FOR THE REPORT OF YOUR OBEDIENCE HAS REACHED TO ALL: e gar humon hupakoe eis pantas aphiketo (3SAMI) eph humin:  (cf Ro 1:8 1 Thes 1:8,9)

Your loyalty to the principles of the Gospel is known everywhere, and that gives me great joy. (Phillips)

Obedience (5218) (hupakoe [word study] from hupó = under + akoúo = hear) literally means to "hear under". Hupakoe conveys picture of listening or hearkening to and submitting to that which is heard and involves a change of attitude of the hearer. Paul uses hupakoe 6 times (out of 14 total uses in the NT) in Romans (Ro 1:5; 5:19; 6:16; 15:18; 16:19; 26-see notes Ro 1:5; 5:19; 6:16; 15:18; 16:19; 16:26)

Hupakoe - 15x in 14v- Rom 1:5; 5:19; 6:16; 15:18; 16:19, 26; 2 Cor 7:15; 10:5, 6; Philemon 1:21; Heb 5:8; 1 Pet 1:2, 14, 22

The Greek word for obedience pictures one who listens and submits to that which is heard. It is in marked contrast to the unsaved attitude of rebelliousness and self will. The obedience of the Romans was wonderful news to Paul, because it was an indicator that their faith was genuine.

If one says they have believed in the gospel of God and yet continually are disobedient to God, then that individual needs to be wary and should prayerfully look at Paul's warning in (2Cor 13:5). On the other hand, Paul is not saying that works gain God's favor, but he is saying that a "working" faith produces a change in one's behavior. For a "summary" of the relationship of salvation to works study see Ep 2:8; 9-notes; Ep 2:10-notes. Man is saved by grace alone but the faith that saves is never alone, but brings forth fruit in keeping with repentance.

Paul is not speaking of a perfect obedience (that would be the state of glorification), nor is he speaking of rigid "obedience" to a set of rules and laws like the Pharisees which would be legalism or work's righteousness. Instead he is speaking of that obedience motivated by love (not legalism) that flows forth from a new heart (Ezek 36:27, 2Cor 5:17; Php 2:12,13-see notes Ph 2:12; 13) that now desires and is empowered to be obedient to the Master's voice.

J Vernon McGee adds that...

It should be clear from a study of the Word that God has wedded faith and obedience so that they are related much like two sides of a coin. Dr. H. A. Ironside was told by a lady that she expected to get to heaven by faith plus her good works, explaining to Pastor Ironside...

The best protection against falsehood is adhering to God’s truth, just as the best protection against sin is holding on to His righteousness. Believers in Rome were protected against false teachers by their obedience to Christ and the truth of His gospel. Not only did their obedience protect themselves, but it also helped believers elsewhere who knew of and were encouraged by the Roman church’s reputation for godliness. Early in this letter, Paul commended them for their faithfulness. “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world” (Ro 1:8). He therefore had good cause for rejoicing over them. The godliness of that church brought encouragement and joy to Paul, although he had never visited Rome and did not know most of the believers there."
 

Has reached (864) (aphikneomai) means first to  to come from, then to arrive at. This is the only use in the N.T.

THEREFORE I AM REJOICING OVER YOU: oun chairo (1SPAI) thelo (1SPAI) de humas:  (Eph 1:15, 16, 17 Col 1:3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9 1Th 1:2,3 3:6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

I am rejoicing over you - upon you because your desire to live practically according to godly wisdom unadulterated by evil.

John expressed a similar cause for joy...

"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." (3John 4)
 

Walking in the truth was clear evidence to John that they were genuine believers, ones who were obedient to the faith, for only men and women possessing a new heart (2Cor 5:17, Ezekiel 36:26-27) and a new power (the Spirit - see note Romans 8:9) can walk in the truth. Would those who led you to the Lord receive the joyful report that you are walking in the truth? If not, why not?

BUT I WANT YOU TO BE WISE IN WHAT IS GOOD AND INNOCENT IN WHAT IS EVIL: sophous einai (PAN) eis to agathon, akeraious de eis to kakon:   (Matt 10:16 Lk 10:3 1Co 14:20 Eph 1:17,18 Eph 5:17 Php 1:9 Php 2:15 Col 1:9 3:16 2Ti 3:15, 16, 17 Jas 3:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)

Be practically wise in relationships with others. Earlier Paul had instructed the saints to

Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9-note)

Paul's desire was similar to that of our Lord Who gave His disciples the following instructions...

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd (thoughtful, sagacious or discreet and implying a cautious character) as serpents, and innocent (akeraios - see below) as doves.  (Mt 10:16)
 

Good (18) (agathos [word study]) means intrinsically good, inherently good in quality but with the idea of good which is also profitable, useful, benefiting others, benevolent (marked by or disposed to doing good). Agathos is that which is  good in its character, beneficial in its effects and/or  useful in its action.

William Newell echoes the desire of every person who is blood bought and heaven bound declaring...

Oh, for such a habit of mind—to be constantly wise unto that which is good! (Romans 16)

The believer should not mix with evil; rather, he should be knowledgeable about good things. We will not be free from the allures of sin until Christ takes us to be with Himself. It is therefore necessary for Christians constantly to “abhor what is evil [and] cling to what is good” (see note Romans 12:9), to "be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves" as Jesus instructed His disciples.

Innocent (185) (akeraios from "a" = without + keránnumi = mix) refers literally to that which is without mixture and thus is pure. The basic meaning is being unmixed or unadulterated.

Figuratively it refers to that which is without admixture of evil, which is free from guile and is translated as innocent, harmless or simple.

Like a "little child". ("...in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature." 1Cor 14:20).

The believer’s life is to be absolutely pure, unmixed with sin and evil. The KJV translates akeraios as harmless (twice) and simple.

Other than this verse and (Mt 10:16 quoted above), akeraios is used only one other time in the NT, Paul exhorting the saints at Philippi to...

Do (present imperative = as your habitual practice, your lifestyle) all things without grumbling or disputing so that (they might) prove (themselves) to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, (see notes Philippians 2:14; Philippians 2:15)

Vincent (commenting on use of akeraios in Mt 10:16) writes that akeraios meant...

unmixed, unadulterated. Used of wine without water, and of metal without alloy. Hence guileless. So Luther, without falsity. Compare Ro 16:19; Php 2:15. They were to imitate the serpent’s wariness, but not his wiliness. “The presence of the wolves demands that ye be wary; the fact that ye are my apostles (compare “I send you”) demands that ye be guileless” (Dr. Morison on Matthew).

Vine adds that akeraios
 

was used of wine unmingled with water, of unalloyed metal, etc. Hence it means “without admixture of evil.” Here, then, it would mean that his desire for them was that they might be untainted by the influences of evil teachers and the divisions and stumbling blocks caused thereby. Thus would they be wise in adherence to the truth. If we are to be kept from admixture of what is baneful we must be steadfast in the faith, abiding in the truth. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
 

Barclay has a similar description writing that akeraios was
 

used of metal which has no suspicion of alloy, of wine and of milk which are not adulterated with water. It describes something which is absolutely pure of any corruption. The Christian is a man whose utter sincerity must be beyond all doubt....When used of people, it implies motives which are unmixed. Christian purity must issue in a complete sincerity of thought and character." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos)
 

Denney says,
 

The fundamental idea of (akeraios) is that of freedom from alien or disturbing elements. What Paul here wishes for the Romans—moral intelligence, not impaired in the least by any dealings with evil—does suggest that antinomianism (lawlessness, antagonism against law) was the peril to be guarded against. Integrity of the moral nature is the best security: the seductive teaching is instinctively repelled.

The idea in this verse is to keep your doctrine (the teaching you believe to be true) unmixed with false teachings; do not let yourself get “all mixed up” in your thinking (Ephesians 4:14-Ephesians 4:14). Also, keep your moral life unmixed with sin and even the appearance of sin; stay as far away from evil as possible. Be so sensitive to it that the moment you suspect something is evil, flee from it at once. Phillips’s translation sums this thought up well: “I want to see you experts in good, and not even beginners in evil.” for as Paul writes in (Ephesians 5:12-note) "it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret."

MacArthur warns:

AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL SOON CRUSH SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET: o de theos tes eirenes suntripsei (3SFAI) ton satanan hupo tous podas humon en tachei:  (Ro 15:33, Ro 16:20, Phil 4:9, 1Th 5:23, Heb 13:20)

It is very interesting that this is the first mention of Satan in Paul's greatest epistle. Satan does not get as much press as does our other mortal enemy, the power of Sin (See its defeat in notes on  Romans 6:11-note)

Paul assures faithful believers that they can look forward to the day when their spiritual warfare (click link for excellent book on this topic) will be over. Teachers of deceit and falsehood are instruments of the devil, and they will be destroyed. But why does Paul mention Satan here? The immediate context is men "who cause dissensions". This suggests that Paul is associating their nefarious deceptive activity with the evil one & this would parallel a similar line of thought by Paul in (2Co 11:13, 14, 15).

God of peace - A great Name of God (see study Jehovah Shalom: LORD is Peace and Jehovah Shalom Notes)

God is the God of peace...

F B Meyer writes - WE ALL need Peace! There are sources of Peace which are common to all men. The peace of a happy home; of an increasing business and enlarging influence; of the respect and love of our fellows. As a man is conscious of these, he is inclined to say with Job, "I shall die in my nest." We can all understand a peace like that; but there is a "peace that passeth understanding." It is too deep for words. It is like the pillowed depths of the ocean, which are undisturbed by the passing storm. Here is a sufferer, almost always in acute pain, and needing constant attention, and yet so happy. Joy and Peace, like guardian angels, sit by that bedside; and Hope, not blindfolded, touches all the strings of the lyre, and sheds sunshine,--how do you account for it? Let the sceptic and the scoffer answer! Here is a peace that passes understanding which comes from the God of Peace.

For the Christian soul there is a silver lining in every cloud; a blue patch in the darkest sky; a turn in the longest lane; a mountain view which shall compensate the steepest ascent. Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land. The thing impossible shall be; because all things are possible to God.

The peace of God is the peace of the Divine Nature---the very tranquillity which prevails in the heart of the God of Peace. It was of this that Jesus spoke when He said, "My peace I give unto you"; for His own being was filled and blessed with it during His earthly career. "The Lord of Peace Himself give you peace always."

There are three things against which we must ever be on our guard lest they rob us of our peace. First, unconfessed sin; second, worry; third, the permission of an unrebuked selfish principle. The Apostle says, "Let the Peace of God rule in your hearts." The Greek word means arbitrate. Let God's Peace act as umpire.

We shall not escape life's discipline. We may expect to abound here, and to be abased there. But amid all, God's Peace, like a white-winged sentinel angel, shall come down to garrison our heart with its affections, and our mind with its thoughts.

PRAYER - I humbly ask, O God, that Thy Peace may be the garrison of my heart and mind; that it may ever rule within me, asserting itself over the tumultuous

><> ><> ><>

Peace (1515) (eirene  from verbal form eiro = “to bind together that which was separated”) means to set at one again.  God's grace is the fountain of which His peace is the stream. (Click word study of eirene) When the divisions are bound together again, the result is peace (cf Ro 5:1-note)

There is a clear allusion here to the merciful (mercy full) promise of God in (Ge 3:15) in which he prophecies the certain triumph of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, over our adversary, Satan...

And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your seed and her seed (Messiah); He (Messiah) shall bruise you (Satan) on the head, and you shall bruise him (Messiah) on the heel." (Genesis 3:15)

This incredible prophecy promised that the Seed of the woman, the Messiah, would totally and forever crush the head of that serpent

And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. (See notes Revelation 12:9; Revelation 12:10)

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10) (See notes regarding the fulfillment of this promise in Revelation 20:2; Revelation 20:10).

In the meantime, believers, who also in a sense are the woman's seed (cf note  Revelation 12:17), can achieve local victories over Satan and his wiles by resisting him "firm in your faith"

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (see note 1 Peter 5:9).

If we resist him with Scripture as Jesus did, testing and refuting his enticements therewith (Mt 4:4,7,10), then he will "flee from you" (James 4:7), just as he did from Jesus..."until an opportune time." (Luke 4:13).

Soon is the phrase en tachei (5034) meaning speedily or quickly, as in (Acts 12:7, Acts 22:18).

En tachei often carried the secondary connotation of an event that occurs unexpectedly.

The closely related adverb tachu (5035) is used three times in Revelation in relation to Christ’s “coming quickly” (Re 22:7; Re 22:12; Re 22:20-see notes Re 22:7; 12; 20).

We know from the NT itself that Satan was not "soon" crushed from the perspective of believers living at that time and He is still not yet subdued in our day, but "soon and very soon" he will be because as A. T. Robertson says it is reckoned

as God counts time. Meanwhile, patient loyalty from us.

John agrees with Paul's verdict on Satan writing that...

the devil who deceived them (those who tried to come again the "holy city" of Jerusalem at the end of Messiah's 1000 year reign on earth) was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (now that is "crushing"!) (see note Revelation 20:10)  (Bolding added)

Crush (4937) (suntribo from sun = together or intensification of meaning of the root word +  tríbo = wear away, rub, break in pieces) means to crush completely, to shatter, or to break in pieces and in context means to break the strength and power of Satan once and for all.

In the letter to Thyatira Jesus says that those who overcome (all believers are overcomers although they may not always "feel" like it) and who keep His

"deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS & HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN (suntribo) TO PIECES" (see notes Revelation 2:26; 2:27).

Satan (4567) (satanas from the Hebrew noun Satan, the verb from meaning to oppose or thwart anyone in his purpose or claims) is the adversary,  the arch-enemy of good, the one that contends with, opposes, and resists God and His people and purposes. Satan is our  antagonist, enemy, foe, opponent, and rival. Satan is  a personal, evil, spiritual being whose purposes are hostile and opposed to God, His people and his cosmos.

Newell writes that...

This is a heartening promise, indeed! Further, there will be no peace, no truce, until it is done. The word "shortly" should fall on our hearts with constant hope, as it did on Paul’s.(Romans 16) (Bolding added)

><> ><> ><>

It's Note Over - One of the intriguing characters in literature and opera is Dr. Faust. The character of Faust was based on a German legend about a man who made a pact with the devil, surrendering his soul in exchange for youth, knowledge, and magical powers.

One artist put the legend onto canvas, depicting the story of Faust as a grim chess game. On one side of the table sits Faust, a symbol of men and women in the world, with only three or four pieces on the board in front of him. His face is contorted in despair. On the other side of the table the devil sits back in his chair gloating over his apparent victory. The artist titled his painting, "Checkmate." A chess master came to the art gallery, stood before the picture, and studied it for a long time. Then he exclaimed, "It's not over! It's not checkmate! The king and the knight still have another move!"

Many times throughout history it has appeared that Satan is winning the game. The god of this world seems to control the board. Yet, Jesus Christ has the final move. Paul could boldly assert, "The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. 16:20). The evil one cannot and will not win. As Christians, we can live in the sturdy confidence that the game isn't over till it's over. —Haddon W. Robinson (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

The prince of darkness grim--
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure--
One little word shall fell him. --Luther

There are no losers with Christ
and no winners with the devil.

><> ><> ><>
 

Spurgeon (in Faith's Checkbook) wrote about the Conquest to Victory...

This promise follows well upon that of yesterday. We are evidently to be conformed to our covenant Head, not only in His being bruised in His heel but in His conquest of the evil one. Even under our feet is the old dragon to be bruised. The Roman believers were grieved with strife in the church; but their God was "the God of peace" and gave them rest of soul. The archenemy tripped up the feet of the unwary and deceived the hearts of the simple; but he was to get the worst of it and to be trodden down by those whom he had troubled. This victory would not come to the people of God through their own skill or power; but God Himself would bruise Satan. Though it would be under their feet, yet the bruising would be of the Lord alone.

Let us bravely tread upon the tempter! Not only inferior spirits but the prince of darkness himself must go down before us. In unquestioning confidence in God let us look for speedy victory. "Shortly." Happy word! Shortly we shall set our foot on the old serpent! What a joy to crush evil! What dishonor to Satan to have his head bruised by human feet! Let us by faith in Jesus tread the tempter down.
 

THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS BE WITH YOU: E charis tou kuriou hemon Iesou meth humon:

Grace (5485) (charis [word study]) is unmerited favor and here we see it is found in our Lord Jesus (study the associations of grace in 2Ti 2:1-note, 2Co 12:9-note, 2Pe 3:18-note). Grace is God's transforming power to enable us to live the Christ life, the abundant life (Jn 10:10b).

In this short benediction Paul is saying in essence

I know that, even with your faithful obedience (see note Ro 16:19), you will need a daily supply of God’s grace to direct and strengthen you. You need His wisdom to give you wisdom to recognize false teachers. You need His grace to give you comfort and patience when you are attacked by Satan’s emissaries.

Puritan Thomas Brooks...

TIMOTHY MY FELLOW WORKER GREETS YOU: Aspazetai (3SPMI) humas Timotheos o sunergos mou:

Paul next sends greetings to the church at Rome in behalf of his companions, presumably men who were known by some of the believers in that city.

Timothy (5095) (time = worth or merit of some object + theos = God) means "honoring God". The Greek word for "honor" has in it the ideas of reverence and veneration. What a great name.

Acts 16:1-3 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple (mathetes - an adherent who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct) was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek (being both Jewish and Gentile, he had access to both cultures an important qualification for missionary service), 2 and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Timothy is Paul’s young understudy and fellow-worker who had joined Paul while he was in Corinth, and apparently was still with him when he wrote the Roman letter. Timothy was Paul's fellow worker and as such they had a "synergism" in ministry.

Fellow worker (4904) (sunergos from sun = together with, speaks of an intimate relationship + érgon = work) means literally working together with and thus refers to a companion in work, a colleague, a co-laborer, a fellow laborer or fellow helper. 

Notice that in 1 Corinthians, Paul refers to all believers God’s fellow workers (1Cor 3:9). Think of our familiar English word derived from sunergos -  Synergy which describes combined action or operation. It is interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

with a genitive of the person (refers to) one who labors with another in furthering the cause of Christ.

Paul wrote to the church at Philippi

"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit (isopsuchos = "equal souled" or “one souled,” like minded and so one in thought, feeling, and spirit with Paul in love for the church) who will genuinely be concerned (expresses a strong feeling for something or someone, often to the point of being burdened) for your welfare. For they all seek (present tense = continually) after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth (here refers to Timothy's character which was tested and proven as to genuineness and trustworthiness) that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; You know of [Timothy’s]  that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father” (see notes Philippians 2:19; 2:20; 2:21; 2:22; 2:23).

He affirms Timothy twice in (1 Cor 4:17, 1 Cor 16:10-11), once in (1Thessalonians 3:2 [note]), and numerous times in his two letters addressed to Timothy himself.

><> ><> ><>

Companions or Competitors? - The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) had nothing but disdain for the concept of companionship. He saw all people as competitors. According to this view, people are always striving with one another in a kind of continual rivalry.

Competition can be healthy in the worlds of business and athletics. It becomes detrimental, however, when a person's attitudes and actions become viciously self-serving. Such competition should have no place in a marriage or in the church.

When spouses try to outdo each other in a career, or in some other endeavor, the marriage may be in trouble. The apostle Peter, in a male-dominated society, admonished men to treat their wives as companions, as "heirs together of the grace of life" (1 Peter 3:7-note).

When someone starts complaining about people in the church who always try to run things, a competitive spirit may be at the heart of the problem. In Romans 16, Paul saw his fellow believers as companions, not competitors. All Christians, men and women, are members of God's family and serve Jesus as co-workers in the greatest of all enterprises.

Companions, not competitors—that's what Christ wants us to be! —Herbert Vander Lugt (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) (Bolding added)

Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for others. —Meigs

Beware: Competition can destroy companionship.
 

><> ><> ><>

AND SO DO LUCIUS AND JASON AND SOSIPATER, MY KINSMEN: kai Loukios kai Iason kai Sosipatros oi suggeneis mou:

MacArthur explains that...

I TERTIUS ("the third") WHO WRITE THIS LETTER GREET YOU IN THE LORD: aspazomai (1SPMI) humas ego Tertios o grapsas ten epistolen en kurio:

Paul customarily used an amanuensis (Origin of this word is Latin, from servus a manu = slave with secretarial duties) when writing his letters, but frequently added a greeting with his own hand (1Co16:21; 2Th 3:17 Phile 1:19).

Tertius evidently was Paul's secretary or stenographer. Many think that at this time Paul may have been  almost blind (Gal 4:13-15; 6:11), hence needing someone to render this service.

GAIUS  HOST TO ME AND TO THE WHOLE CHURCH, GREETS YOU: aspazetai (3SPMI) humas Gaios o xenos mou kai holes tes ekklesias:(1Cor 1:14 3 Jn 1:1-6)

This is presumably the Gaius of 1 Corinthians 1:14 whom Paul had baptized.

Host (3581) (xenos) first means stranger, foreign or not of one's family and in this context refers to one who hosts strangers. This fact suggests that Gaius' house probably was the meeting place of the church.

ERASTUS  THE CITY TREASURER GREETS YOU, AND QUARTUS ("the fourth") THE BROTHER: aspazetai (3SPMI) humas Erastos o oikonomos tes poleos kai Kouartos o adelphos: (Acts 19:22 2Ti 4:20)

So you say the Bible is all myth and the NT is not true! Then be agitated by the fact that the name of this man Erastus has been found on a pavement that he donated to Corinth. The Bible is truth. Archeological finds don't prove it to be true, but only serve as "goads" to skeptics. Sadly as Luke (Lu 16:31) recorded that the rich man's five brothers would not believe even if a man were to resurrected from the dead (1Corinthians 15:1; 15:2; 15:3; 15:4; 15:5; 15:6; 15:7; 15:8 - see notes on how crucial resurrection is to the Gospel - 1Co 15:1; 15:2; 15:3; 15:4; 15:5; 15:6; 15:7; 15:8)

An interesting thought in light of Tertius ("the third") in (Ro 16:22) and Quartus ("the fourth") in this verse is that in the ancient world they had a very simple way of solving the problem of names. The first born was called Primus, the second Secundus, the third, Tertius; & the fourth, Quartus, etc.

The men so name by Paul were possibly slaves, because this is the way people referred to slaves -- they just numbered them.

Pastor Stedman sums up his thought on this long list of names:

"I think the thing we need to remember from this list of names is that these Christians were noted for their steady, tested commitment, their faithfulness to the gospel. I must say that I am troubled today when I see Christians succumbing so easily to the world's philosophy of life -- live for your own pleasure, try to retire as early as possible so you can do as little as you can. I think that is a deadly philosophy. The early Christians did not believe that. Four things ring clearly throughout their lives:

(1) they were not their own. "You are not your own; you are bought with a price," {1 Cor 6:19-20}. They believed that. They did not have a right to direct their lives any longer. God had sent them into the world, and God would take them through it.

(2) they believed that life is a battle, a battle to the death. It is not a picnic. They were engaged in warfare that never ended until they left this life, so they kept on fighting.

(3) they believed that there is need for rest and leisure at times, but only to restore them to go back into the battle. They never envisaged retiring and enjoying themselves for the remaining years of their lives. They only envisaged getting adequate rest in order to come back and fight through to the end.

(4) they understood that the gifts of the Holy Spirit among them opened up a ministry for every single believer. No Christian was without a ministry. Some of these dear people had only the gift of helps (although I should not say "only" the gift of helps, for that is a great gift.) They could not teach or preach but they could help, and they did, right to the end.

THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL. AMEN: e charis tou kuriou hemon Iesou Christou meta panton humon amen: