Romans, Session 26: Romans 16

Read the passage: Romans 16 (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Getting started

Before looking at some of the individuals in more detail, what does the fact that Paul can write a list of names like this tell us?

Verses 1-2

What do we learn of Phoebe? How does Paul describe her?
- What did it mean to be a patron?
- How might you use your money now, or in the future, to fund gospel work? As you look forward to earning more, how might you put in place certain practices to become a patron like Phoebe?
Paul asks the church in Rome to welcome Phoebe in a certain way. What is that way? Why do you think he might need to ask this? How might they welcome her in a way that is not worthy?

Verses 3-5

What do we learn of Prisca and Aquila?
- In what ways might we risk ourselves for others in the church today? Or, if not risk, put ourselves out for others?
- How does risk-taking like this model the gospel?

Verses 1-15

Try and identify all the women in the list of people.

What does the presence of Phoebe, Prisca and these other women tell us about the presence and participation of women in the life and ministry of this church?
What do some of Paul’s comments in this list of greetings imply about the structure of the church in Rome?

Verse 17

What is Paul’s warning in this verse?
- Why is divisiveness in the church destructive?
- How can such people be identified by their teaching? And what does this imply about how individual Christians should be able to assess this?
  - How is your grasp of Christian doctrine? Can you discern false teaching? If not what could you do to better equip yourself?
- How does Paul further describe them in v18? What should this teach us about how we appraise teachers and preachers?
  - How can you tell whether a pastor/preacher/teacher is in it for themselves or not?

Verse 19

They are a church that wants to be obedient to God and His word. And yet Paul says, ‘But I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.’ What does this mean?
- How can you, personally, become more innocent as to what is evil, and more wise as to what is good?

Verse 20

What does Paul’s statement that ‘the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet’ tell us and why is it encouraging? For example, look at Gen 3.15 and Col 2.15.

Verse 25

What does the gospel have power to do? (See also Rom 1.16)

Verse 26

What second thing does Paul say the gospel has power to influence in our lives?

Romans wrap up!

We’ve come to the end of Romans! What’s your favourite passage in this letter? What have you learnt, or been provoked to think about as you’ve studied it?

Leader’s notes

Getting started

Before looking at some of the individuals in more detail, what does the fact that Paul can write a list of names like this tell us?
Paul was a real person writing to real people; Multiple different people, both men and women, were involved in Christian ministry in Rome. This was not a one-man band! Also it seems the church was racially diverse – his list includes Jews and Gentiles; There was likely a spectrum of social position: Aristobulus and Narcissus are mentioned in connection with their families. They were likely pater familias – heads of large households or estates. We do not know anything more about these people – but they served God faithfully. We will all very likely be unknown outside our immediate circle of family and friends, but God can still use us in our lives for His work.

Verses 1-2

What do we learn of Phoebe? How does Paul describe her?
He calls her a sister; He commends her to the church in Rome; She served her local church, and she was a patron to many.
- What did it mean to be a patron?
  A patron was someone who used their financial means, and position, to benefit others. Phoebe had obviously been doing this for Paul and others. She may well have been travelling to Rome on business, and may even have been responsible for taking this letter to the church there.

Verses 3-5

What do we learn of Prisca and Aquila?
Paul counts them as fellow workers. They risked their lives for him. They hosted a church in their house.
- How does risk-taking like this model the gospel?
  Christ not only risked, but gave up everything for us, for our good. He did what was inconvenient; He put Himself out for us. When the gospel takes deep root in our hearts, we will do the same for others.

Verses 1-15

Try and identify all the women in the list of people.
Phoebe (v1-2); Prisca (v3-5); Mary (v6); probably Junia (v7); Tryphaena and Tryphosa (v12); Rufus’ mother (v13); Julia and the sister of Nereus (v15)

What does the presence of Phoebe, Prisca and these other women tell us about the presence and participation of women in the life and ministry of this church?
Women clearly played a very active part: in serving, hosting, funding and encouraging gospel work and churches.
What do some of Paul’s comments in this list of greetings imply about the structure of the church in Rome?
In v5 he greets the church that meets in Prisca and Aquila’s home; In v14 and 15 he refers to other Christians who are with those he has just greeted, implying (possibly) they met together in their home. The picture is of a church made up of multiple house churches or home groups.

Verse 17

What is Paul’s warning in this verse?
To watch out for false teachers who cause division.
- Why is divisiveness in the church destructive?
  It hurts Christians – relationships are broken, and faith is shaken; and it harms our witness: Jesus said, we will be known by our love for each other, not by our divisions.
- How can such people be identified by their teaching? And what does this imply about how individual Christians should be able to assess this?
  It is contrary to the doctrine they’ve already been taught. The fact that Paul says the Christians in Rome can spot this implies that they had a good grasp of doctrine: they were able, in Paul’s mind, to distinguish truth from error.
- How does Paul further describe them in v18? What should this teach us about how we appraise teachers and preachers?
  They were clearly appealing teachers – they were good talkers! But ultimately they were deceptive and self- serving.

Verse 19

They are a church that wants to be obedient to God and His word. And yet Paul says, ‘But I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.’ What does this mean?
Christians are not to be naive. However, we are also to be more formed by truth and goodness than evil and error. We are to be discerning about what we fill our minds and hearts with.

Verse 20

What does Paul’s statement that ‘the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet’ tell us and why is it encouraging? For example, look at Gen 3.15 and Col 2.15.
Christ has, and is crushing Satan – through the cross, through the resurrection and ultimately at His return. But here Paul says we are a part of that – at least, we get to experience that. Every time we turn to Christ in faith, obey God, or seek to honour Him, choosing Him over temptation, Satan and his plans are crushed.

Verse 25

What does the gospel have power to do? (See also Rom 1.16)
It strengthens us. So the gospel isn’t just for the start of the Christian life, it’s knowing and hearing the gospel preached that keeps us strong throughout.

Verse 26

What second thing does Paul say the gospel has power to influence in our lives?
The obedience of faith. That as we daily trust Christ’s work for us in the gospel we will find ourselves wanting to obey God more and more.

Download the complete study: Bible study on Romans (PDF) and leader’s guide (PDF)