Romans 16:8-12

 

Romans 16:8-12

The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

 

Rom 16:8  Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 

Rom 16:9  Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 

Rom 16:10  Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 

Rom 16:11  Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 

Rom 16:12  Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 

 

1. Greet Amplias. – vs. 8*
1. One that Paul loved in the Lord.

                                                              i.      Paul doesn’t simply say that he is beloved of the Lord, but rather that his is ‘my’ beloved in the Lord

1.      Philippians 4:1 

2. Was probably a slave, but was buried with special honors in the Catacombs.

                                                              i.      Colossians 3:11 

3. It is probable that he may have been martyred for his faith during the persecution that took place under Nero.

                                                              i.      Paul may have been looking forward to joining Amplias when he said the following

1.      2 Timothy 4:8 

4. Amplias is the type of person that Jesus had in mind when he said that the meek shall inherit the earth

                                                              i.      Matthew 5:5 

2. Greet Urbane. – vs. 9a*
1. There is little know about Urbane other than he was possibly a slave or a freedman, but he was a servant of the Lord Jesus. He must have refused to let his station in life hinder him from being a part of the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ.

                                                              i.      Deuteronomy 11:13 

3. Greet Stachys. – vs. 9b*
1. Stachys simply means, spiked ear, which probably implied his station in life as a slave. Yet again Paul refers to him like Amplias as ‘my’ beloved. Paul continues to emphasize that God choses to use the humblest of men to accomplish his work,

                                                              i.      Christ provides rest for the meek - Matthew 11:29-30 

                                                            ii.      Christ provides satisfaction for the meek - Psalm 22:26 

                                                          iii.      Christ will be a guide to the meek - Psalm 25:9 

                                                          iv.      Christ gives joy to the meek - Psalm 69:32 

                                                            v.      Christ lifts the meek - Psalm 147:6 

                                                          vi.      Christ beautifies the meek - Psalm 149:4 

                                                        vii.      Christ is sent by God for the meek - Luke 4:16-21 

4. Greet Apelles. – vs. 10a*
1. One that was approved of Christ.

                                                              i.      He was approved unto Christ because he was following this: -

1.      Romans 12:1 

2. Probably a Jew and part of Aristobulus’ household
4. Greet those that were of the House of Aristobulus. – vs. 10b*
1. The greeting is addressed to those in the household of Aristobulus, not to him. This was because he was likely dead or not a Christian.
2. He was possibly a grandson of Herod the Great
3. Which would mean that he was a close friend of Emperor Claudius
4. He and his household likely lived in the Palace complex
5. When he died his property and slaves were likely confiscated by Nero
5. Greet Herodion. – vs. 11a*
1. Probably another descendant of Herod the Great
2. Likely a key protector of the growing church of slaves in the temple complex
3. Probably a Jew
6. Greet Those of the Household of Narcissus. – vs. 11b*
1. Narcissus was likely a close friend of Emperor Claudius
2. Like Aristobulus he is not greeted by Paul but rather his household
3. Was a secretary to the Emperor
4. Which meant that he and his slaves also lived in the palace complex
5. It is likely the other names mentioned are also connected to him in some way
6. Was formerly a slave as well, but when he became a freeman he amassed a huge fortune serving the Emperor
7. Was killed by Nero’s mother and his wealth and slaves confiscated by Nero
7. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa. – vs. 12a*
1. They were probably twin sisters, whose names meant “delicate” and “dainty”. Opposite to the meaning of their names, they were hard workers serving the Lord in the Church at Rome.
2. They would have either been slaves of members of the previously mentioned households
3. Tradition holds that they would later give their lives for Christ -

                                                              i.      Revelation 2:10 

9. Greet Persis. – vs. 12b*
1. Likely an elderly servant of the Lord
2. Possibly a Persian
3. Another fellow laborer - 1 Thessalonians 1:3 
10. These Precious People are the Conquers of Rome
1. Paul would say to these humble people: - Romans 16:20 

 

“Each Christian is to be a rod of God in the place of God for him. We must remember throughout our lives that in God’s sight there are no little people and no little places. Only one thing is important: to be consecrated persons in God’s place for us, at each moment. Those who think of themselves as little people in little places, if committed to Christ and living under his Lordship in the whole of life, may, by God’s grace, change the flow of our generation”

-          Quotation from: Francis Shaeffer in “No Little People, No Little Places