When I teach Romans, I lead people through the spiritual formation path that Paul lays out. It sort of follows the logic chain: self-awareness of our sins, different approaches of Jews and Greeks (very important in 50 AD), Jesus and Grace, now what (once we’ve accepted grace how do we live), and then finally friends, partners, and the team. Chapter 16 describes the latter.
Despite the sentence that Paul wrote to Timothy where he says “I” (not God) do not permit women to teach (addressing a specific problem in Ephesus), looking at the team listed at the end of the letter to the Romans, we get an entirely different portrait of first century Christian leadership. There are women—and men. Couples and singles. I’d imagine many were wealthy and many not so much.
What sort of team and selection of partners have you assembled or are participating?
I never quote this much, but I think the topic needs it. This is from the NIV translation.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.
Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.
Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 