What Did The Church Look Like in Paul's Day? Should the Church Look More Like This Now? - Romans 16

Personal Greetings

16 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[d] 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. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

In this last chapter of Romans, Paul gives a laundry list of other people in the church at Rome, who played various roles in growth of the church.  As you look at all the people in the list and the characteristics and traits he enumerates, we see the beautiful diversity in the body of Christ.   We see that the church is not about one person or personality, but the people of God of all types.  Though Paul is an outstanding leader, it is to these people that he owes a debt of gratitude.  These people ARE THE CHURCH.  This list helps all of us to understand that we ALL have a place to serve in the body of Christ and we ALL are important to it functioning efficiently and effectively. 

Leon Morris explains, “This was a letter to real people and, as far as we can see, ordinary people; it was not written to professional theologians.”

Charles Spurgeon says, "They were like the most of us, commonplace individuals; but they loved the Lord, and therefore as Paul recollected their names he sent them a message of love which has become embalmed in the Holy Scriptures. Do not let us think of the distinguished Christians exclusively so as to forget the rank and file of the Lord’s army. Do not let the eye rest exclusively upon the front rank, but let us love all whom Christ loves; let us value all Christ’s servants. It is better to be God’s dog than to be the devil’s darling.” 

Although many of the names we don't recognize as male or female, it is obvious that there are as many women as men involved in the church. Some of the women mentioned include: Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa the mother of Rufus and Julia.  Note also that Pheobe was appointed as a "deacon" in the church.  Though some believe this term "deacon" was more broadly used as the word "servant", I would agree with other scholars who agree that the office of deacon had begun to emerge as an official role in the church. I.e. elder or pastor.  Deacons helped with ministry to the poor and others in need, and it appears also that Phoebe was a benefactor and a woman of means who helped the church financially as well.  Paul describes a church where both women and men are given leadership roles and the focus is on service to our Lord, our true leader. While we shouldn't over emphasize this point, we should under emphasize it either. 

Finally, it is clear that the church met informally in houses not in big buildings.  Paul referred to churches as the "church in Galatia" or "all the saints in Philippi" but the reality is these churches met in many locations, not just one place.  The Church in Rome was similarly made up of many believers, who met in many places.  The small churches are often called "house churches".  They have made a comeback today.  

The Size of the Early House Churches

Church historians agree that house churches could rarely have been more than 15 or 20 people—simply because they took place in small apartments. The vast majority of people, perhaps as many as 90 percent, lived in apartments of one or two rooms crowded above or behind shops. Once a house church grew larger than that, it multiplied by simply starting another house church nearby. If not, the growth immediately caused problems.

Normally a house church met in the largest room of a private home, usually the dining room. Most apartments shared a public courtyard with adjoining units, and families cooked in the courtyards. The dining room and courtyard provided space for teaching and preaching ministries, baptismal instruction, prayer meetings, the celebration of the Lord's Supper, and missional activities. Privacy was rare. Wayne Meeks writes that life happened in front of the neighbors. In our privatized world, it's hard to imagine what the early church experienced (small groups.com)

So what can we conclude about Paul's last chapter, which not only ends his letter to the Romans but helps us understand the life of the faith in the early church?

1. People of all backgrounds made up the church.  Young and old.  Men and women. Slaves and free.  There were no distinctions in the church.  No hiearchy of have's and have not's.  The church centered around a person, Jesus Christ.  Every person in the church is a servant of Jesus Christ.  When the church becomes about a human leader not Jesus, it is a big problem. 

2. The church met all over the place, not only in one central location in a particular city.  This afforded many good things that led to the effectiveness and efficiency of the early church.  First, the more spread out the church, the closer it could be to the people it was trying to reach.  Second, these churches enabled many people to get involved in leadership and discipleship. 

3. The sense of community in the church was more like that of a family.  The new testament calls this "oikos", which means household.  Here is a great explanation of what that meant in Jesus' day.

"God used the oikos to extend the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. The early believers modeled transformed lives and distinct values that were often countercultural. Yet, in these crowded, urban environments, people were able to see Christianity up close. They heard and saw the testimonies of those transformed by the gospel, and they desired to experience Christ for themselves. Husbands loved wives, servants were treated with dignity, married partners submitted to one another, and love reigned supreme. Friends and neighbors were drawn to this new transformed community." (smallgroups.com)

Do you feel like you are as important in the church as the pastor?  Do you think a smaller church that multiplies into other smaller churches to reach their surrounding neighbors is more effective than one big mega church with lots of structure and paid staff?  Note: I am not making a judgment here just asking the question!  

What is the most important thing you think we can learn from Paul's description of the people who helped the church to grow in Rome?  I.e. The value of personal relationships.