Request your free, three-month trial to Tabletalk magazine. You’ll receive the print issue monthly and gain immediate digital access to decades of archives. This trial is risk-free. No credit card required.
Try Tabletalk NowAlready receive Tabletalk magazine every month?
Verify your email address to gain unlimited access.
Romans 16:21–24
Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you (Rom. 16:21).
Earlier this week, we spent two days examining Paul’s greetings to various people in the Roman church. Now we come to a brief section of greetings from others to the Roman church as a whole. Each of these men seems to be working with Paul or helping him in some way as the letter is composed. Together they are a fascinating group.
Timothy is listed first. Paul calls him “my fellow worker,” which is indeed a great honor, but Timothy is much more. Converted under Paul’s ministry during his second missionary journey, Timothy would have a long ministry as a pastor of churches founded by the apostle. Paul gives him high praise in the letter to the Philippians, saying, “I have no one else like him” (Phil. 2:20, NIV) and comparing him to a son (Phil. 2:22). Then Paul speaks of Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, saying they are converted Jews. Men of these names are mentioned briefly in Acts (see Acts 13:1, 17:1–7, 20:4), and our commentator, Dr. James M. Boice, believes they have gathered in Corinth to accompany Paul to Jerusalem with the offering he plans to take to the church there. Next we find listed a certain Tertius, who identifies himself as the one who has written the letter as Paul has dictated it. This numerical name probably designates a slave, as does that of Quartus, listed last. And yet, these slaves are treated as equals, brothers in Christ sending their greetings to fellow believers in Rome. They probably are slaves in the household of Gaius, who is listed as Paul’s host and as one who is “the host of the whole church.” He probably is a man of great wealth, possessing a large home where the church meets. Also sending greetings is Erastus, “the treasurer of the city.” Boice writes that “the inclusion of Erastus rounds out this picture of the early church by showing us that rich and poor, free men and slaves, full-time church workers and public officials, were all part of its diverse makeup.”
Verse 24 constitutes the fourth benediction Paul has written as he has wrapped up this letter. This verse does not appear in the oldest manuscript, and The New International Version is one modern translation that does not include it. It is quite similar to the third benediction, in 16:20. Once again, Paul prays that the marvelous grace of Christ, His unmerited favor, will be with all of the Roman Christians in ever-increasing abundance.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
The brief picture of the church at Corinth in today’s passage is a picture of the church as it ought to be—people from vastly differing backgrounds living and worshiping in brotherhood. Does your church reflect this picture? Pray that it would do so in increasing measure. For yourself, welcome anyone who claims the name of Christ.
For Further Study
- Isaiah 2:2
- Ephesians 2:14–18
- Revelation 5:9