Romans 16:1-23

As we approach the end of this letter (epistle) to the holy and Godly-loved people in Rome, Paul includes commendations and greetings.

Romans 16:1 and 2:

^16:1But I commend to you Phebe your sister being also a minister of the church, the (church) in Cenchrea, ^.2in order that you may accept her towards-yourselves in (the) Lord worthily of the holy-people and you may stand-beside her in what-ever matter she may have need of you, for she also was caused-to-become a patroness both of many other-people and of me myself.

Paul writes: I commend Phebe to you (I cause her to stand in conjunction together with you, in the sense of favorably introducing her to you)...

• your sister (she is your sister in the spirit category because she has received the same gift of holy spirit as all of you who are also holy-people [some Greek texts read "our sister" which would also be true])
• who is also being a minister (one who serves to benefit others, not 'being-subject' to them but doing work to bring others profit, one who carries-out her day-by-day ministerial duties, her duties of service to/for God)
• pertaining to the church,
  • emphatically and specifically the church located in Cenchrea (a port/harbor at the eastern side of Corinth),

...for the purpose and result that...

• you would accept her towards yourselves (welcome her, subjectively receive her, willingly take her to yourselves [some Greek texts do not include the word "her" - however, it agrees with the context])
  • within the cause and sphere of action of the Lord (emphasis is being placed on the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Master, and confirming the validity and authenticity of  his lordship, including dominion and authority, over and relative-to his slaves, plus the respectful submission due to him by his slaves)
    • worthily of the holy-people (in a manner that is of equal-value, of like-worth with Christians, as being correctly weighed on a scales and thus deserving)
• and you would stand near-by her (present yourselves beside her in the sense of being supportive of her)
  • in what ever matter (during any performance, action, the result of something she practices, business, fact, deed, event)
    • she would have need of you (have a necessity for your useful help),

...in truth, emphatically she also came to pass to be (in Greek there is a definite word for “she” plus the verb meaning “she was caused to become” giving emphasis – she became)...

• a patroness (one who protects, helps, and supports others)
  • both of many other-people
  • and emphatically of me.

Evidently Phebe was sent by Paul to deliver this letter.

In verse 1, the word "church" comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which comes from two words meaning "out from" and "called" - and so it means "called out from." A church is an assembly of people called out from other people for any reason. It does not refer to a particular type of building or a house, even though the church or assembly may meet in a particular type of building or in a house. In this context the "church" consists of all the holy-people in Cenchrea (those who had received the gift of holy spirit - the sanctified people, Christians, saints, children of the only true God).

 [Reference: Acts 18:18, 27:23; I Corinthians 3:5; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:1, 2:29; Colossians 1:10; I Thessalonians 2:12; I Timothy 3:8 and 12, 4:6; II Timothy 4:17; III John 1:6.]

A printed paperback book of the complete study of Romans including the Appendix may be purchased at:

Amazon.com

or

True Bible Study - Romans

(May) the grace of our Lord Jesus (be) with you.