Paul writes to Corinth, joined by brother Sosthenes. 2Co 1:1 - Paul writes again, this time with brother Timothy.) Beyond his being a brother in Christ, nothing is known of Quartus.
16:24: This is nearly identical to the benediction at v20, except that this is pronounced on "you all," rather than "you." The closing 'amen' is questioned.

New Thoughts (8/7/02)

The end of this study approaches, a study that has crossed more than two years of my life now. For over a year of that time, I've been on my second trip through the book, seeing what others have said about these words, and seeing what I was saying, myself, in the previous year. It's been a sometimes frustrating, sometimes exciting opportunity to see what the Lord has done.

I have seen in myself a change of style through the course of these studies, most especially during this second pass. With Paul, I have found it needful to stay closer to his words in paraphrasing than was the case with John. John writes from the heart to the heart. Paul, it seems, wants the mind fully engaged as well. His are carefully planned arguments for faith, true faith, solid faith, and they require attentiveness from us.

I have seen my own beliefs solidify on many questions, as I have found seemingly all the questions upon which denominations have arisen in the course of these studies. It has been a rare opportunity to see so many sides of an issue in parallel, especially in the middle chapters of the book. I find I am more and more comfortable with my beliefs, having seen more of the foundations they stand upon. I recall, at one point, a walk in the woods with a brother of mine, during which we were discussing some of the more difficult things that one comes across in studying Romans - things like predestination and free will, things that have divided beliefs through the centuries. In the course of these discussions, I hit upon describing the full doctrine of belief as being much like a symphony. I touched on the idea of the rootless chord that some jazz musicians came to love because they allowed the music to proceed in more than one possible direction. This rootless chord struck me as a fitting allegory for a doctrine that doesn't hold together. It doesn't answer all the questions. It leaves us with multiple paths we could choose to follow.

A full and complete doctrine, such as Paul has given us here, is more of a symphonic approach. The full chord, root and all, is present, and there is no question in the listener's mind as to which way things are going. It's like the dominant seventh chord, which leaves us absolutely certain of the chord to come, and the key we will be in. It requires no understanding. It does not even require that we know what that dominant seventh is. It requires only hearing the sound, and our spirit knows where we're going. Good doctrine is like this. When we hear it, we know where we're going. We may not understand it fully, we may not know the theological terms involved, but we know in our spirit that we have heard truth, and we know where that truth must inevitably take us.

I have seen, in times of reviewing sections of this study, prayers that seem to have gone unanswered, places in which it seems I have failed to change. These hurt to see. These cause me to pray all the more earnestly, recognizing that I have forgotten. The number of times I have seen pride appear in these studies in one fashion or another, the number of its disguises that have been revealed by God's word, have left me praying repeatedly to have that pride removed from me. Yet, it seems I am constantly coming across pride in some other form, and must return to praying.

But, there are the positive things, as well; the places I have seen God moving most wonderfully. Last night was a reflection of just such an occasion, especially seen in light of this morning's review. I see, this morning, the reminder of a prayer I had prayed early last year, a prayer that my role as leader of this family, especially in things spiritual, might be faithfully fulfilled. There were 'teachings' that my dear wife was listening to, and accepting, that concerned me. I was not yet established as a teacher at that point, and had little input into her understanding. I truly felt I was looking at a case of innocence without the guarding wisdom.

My prayer was that I would become a faithful leader for this family. I had also been praying for some time to find what it was that God has had me doing these studies for. Somewhere early in that year, I began teaching for a home group at my assistant Pastor's house. Rather a daunting task, to sit amongst such spiritual elders and seek to bring a lesson worth hearing, and to avoid stepping on some doctrinal toes! Eventually, that study moved to my own home. We saw most, eventually all, of those who had attended at Pastor's home drop away. It was an opportunity to be discouraged, to decide that I had misunderstood and throw in the towel. But, together with my wife, it was decided that we would remain faithful to hold this study time, regardless of who might or might not come.

We have remained as faithful as the night allows, with one exception last week. Except where illness, vacation, or church activities have prevented us, we have been there praying and studying. In times when it was just Jan and I, it's been wonderful. I have seen us both growing, both in understanding of God's word, and in understanding of each other's gifts. We are occasionally joined by others, and in those times I have also been blessed, as I watch God impart into the lives of those who come, having planned the lesson they needed to hear. Indeed, in this home group, I have learned another lesson in being content in plenty or in want.

But last night was a special moment. I had my wife and daughter for students, as we studied the 8th commandment. I was trying to get at the understanding that the law against stealing also contained within it the need to give from our plenty to the needs around us. I turned to Jesus' encounter with the rich young man, as well as the instructions of Moses in Leviticus to show that this had been part of the meaning of "Thou shalt not steal." In teaching this bit, I found in myself something that had not been there before, an ability to engage my daughter fully in what we were studying. It can be hard enough for me to bring my studies down from my thoughts to my words, and trying to get it to a point that children could grab on to had just eluded me. But, last night, I saw my daughter fully engaged. I saw her answering questions with wisdom, I saw her grab hold of a new truth. I was so fully blessed by this!

Indeed, on many fronts, I see that God has been in the process of answering my prayers in both regards, in regard to teaching, and in regard to leading. I have walked in to leadership in home and at work. I have been learning to apply His ways to my leadership, and to allow His wisdom to be my teacher. I am so in awe of what He has been doing over this last year or so!

Even now, as I see (in the eyes of my flesh) a hard time ahead, with my present job rapidly reaching a close, and no firm job beyond it; even now, I am thrilled by what He is doing. I have seen, as I have noted, His timing of my study on Providence preparing me for what was to come. I have been able to strengthen myself and my family by the understanding of His control over our life and circumstance. That same aspect of God which brought me to Him when I didn't even know what it was called, that 'dominant seventh' that led me inevitably to Himself, is reinforcing our trust in Him now, in this place of trial. We have been content in Him in times of want, and we have, I believe, remained faithful to Him in times of plenty. What He will bring next, we cannot know for certain from this place, but we know - whether it be times of no income, or simply a change of venue - we know that He is in control, that He will provide our needs, that He will give us reason to rejoice. We know, and are exceedingly glad, that all our days our in His hands, and there can be no better place. My heart is filled with a good theme, the glory of our Lord, the wonders of His ways, the joy of His provision in our lives!