Sep. 14, 2025

Series: Transformed   9-14-25

HOW TO APPRECIATE OTHERS

(Romans 16)

THEOLOGY 101:

• EISEGESIS – to read INTO (the page)
• EXEGESIS – to read OFF OF (the page)

PAUL’S ACADEMY AWARDS:

PHOEBE -

Romans 16:1–2 (NIV) I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. ² I ask you to receive (or accept) (ESV: welcome) her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.

• “Servant” (Diákonos) A minister, servant, deacon. (“…of the church”)

• “Help” (pragma) to do, act, perform, deed.

• “Helper” (prostátis) from proı̈́stēmi, It meant not only a leader, ruler, or director. Later used in Latin as a patron, a benefactor, a helper.

Romans 12:6–8 ⁶ We have different gifts...If your gift is… ⁸ to lead, do it diligently

• “Lead” (proı̈́stēmi) from pró, before, over, and hístēmi, to place, to stand. To set over, to cause to stand before, with the meaning to preside or rule.

PRISCILLA and AQUILA -

Romans 16:3–4 (NIV) ³ Greet Priscilla and Aquila (mentioned 6x in N.T.), 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. 

• Husband & Wife team ________________________ Together!

• Priscilla was probably the Better ______________________ !

Acts 18:24-26 ²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Romans 16:5 (NIV) ⁵ Greet also the church that meets at their house. 

• Church buildings not constructed until about 300 A.D.

OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLE: HULDAH - 

2 Kings 22:1–11 (NIV) ¹ Josiah was eight years old when he became king... ² He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. ³ In the eighteenth year of his reign… ⁸ Hilkiah the high priest said to…the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord...” ¹¹ When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes… 

The Bible identifies ten female prophets in the Old and New Testaments: Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Noadiah, Isaiah’s wife, Anna, and the four daughters of Philip. In addition, women like Rachel, Hannah, Abigail, Elisabeth, and Mary are described as having prophetic visions about the destiny of nations, the coming of Messiah, and the future of their children.

ANDRONICUS and JUNIA -

Romans 16:7 (NIV) ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding (distinguished) among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

• “Among” (Gk. en) – within, in near connection, intimate union, oneness of heart, mind, purpose.

MARY -

Romans 16:6 (NIV) ⁶ Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 

• “Worked hard” - work to the point of exhaustion, absolutely worn out.

• “Very” - much more greatly, much more diligent. (synonym: “perissṓs”)

Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

1. “Immeasurably” (hyperekperissou) (hypér) over and above, beyond. (perissṓs) super exceedingly abundantly. 

1. “More” (hypér) over and above, beyond.

Ephesians 3:20 (NASB) ²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, 

Tryphena and Tryphosa - 

Romans 16:12 (NIV) ¹² Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord… (Dainty & Delicate)

PERSIS -

Romans 16:12 (NIV) ¹² Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. 

MOTHER of RUFUS -

Romans 16:13 (NIV) ¹³ Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 

Mark 15:21 (NIV) ²¹ A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

BEST MALE AWARDS:

• first convert to Christ in Asia.
• my dear friend in the Lord.
• co-worker in Christ.
• fidelity to Christ.

AMPLIATUS - 

Romans 16:8 (NIV) ⁸ Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.  

• A slave whose tomb was found in the catacombs in Rome greatly 

adorned, carvings & honored.

The HOUSEHOLD of -

 Romans 16:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

• Aristobulus – grandson of Herod the Great & good friend of Claudius, 

the Caesar of Rome.

 Romans 16:13 (NIV) ¹¹ Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

• Narcissus – the Appointment Secretary for Claudius, Caesar of Rome.

Romans 16:16 (NIV) ¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss… 

INSIGHTS:

          1. The church is made up of ___________________________, 

not buildings!

Romans 16:17–19 (NIV) ¹⁷ I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them… ¹⁹ I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 

          2. Every individual is ___________________________! 

          3. People blossom with ___________________________!

Romans 16:25–27 ²⁵ Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, ²⁶ but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.