Down an Unfamiliar Road

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (Lesson III)

16:3-5 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, who’ve worked together with me for Christ Jesus. They risked their own lives to save mine. I am thankful to them, and all the non-Jewish churches are thankful to them. Also, give greetings to the church that meets in their house. Give greetings to my dear friend Epænetus. He was the first person to follow Christ in Asia.

As mentioned before, Aquila and Priscilla were Jews driven out of Rome, between 41 and 53 AD while Claudius ruled as emperor, who died in 54 AD. Since Paul wrote this letter sometime after 56 AD, there is every reason to believe that Aquila and Priscilla returned to their home in Rome. They were very good friends of Paul’s since they ministered with him and organized a church to meet in their house.¹ They were also friends with young Timothy along with Onesiphorus in Ephesus.² Paul makes it clear that they were committed to what Jesus said was the greatest act of love for a friend.³ In fact, Paul once described Epaphroditus to the Philippians, this way: “He risked his life and nearly died working for the Messiah, in order to give me the help you were not in a position to give.”⁴ Paul then mentions Epænetus of whom nothing else is known except he was Paul’s initial convert in Asia. The fact that Paul addressed him in this fashion suggests that he was an experienced senior Christian who held a position of responsibility under the leadership of Aquila and Priscilla. So it is clear that this first group of people were very precious to Paul.

It’s highly possible that Paul not only mentioned these precious friends by way of giving them the honor they deserved but also as models for other Christians to follow. Wouldn’t it be nice if we are remembered by those who served along with us in the church with such stellar accolades? But since many serve quietly and unnoticed, if they are not called out down here for their bravery and service, they will be so recognized when the saints go marching in through the New Jerusalem’s pearly gates.

Again, Chrysostom says that Paul is the champion of women’s rights in the ministry. He notes that Paul points out her gracious hospitality and financial assistance, holding her and other women in admiration because they all gave blood, sweat, and tears, along with making all their resources available to everybody. In fact, Chrysostom notices how noble were all the women Paul named in this section. They were in no way hindered by their gender from following the path of virtue, and this is only to be expected. “For in Christ Jesus, there is neither male nor female.”⁵”⁶

Chrysostom continues with his admiration of these lay people who were so helpful to the Apostle Paul in his ministry. He adds that Priscilla was noble enough to make their home a church, both by converting everyone in it and by opening it to strangers. Paul would not refer to someone’s house as a church unless there was much Godliness to be found in them. This serves as an example of how married couples can become worthy of admiration by treating their home as God’s home. In the case of Priscilla and Aquila, it didn’t matter that their professions were that of tent-makers, the same as Paul, which was not held in high esteem back in Paul’s day since it was a common occupation. Chrysostom also notes how Paul calls Epænetus “beloved,” which is high praise indeed. Paul did not use a word like this to show favoritism. Rather, it was the result of admiration and reflection. Moreover, he was the first convert in Asia, which was a reference to an area in the Roman province where Ephesus served as the capital. Since we see that it was most likely that all these people were of humble birth, Paul shows what true nobility is and honors them accordingly.⁷

John Calvin notes what Paul says about Prisca (meaning “prime, venerable, classic“).⁸ and Aquila was his way of honoring those who were faithful and worthy. This was done because faithfulness should be honored because it is the recognition that they who did more good than others might have authority. Calvin also makes the point that with Prisca being a woman, Paul did not hesitate to include her the honor he gives to those were of the highest standards in the church. The modesty of Paul clearly shines here for he did not disdain having a woman as his associate in the work of the Lord; nor did it seem to matter that some may look at here as only the wife of Aquila.⁹

Calvin also makes the point that Prisca and Aquila had risked their lives to preserve the life of Paul. No wonder he was so thankful for their service. But he wasn’t the only one, all the churches admired this couple. Could it be that Paul was using them as an example to influence the Romans? Calvin also notes that by calling those who met in their house for worship, was something worthy of being noticed. According to Calvin, Paul could not have more splendidly complimented their house than by giving it the title of “Church.”¹⁰

On Paul’s recommendation of Priscilla and Aquila, John Bengel says we should observe the politeness of the Apostle in writing the salutations; the friendly feeling of believers in joining theirs with his. Bengel notes that Prisca is the better rendering based on strong evidence from history. He points out that this holy woman from Italy was given the Latin name Priscilla, which is a diminutive,¹¹ but in the Church, the name, Prisca, is more dignified. The name of the wife is put here before that of the husband, because she was the more distinguished of the two in the Church,¹² or even because in this passage a woman named Phœbe was already mentioned. For Bengel, the inclusion of all these proper names of believers, Roman, Hebrew, and Greek show the riches of God’s Grace in the Final Covenant exceeding all expectation in teaching and other areas of ministry.¹³

Bengel continues by pointing out that Paul not only thanks those willing to risk their own necks for his safety, but gives thanks to all the churches of the Gentiles. Bengel notes that Paul does not lump them together, but individually distinguishes them by their own respective graces. But Scripture never praises anyone so as to give them any reason for self-pride, but for praising God and rejoicing in Him for His gifts to them. Bengel believes that not only will the saints at Rome be grateful for their service but we may all find plenty of reason to give thanks to Aquila and Priscilla, even if we do so in the hereafter.¹⁴

Albert Barnes supports what we already know about Aquila and Priscilla since they are mentioned by Luke and Paul.¹⁵ When Paul first met them at Corinth. Aquila was a Jew, born in Pontus, who resided at Rome, and who left Rome and went to Corinth after Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from the city of seven hills. In all likelihood, they were converted under the preaching of Paul. Paul then was given room and board by them. That way, they enjoyed the advantage of his private instruction. Upon the death of Claudius, after the decree for the expulsion of the Jews was repealed somewhere between 49 and 53 AD,¹⁶ it is obvious that they returned to Rome.¹⁷

Henry Alford is taken by the fact that the ministry of Aquila and Priscilla,¹⁸ as well as some other Christians,¹⁹ held assemblies for worship in their houses, which were all saluted and sent salutations as part of the one body of Christ.²⁰ Alford goes on to reference a passage from a work called, Acta Martyrum (Acts of the Martyrs), which tells us that when a man who was known for his ability in teaching doctrines of the church, after settling down in a town would often form a circle of friends from the church to come to his home for the purpose of teaching them insightful exposition on God’s Word. This makes the passages in Paul’s epistles concerning churches in the house of Aquila and others a valid part of church history.

Justin Martyr also alluded to this upon his visit with a church administrator in Rome who asked him where did people assemble for worship, he told him, “Wherever they can and will.” Justin went on to say that people would think that they all gather in one place for worship but that was not the case. That’s because since God is not confined to one spot but that His invisible presence fills heaven and earth, and in all places He is worshiped by the faithful. Justin then added that whenever he came to Rome it was his custom to find a place to stay where those believers he mentored before wanted him to teach them some more, and they were accustomed to gathering together in small groups for the study of the Word.²¹

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (Lesson II)

It is a great surprise that churches during my lifetime took so long to recognize the value of women in ministry. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, most were Sunday school teachers and Women’s Auxiliary Leaders. In fact, to this day, in some Protestant and Pentecostal churches, women are still denied being ordained as bishops. If a woman can run for mayor, governor, and even president, why can we not take a cue from Phœbe and promote them according to their talents and gifts, not their gender?

Paul also emphasizes that Phœbe should be welcomed in Rome as a servant of the Lord, something that genuine saints of God would recognize. As far as Paul was concerned, it would prove unbecoming of the Roman church not to show a servant of Christ the honor and respect they deserve. Calvin believes it would be to our advantage to embrace in love all the members of Christ’s body. In fact, we ought to respect and especially to love and honor those who perform an outreach ministry to the community. And besides, since Phœbe was always known for being full of kindness to all, Paul feels that help and assistance should now be given to her for all her concerns. Real courtesy requires that those who are naturally gifted in being kind to others should not be forsaken when they are in need of aid. Then to top it off, Paul emphasizes the fact that he is among those whom she assisted.¹

John Locke makes note of how the KJV translates into English the Greek feminine noun prostatis as “succourer.” This is the only place in the Final Covenant where the word is used. Locke feels that in order for us to understand the role of Phœbe in our churches today, we might use the term “hostess,” which denotes someone whose house is where traveling evangelists stay during their visit. The church supplies the items for their food and bedding. In more modern times, this is often the role of the Pastor’s wife, since the evangelist usually stays in the parsonage most of the time. However, Locke points out that we must keep in mind that earlier in verse one he not only called her “sister,” but also “servant of the church.”²

John Bengel makes the observation that Phœbe obviously maintained her Gentile name. In ancient Greek religion, Phœbe was the grandmother of Apollo and Artemis. She was considered the Titaness of the intellectuals. In any case, from what we are told, Phœbe certainly epitomized that name. Bengel remarks, that there was an obvious, all-embracing relationship among believers in Paul’s day. Phœbe is recommended to the Romans for acts of kindness, which she did far from Rome. Bengel believes that Phœbe was financially well-off but did not shrink from the duty of ministering to strangers and the needy. Furthermore, it did not bother her, as far as her fellow citizens who seemed to be wrapped up in their own interests were concerned, what they thought of her as a wasteful spender by throwing her money away on the poor. Bengel cautions that believers should return a favor not only to those who are of service to them but also to those who offered their service to others.³

Adam Clarke repeats many of the things already mentioned by other scholars about Phœbe. But he does enlarge our understanding of the type of ministry she was involved in. According to his research, there were deaconesses in the primitive Church whose business it was to instruct female converts and candidates for baptism; attend the female converts at baptism; teach catechism; visit the sick, and those who were in prison. In short, perform those religious services to the female part of the Church which could not with propriety be performed by men. They were chosen in general out of the most experienced of the membership and were ordinarily widows who already raised their children. Some ancient constitutions required them to be forty, others fifty, and others sixty years of age.

It is evident that they were ordained to their office with the laying on of hands by the pastor and elders,⁴ and the form of prayer used on the occasion is extant in the apostolic constitutions.⁵ In the Roman Church, the order became extinct by the end of the fifth century but continued in the Greek Orthodox Church till the end of the twelfth century.⁶ However, during the Medieval era, in the late tenth or early eleventh century, women leaders began to emerge in the Roman Catholic Church. Most notable were Clare of Assisi, Catherine of Sierra, Joan of Arc, and Teresa of Avila. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is the most recent such individual reaching out to help the poor and sick. Protestant churches never established such nunneries or convents.

Robert Haldane speaks of Paul’s introduction of Phœbe to the believers in Rome and that it was common in those days that letters of recommendation were unnecessary for those who claimed to be called of the Lord for ministry, but who were officially well-known by churches leaders. Paul disclaims the necessity of such letters for himself to the church at Corinth, although in his first visit to the Jerusalem church he needed the introduction of Barnabas. There might be doubts in Rome respecting Phœbe, as there were doubts at Jerusalem with respect to Paul, and these could not be removed by one’s profession or merely claiming to hold office in the church, unsupported by sufficient evidence whether of her faith or of Paul’s Apostleship. But with Priscilla and Aquila being in Rome, Paul didn’t think there was much to worry about.⁷

Charles Hodge also mentions that early Christians retained their names that were derived from false gods because in their minds those names lost all religious significance. He notes that up to this day we still retain the names of the days of the week without ever thinking of their pagan derivation. The city of Corinth, being situated on a narrow isthmus, maintained two ports, one facing Europe, and the other facing Asia. The latter was called Cenchreae, where a church was organized, in which Phœbe served as a deaconess. Many ecclesiastical writers suppose there were two classes of these female officers: the one, presbytes, – corresponding in some measure to the duties of male elders, and the other whose duty it was to attend to the sick and the poor.⁸ While many of these positions in the early church were in large part based on the manners and customs of that era, they do speak to the concern and care that Christians held dear for one another. It might be considered old fashion, says Hodge, but such ministries are in dire need in today’s churches.

On the role of the deaconess in the early church, Albert Barnes notes this being a reference to a class of females in the church whose duty it was to teach other females and to take the general superintendency of that part of the church, and their existence is expressly affirmed in early ecclesiastical history. They appear to have been of advanced age and experienced widows with stellar reputations, not just because they were of advanced age but that they were well advanced in their Christian life and well-suited to guide and instruct those who were young and inexperienced.⁹

Barnes also makes reference to an “Apostolic Constitution.” We find the first one composed by the church in 1570 under Pope Pius V. There we read what was said about widows: “The widows, therefore, ought to be serious, obedient to their bishops, and their presbyters, and their deacons, and besides these to the deaconesses, with piety, reverence, and fear; not usurping authority, nor desiring to do anything beyond the constitution without the consent of the deacon.”¹⁰ In that same portion, we read: “We do not permit presbyters to ordain deacons, or deaconesses, or readers, or ministers, or singers, or porters, but only bishops; for this is the ecclesiastical order and harmony.”¹¹

Then we find a section where it talks about deaconesses being involved in the distribution of charity.¹² Then there is a whole section on deacons and deaconesses. There it says: “Ordain also a deaconess who is faithful and holy, for the ministrations towards women. For sometimes he cannot send a deacon, who is a man, to the women, on account of unbelievers. You shall, therefore, send a woman, a deaconess, on account of the imaginations of the bad. For we stand in need of a woman, a deaconess, for many necessities; and first in the baptism of women, the deacon will only anoint their forehead with the holy oil, and after him, the deaconess will anoint them.”¹³ There is no reason to believe that this was initiated by this Apostolic Constitution but simply ratified as part of church ministration based on what was started by the Apostle Paul.

Jewish scholar David Stern points out that in an age where feminism is an issue, it should be noted not only that this woman held a prominent office in the Cenchrean congregation, but that in Thayer’s Lexicon he lists the Greek diakonos as a masculine/feminine noun. In other words, Phœbe was a deacon, not a deaconess (as some English versions render the word). However, in writing to Timothy Paul gives the qualifications of a diakonos,¹⁴ and seems to have the male deacons in mind.¹⁵ Nevertheless, this certainly goes along with what Paul wrote the Galatians: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”¹⁶

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (Lesson I)

16:1-2 I want you to know that you can trust our sister in Christ, Phoebe. She is a special servant of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to accept her in the Lord. Accept her the way God’s people should. Help her with anything she needs from you. She has helped me very much, and she has helped many others too.

This is the first mention of our Christian sister, Phœbe (also spelled Phebe). She was no doubt a devout believer who decided to keep the name she was given in honor of the pagan female deity Artemis, also known as, the Moon-Goddess. It is supposed that the term Phœbe is associated with the aura of the moon but the Phœbe Paul extols here is associated with the aura of God’s Son. Back in those days, it took an extraordinary woman to be selected to carry a masterpiece epistle all the way from Greece to Rome. Although we only have Paul’s beautiful cameo of this saintly servant of Christ in this letter, Paul held back no words in appealing to the Romans to assist her in every way possible.

Paul begins by calling her “sister.” This should not be confused with their being any part of a natural family as siblings. By this time calling a fellow believer in the family of God a brother or sister was well established by Paul’s day.¹ Paul spoke of he and Phœbe’s relationship in the spiritual family of which Christ was the head, telling them that because we are God’s sons and daughters, we are now able, due to the Spirit of Christ His Son living in us, to refer to God as our Heavenly Father, and others in the family as brothers and sisters.²

By Paul referring to Phœbe as a sister in Christ and describing her as a faithful servant of the Lord, he is echoing the words of our Lord Jesus who told a group He was ministering to: “Anyone who does what My Father in heaven wants is My true brother and sister.”³ And to those who questioned whether it was right to leave father, mother, sister, and brother to follow Him, He had good news: Here in this world they will get more brothers and sisters.⁴ The Apostle James kept this tradition going in his letter by referring to his readers as brothers and sisters,⁵ as did the Apostle Peter.⁶

But in addition to Phœbe, a member of Christ’s spiritual body, she was very active in the local church in Cenchreae, Greece. This is where Paul arrived on his third missionary journey and from where he no doubt wrote this epistle to the Romans. After referring to Phœbe as his sister, Paul calls her a special “servant” in the church there at Cenchreae. Paul uses the Greek noun diakonos which occurs some 36 times in the Final Covenant and is translated by the KJV not only as “servant,” but also as “minister, servant, and deacon.”⁷ It appears to have come from an ancient word that means “to run an errand,” and this is certainly what Phœbe was used by Paul to do. Even though the English female term “deaconess” does not appear anywhere in the text of the Final Covenant, the male term “deacon” does appear in Paul’s letter to Timothy.⁸

Then Paul uses the Greek noun prostatis to define her contribution to the congregation in Cenchreae. The KJV translates it as “succourer,”⁹ to describe her caring for the affairs of others and aiding them with her personal resources. These were mostly the poor and underprivileged who looked upon a prostatis as a guardian, protector, and patron saint. Paul says that he personally benefited from her assistance as well. Anglican Bishop Handley Moule translates this verse this way: “For she, on her part, proved to be a good standby (almost a champion), one who stands up for others, of many, aye, and of me among them.”

In noting Phœbe to be a resource of great help, this is a subliminal way of saying that she was either a woman of means or belonging to a family of some wealth. Bishop Moule notes that her devotion did not start upon the arrival of Paul but that she already was a caregiver and it would seem particularly a brave friend of new converts in trouble, especially those with unbelieving family members, as well as Paul himself. Perhaps in the course of her visits to those who were shunned and abandoned she also stood up in difficult times to protest because of the harshness and oppression she saw them receiving. It may be, that she pleaded her case for assistance to the poor with her brothers and sisters who were in a position to share.¹⁰ So we can see why Paul recommended her so highly to the believers in Rome.

Early church preacher Chrysostom makes some remarks about this chapter, noting that there are many, even some apparently good commentators, who hurry over this part of the epistle because they think it is pointless and of little importance. They probably think much the same about the genealogies in the Gospels. They see it as a catalog of names and think they can get nothing good out of it. But people who mine gold are careful even about the smallest specks that eventually add up to be very valuable. Chrysostom laments, sad to say, some of these commentators even ignore huge bars of gold!¹¹

Paul mentions here that Sister Phœbe was active in the same church in Cenchreae where Priscilla and Aquila attended.¹² It was there that Paul cut off his hair in order to fulfill a vow. Cenchreae is located about nine miles south of Corinth. It is also important to notice that Aquila and his wife Priscilla were Jews that once lived in Rome.¹³ So Sister Phœbe is not being sent to strangers in Rome but a couple she already knew from their days in Cenchreae. There is no documented evidence anywhere in the Bible or ecclesiastical history that Phœbe made it to Rome. However it is clear that Paul assigned Phœbe to carry this letter to Rome, that’s why he asks them to accept her as a trustworthy servant of God. On the other hand, this portion of Romans is considered by many Bible scholars as something added later on as it was copied and circulated throughout the churches. The oldest known copy of Romans from the early third century places the benediction, found here in verses twenty-five to twenty-seven, previously after verse thirty-three in chapter fifteen. But one thing cannot be discounted and that is that these precious saints should be remembered as stalwart servants of the Lord during very difficult times in Church history.

We also read where early church theologian Origen prepared some instructions for the leaders of the church in his day, but apparently they were not all persuaded to take his advice. He took this passage as a lesson from Paul on appointing women as leaders of church outreach ministries. Not only that, but they were eligible to be ordained into the ministry, because they helped in many ways and by their good services deserved the praise even of the Apostle Paul.¹⁴ And preacher Chrysostom also gives his support for Phœbe. He is impressed by the many ways Paul dignifies this great lady. He mentions her before all the rest and even calls her his sister. It was no small thing to be called the spiritual sister of the Apostle Paul! Moreover, he mentioned her rank of deaconess as well.¹⁵ Then Constantius joins in by pointing out that the Apostle Paul demonstrates that no discrimination or preference between male and female ministers in the church is to be tolerated, because here he sends this letter to Rome by the hand of a woman and sends greetings to other women in the same epistle.¹⁶

Then Pelagius lets us know the situation in the East Orthodox Church during his time (354-420 AD). He reports that even in his day women deaconesses in the East were known to minister to their own gender in baptism or even in the ministry of the Word. They were inspired by the fact that some women taught privately, namely, Priscilla, whose husband was Aquila¹⁷.¹⁸ Also, the early church Bishop of Cyr makes note that because Cenchreae was a village outside Corinth, that the Gospel was spreading quickly, even to the villages outside the metropolis. In fact the church at Cenchreae was so large that they appointed woman as deaconesses, and one of which was trusted and chosen to carry Paul’s letter to Rome.¹⁹

According to what Martin Luther understood and believed in his day, this letter to the Romans was dictated by the Apostle Paul to Tertius while in Corinth, then sent and carried by deaconess Phœbe to Rome. She was a deaconess in the church in Cenchreae, a port city some eight miles south of Corinth. Also, by Paul calling the believers in Rome “saints,” we are to understand those who were already established in the church. But Luther is perplexed about how the Apostle Paul could enumerate the names of so many even though as yet he had not been to Rome nor ever met them? Luther answers his own question by saying he believed that Paul heard about them by way of reports from several member he did know such as Priscilla and Aquila whom he met in Corinth. After all, in his opening he wrote: “Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”²⁰ Luther also suggests that the early church followed the Hebrew custom of recording all members of the synagogue according to their family ties, which we know today as church membership.²¹

Fellow Reformer John Calvin states that he planned to touch only on those salutations which required some explanation for better understanding. He begins with Phœbe who would carry the letter to Rome. He notes that Paul commends her on the basis of her performance in a most honorable and a most holy function in the Church. Another thing was that Paul requested that the leaders in Rome receive her with great hospitality since she always proved to be an excellent helper as an assistant minister in the Cenchrean Church to the believers seriously disadvantaged.²²

Learning To Think Like Jesus Rethinking Your Life Part 2

by Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church

Paul said, “We can understand these things because we have THE MIND OF CHRIST!” 1 Corinthians 2:16 – (New Living Translation)

He also said, “In your lives, you must think and act like Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 (New Century Version)

[Reflection: When Nicodemus came to Jesus to inquire if He would teach him more, Jesus replied that unless Nicodemus had a complete change of mind by being born again, it wasn’t possible for him to understand the Kingdom of God. Likewise, we believers face the same challenge when we try to comprehend our purpose and goals in life with human logic. Since Christ lives in us through the Spirit, we must let His mind be in charge of our thinking.]

TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THINKING LIKE JESUS

(All quotes are from the words of Jesus)

Our Lord knew exactly who He was, why He came, what He came to do, why it was necessary to fulfill the will of His Father in Heaven, and the consequences if He failed. Jesus shared this confidence with all who heard Him, especially His disciples. Here are two important things Jesus told them:

1. I KNOW exactly who I am, said Jesus:

I AM. . . . “the Bread of Life.” John 6:35

I AM. . . . “the Light of the world.” John 8:12

I AM. . . . “the Good Shepherd.” John 10:11

I AM. . . . “the Resurrection and the Life.” John 11:25

I AM. . . . “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” John 14:6

I AM. . . . “the True Vine.” John 15:1

I AM. . . . “the Son of God.” Mark 14:61-62

[Reflection: Do we know who we are? What does the Bible say about us who are now living in Christ Jesus who also lives in us?

• I am a child of God. (John 1:12).

• I am a branch of the true vine, and a conduit of Christ’s life. (John 15:1, 5).

• I am a friend of Jesus. (John 15:15).

• I have been justified and redeemed. (Romans 3:24).

• I have been accepted by Christ. (Romans 15:7).

• I have been called to be a saint. (1 Corinthians 1:2).¹

• I am a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

• I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir. (Galatians 4:7).

• I have been set free in Christ. (Galatians 5:1).

• I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ. (Ephesians 1:7).

• I am God’s workmanship created to produce good works. (Ephesians 2:10).

• I am a member of Christ’s body and a partaker of His promise. (Ephesians 3:6)

• I have been raised up with Christ. (Colossians 3:1).

• I have been chosen of God, and I am holy and beloved. (Colossians 3:12).

Then Jesus also said:

2. I KNOW God’s purpose for my life.

I KNOW. . . . “where I came from and where I am going.” John 8:14 (New International Version)

I KNOW. . . . “I must be about my Father’s business.” Luke 2:49 (King James Version)

I KNOW. . . . “I must proclaim the Good News about God’s kingdom, for I was sent for this purpose.” Luke 4:43 (RSV)

I KNOW. . . . “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 (New Living Translation)

[Reflection: Since Jesus was so confident about what He knew, by using the way He thinks, what is it that we must be sure of in life. When we are asked about our faith and hope as we journey toward God’s destiny for our lives, what answer would the mind of Christ give us? Here are eight things we must be confident of:

3. I’M ALWAYS AWARE that God is with me.

“I am not alone because the Father is always with me.” John 16:32

“Jesus OFTEN slipped away to be alone so he could pray.” Luke 5:15-16 (New Century Version)

[Reflection: What did God and Jesus say that convinces us that we too are never alone, that they are with us always? Here are some things for us to keep in mind:]

“Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (Easy-to-Read Version)

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be distressed, for I am your God. I give you strength, I give you help, I support you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah.” 41:10 (Complete Jewish Bible)

“Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (Living Bible)

“Adonai your God is right there with you, as a mighty Savior. He will rejoice over you and be glad, He will be silent in His love, He will shout over you with joy.” Zephaniah 3:17 (Complete Jewish Bible)

“Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20 (New Life Version)

“Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God said, ‘I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 (Living Bible)

“For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (New Life Version)

4. I LET GOD HELP ME choose my words.

“I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me tells me what I should say and how I should say it.” John 12:49 (God’s Word Translation)

[Reflection: In order for us to have a “spiritual vocabulary,” we must think like Christ when speaking to situations or answer questions about our lifestyle in Christ. To begin with, our words must transmit confidence, faith, courage, strength, humility, love, compassion, transformation, hope, prayer, gratitude, truth, praise, meditation, challenge, listen, joy, grace, rejoicing, inspiring, healing, peace, enlightenment, unity, and forgiveness. Then, all of these must be seen in us and practiced by us. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words..]

5. I DON’T WORRY ABOUT trying to please everyone.

“I only try to please the One who sent me.” John 5:30 (New Century Version)

“No one can serve two masters . . .” Luke 16:13 (New International Version)

[Reflection: Everyday we struggle with serving ourselves or serving God in the things we think, say, and do. When the disciples were caught arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God, Jesus rebuked them and said, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35).

And for those who wanted to become His followers, He told them, to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for His sake, and for the sake of the Gospel will save it. (Mark 8:34-35).

And when Peter rebukes Jesus for talking about the cross, about suffering and death, in response Jesus says, “You are setting your mind not on divine things but human things. You are directing your attention not on God’s concerns, but your own selfish concerns.” (Mark 8:33).]

6. I DEPEND ON on God’s power instead of my own.

Jesus said to those who questioned His authority to teach and preach the message He carried. He told them: “I assure you, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He can only do what he sees his Father doing . . .” John 5:19 (New International Version)

[Reflection: The Apostle Paul is a good example of confessing that all of his success was owed to the power of Christ working in him. When he explained to the Philippians why he was able to persevere under all circumstances, he told them: “I know how to get along with little and how to live when I have much. I have learned the secret of being happy at all times. If I am full of food and have all I need, I am happy. If I am hungry and need more, I am happy. Christ is the One who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:12-13 (Easy-to-Read Version).

That serves as a lesson to all of us that with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being in us and with us at all times, we depend totally on their strength to get us through.]

7. I FORGIVE my enemies and those who hurt me.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 (New International Version)

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those which despitefully use you or persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 (King James Version)

[Reflection: Since love is more than an emotional case of infatuation, it is an act of the will, then forgiveness must be the same. It’s one thing to tell someone you forgive them, but it’s another to back up those words with action. The two must go together for it to be believed. Forgiveness is the highest form of love. Furthermore, forgiving others is the prerequisite for forgiving ourselves. In the prayer that Jesus gave His disciples as an example on how to pray, it says, “Forgive us what we have done wrong, as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us.” Matthew 6:12 (Complete Jewish Bible)

This means that our lack of forgiving others breaks our fellowship with God. In another place, Jesus instructs His disciples, “So, what if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that someone has something against you? Leave your gift there and go make peace with that person. Then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 (Easy-to-Read Version)

This means we owe others forgiveness even when they don’t ask for it. In fact, we owe forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it. When Stephen was being stoned for being a disciple of Jesus, he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.” Acts of the Apostles 7:60 (New Life Version).

Also, there are consequences for choosing not to forgive. In the story Jesus told about the man who was forgiven much by the king, but then had someone who owed him little jailed because he couldn’t pay, the king became angry and sent him off to the torture chamber. So Jesus said to His followers, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat you unless you each forgive your brother from your hearts.” Matthew 18:35 (Complete Jewish Bible).

On the other hand, when Peter came to Jesus and asked if there was a certain number of times we are obligated to forgive someone who does wrong against us. Peter asked if seven times was enough. Jesus answered and told him, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:22 (God’s Word Translation).

In other words, the number of times we are to forgive never runs out. To put this in perspective, just think of how many times God has forgiven you since you became His child?

8. I AM WILLING to sacrifice for others.

“I am the good shepherd . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 (New Living Translation)

“I CAME here not to be served but TO SERVE OTHERS, and TO GIVE my life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for each other.” 1 John 3:16

[Reflection: When we fact adverse circumstances and must take action or must make a vital decision, whose interest do we think of first? Ourselves, or others who will be affected. Paul told the Philippians,

“Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.” Philippians 2:4 (Living Bible).

In another place, he told them, “Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 (Common English Bible).

And to the Romans, Paul wrote: “I tell everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think in a way that results in sound judgment, as God distributed a measure of faith to each of you “ Romans 12:3 (Evangelical Heritage Version)

9. I WANT TO DO God’s will, not my own.

“I came. . . to do what God wants me to do, not what I want to do.” John 6:38 (New Century Version)

“I want the world to know that I love the Father and that is why I do everything exactly as the Father tells me to do.” John 14:31(New Century Version)

“Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mark 14:36 (New Living Translation)

“Jesus humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death on a cross. So, God exalted him and raised him to the highest place, and made his name greater than every other name.” Philippians 2:8-9 (New Century Version)

[Reflection: In the prayer that Jesus gave His disciples as a model to follow, we are to pray, “May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 (New Living Translation).

And when asked who would make it into heaven, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 (Evangelical Heritage Version).

When instructing the Romans on how to better serve God, he told them, “Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is – what is good and pleasing and mature. Romans 12:2 (Common English Version).

The Apostle James put it another way: “Don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22 (New Living Translation)

10. I THINK WITH AN eternal perspective.

“Jesus was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.” Hebrews 12:2b

[Reflection: No day should ever begin or finish without remembering that this life is only the beginning of our eternal existence. That’s why the Bible tells us to use our time wisely:]

Jesus said to His Father, “I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to.” John 17:4 (Living Bible)

“Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.” Colossians 4:5-6 (|The Message)

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14 (New Living Translation)

“So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.” Ephesians 5:16-17 (Living Bible)

“So teach us to count our days, so that we will become wise.” Psalm 90:12 (Complete Jewish Bible)

HOW CAN I LEARN TO THINK LIKE JESUS?

• STUDY His life and words IN THE BIBLE

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. ” Hebrews 12:2a (The Message)

• ASK GOD TO SHOW ME the meaning of the text AND how it applies to my life today.

“Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word.” Psalm 119:18 (Living Bible)

Jesus: “. . . the Spirit will take from what I have to say and make it known to you.” John 16:15

[Reflection: All of this has been designed for us to begin and continue to think like Jesus. Paul put it succinctly: “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. ”] Ephesians 5:1-2 (The Message) – Dr. Robert R Seyda

SOMETIMES FAITH COMES AFTER SEEING

This story was written by a doctor who lived and worked in South Africa. I could not find his name, but from personal experience, such as Dr. Paul Osteen, many of them do this labor of love. As the story goes…

One night he worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all he could do, she died leaving behind a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. It also proved difficult for the medical team to keep the baby alive, as they possessed no incubator. And besides, they didn’t have the electricity needed to constantly run an incubator. The small medical center also provided no special feeding facilities.

Although they were serving on the equator, nights often grew chilly with treacherous drafts of cold air. One student-midwife went to get the box they kept for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby needed to be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle.

The midwife came back shortly in distress to tell us that in filling the bottle, it burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). “And,” she exclaimed, “That was our last hot water bottle!” There’s an old saying in the West, that it is no good crying over spilled milk. But in Central Africa, it might be considered fruitless crying over burst hot water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down winding forest pathways.

So this doctor told the midwife to put the baby as safely near to the fire as she could and to sleep between the baby and the door to protect it from the chilling, cold drafts of air that blew in. He told her, “Your job will be to keep the baby warm.”

The following day at noon, as the doctor did most days, he went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with him. He gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. He explained their problem in trying to keep the tiny baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. He also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother died unexpectedly.

During prayer time, as they went from child-to-child who prayed giving their request to God, one ten-year-old girl, named Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of the African children. “Please, God” she prayed, “send us a hot water bottle. It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead so please send it this afternoon.”

The doctor gasped inwardly at the audacity of the girl’s prayer when she added, “And while You’re about it, would You please send a doll for the little girl so she’ll know You really love her?” As often with children’s prayers, an adult is put on the spot as to what to say. Could he honestly say, “Amen.” He was doubtful that God could do such a thing, even for an innocent believer like Ruth.

So he took the middle lane and told here, “Oh, yes, God can do anything and everything, the Bible tells us so. But sometimes there are limits, aren’t there?” He knew that the only way God could answer this particular prayer would be having a parcel containing these items miraculously sent from his homeland in time for it to arrive that day. He started living in Africa some four years ago, and I never ever received a package from home. And besides, if someone did send a package, who would think of putting in a hot water bottle or a baby doll, seeing his practice was in a facility on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while he was teaching in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent to tell him that there was a car just pulled up at his front door. By the time he reached his house, the car was gone, but there, on the veranda stood a large package. He felt tears well up in his eyes. He didn’t want to open the box alone, so I sent for the orphanage children to come help him.

Together they pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. They folded the paper, taking care not to accidentally tear it. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on this large cardboard box. Excitement mounted as the time drew near to open this mysterious package.

As the flaps came up revealing its contents, on top he saw some brightly colored, knitted jerseys folded neatly. Eyes sparkled as he lifted them out of the box and passed them out. Then came knitted bandages for their leprosy patients. This was followed by a box of mixed raisins and small currant-like fruit called “sultanas,” used to make fresh batches of buns. Oh my, that would provide something wonderful for the weekend.!

Then, as he put his hand in the box again, he felt something that made him gasp. Could this really be what he thought it might be? He slowly took hold of it and slowly pulled it out – yes! A brand-new, rubber hot water bottle! Little Ruthie screamed with joy. And that’s when it hit him! He didn’t have enough faith to ask God to send it; he really didn’t think it would possible, let alone probable.

As he looked up he saw little Ruth in the front row of the children with a big grin on her face. She rushed forward, crying out, “If God could send the bottle, He must have sent the doll too!” So she started rummaging around at the bottom of the box. That’s when her little mouth fell open as she pulled out a small, beautifully dressed doll. Her eyes sparkled with joy. She never doubted it would come! Looking up at the doctor, she asked: “Can I go with you and give this doll to that little girl so she’ll know that Jesus really loves her?”

After examining the mailing label and a letter inside, the doctor found out that this package was in transit for five whole months. It was packed up by his former Sunday school class whose leader said God told him, and obeyed, to make sure there was a hot water bottle put in the box for shipment. Yes, a hot water bottle to the equator. And one of the girls in his Sunday school class brought a doll for any little African girl to enjoy – five months before ten-year-old Ruth’s prayer for God to get it to them that afternoon. This truly proved what God told the prophet, Isaiah, “Before they call, I will answer.”¹

What a lesson this is for us who often pray in desperation, not anticipation. It’s not so much that we don’t believe God can answer, but we’re not sure He will answer right away. Just remember, any answer to prayer does not depend solely on our ability to pray but in God’s ability to answer. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

FACEBOOK FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FOLLOWERS

We are about to embark on our next journey through Chapter Sixteen of the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans. It is one of the least read and taught on chapters in this marvelous Epistle. And the reason given is that it is only a list of names that we don’t recognize.

I like what early church preacher Chrysostom had to say: He noted that there are many, even some apparently good commentators, who hurry over this part of the epistle because they think it is pointless and of little importance. They probably think much the same about the genealogies in the Gospels. They see it as a catalog of names and think they can get nothing good out of it. But people who mine gold are careful even about the smallest specks that eventually add up to be very valuable. Chrysostom laments, sad to say, some of these commentators even ignore huge bars of gold!¹

There is much that these names can teach us if we are only patient and dedicated enough to examine them. When we think that on the anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, all the names of those who perished in that terrible act of terror are read. We may not recognize any of those names unless they were somehow connected to us. Yet, we listen in reverence for the price they paid for the freedom we enjoy.

Let’s look at these names here in Romans Sixteen the same way. By reading and seeing what the Apostle had to say about them is our way of paying respect to these early church champions of the Gospel and our Lord Jesus the Christ. So I encourage you to go along and see what we find out about these heroic disciples of Christ that may inspire us in our walk with Him.

I’m so proud of all of you who’ve stuck with it so far and proved yourselves as true lovers of God’s Holy Word. It’s our last chapter in this great letter, so there’s no reason to quit now when we are so close to the finish line. God loves those who don’t give up and persevere to the end. God bless you all, you have my greatest admiration.

We will begin Chapter Sixteen this coming Monday, February 18th. I’ll be looking for your names as you say that you like what you are reading. Again, God bless you for being such wonderful students of this wonderful Book of Romans.- Dr. Robert R Seyda

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Paul continues his discussion from chapter fourteen on how the strong believers are to fellowship with and have patience with the indecision of the weak believer. So Paul encourages the strong to be focused on uplifting the weak, not tearing them down. He reminds them of the unselfish actions and obedience to God’s will by Christ, thereby offering Him as an example. He also reminded them of the value of the Scriptures in the First Covenant and pleads for them to develop patience so that with one mind and one mouth the Jews and Gentiles may glorify God together as one body in Christ. Finally, he calls on them to show love and kindness to one another to the glory of God, just as Christ served both Jews and Gentiles in fulfilling the prophecies about Him in the First Covenant in order to initiate the Final Covenant. Paul then offers a prayer that God might fill them with joy and peace so that they may abound in hope with the help of the Holy Spirit.

At this point, Paul begins to draw this epistle to a close by making remarks concerning his apostleship and plans to see them someday. Although he recognized their own abilities in the faith, he still felt it appropriate to write to them in an instructive way. He mentions that any delay in coming to see them is caused by his design to preach where Christ is unknown to people who’ve never heard the Gospel. Paul then tells them of his plan to come to Rome on his way to Spain. But first, he must go to deliver to the believers suffering hardships because of the Romans, the contributions he gathered from the Gentile saints in Macedonia and Achaia. Realizing the danger of such a trip entails, he asks to be remembered daily in their prayers.

So in the end, all Paul really wants if for all the saints in Rome to live in harmony together and glorify God together without worrying about their differences. Remember, Christ is equally with the Jewish-Christians and the Gentile-Christians, too. So he asks them in a nice way to be nice to each other. Paul actually has a good feeling about the Romans. He knows they’re upstanding people who are knowledgeable and can help each other do what’s right by God.

His real reason for writing to them is to tell them all this and to give them advice because of his special relationship with God as an appointed Apostle. That should be respected by all of them. It’s not that Paul is trying to brag about his special status in the church, he only brags about all the good things that God has done through him.

For example, Paul won hundreds of converts throughout the Roman Empire, but that’s all God’s doing. He’s the one who made that happen. Paul’s not usually in the business of preaching about Jesus where people already know him. He also doesn’t usually come into a church community he didn’t start, like the one in Rome, and start handing out advice. No, never. That’s why he hasn’t been to see the Roman Christians in person yet. He’s been meaning to, but there are just so many non-believers who need to hear the good news first hand. Paul’s got a busy schedule.

But now he’s concluding that part of his ministry, so he’s going to first go to Jerusalem and then head over to Rome and stay a while on his way to preach the Gospel in Spain. Before that, Paul must go to Jerusalem to provide assistance to the believers there. The good folks in Macedonia and Achaia collected funds for the poor there and he’s going to deliver the money. Paul tells that these Gentile-Christians are more than happy to share their material blessings with the Jewish-Christians in Jerusalem because they’ve gotten such a large share of the spiritual blessings from Christ. Paul’s also hoping that the Romans might pray for him so that he doesn’t get taken down by the non-believers in Judea (like what happened to Jesus) so that he could say that he was an Apostle to all Christians, Jews and Gentiles alike.

And with that Paul finishes this chapter with a benediction and request for God’s blessings on this final leg of his ministry, and in the hope that he will be able to follow up this letter with a personal visit to the saints in Rome.

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (Lesson XXVII)

Adam Clarke (1760-1831) gives a summary of what he’s read so far in this epistle, and especially as it applied to his day and age in England, which also finds relevance to our day: In the preceding chapters Paul encourages believers to work hard as it relates to the necessity of looking out for one another, helping each other, and trying one’s best to share opinions and let others share their opinions on those religious matters which are not essential to the salvation of the soul. Most of the disputes among Christians concern procedural points – rites, rituals, and ceremonies. Even the simplest issues have contributed their part in promoting such animosity as to divide congregations. Forms of worship and methods of carrying out ordinances such as baptism and communion have been influential in causing this type of disturbance.

Clarke observed that when one person believes that another person who holds such and such an opinion is wrong, they feel compelled to pity them as being misguided them and try to set them straight if at all possible. On the other hand, if those being disciplined believe the one trying to correct them is wrong because they do not see things the right way either, chances are both are standing precisely in the same spot on the same ground but looking in opposite directions. That is when mutual respect and patience are called for. What makes this so hard is that the longer the belief was held, the more difficult it is to let go. Jesus found this out when He came and Paul discovered the same thing. And, needless to say, what Clarke experienced in his day is still true today.¹

In Paul’s benediction here at the end of chapter fifteen, Robert Haldane sees an echo of the angelic host that greeted the arrival of God’s Son on the day of His birth in Bethlehem. It is this peace which the angel, with the heavenly host singing behind him, celebrated the event by saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The Aramaic Version reads: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good hope for men.” The Apostle writers expressed this in their salutations by saying, “Grace and peace be with you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”² However, it is important to notice that Grace is placed first because without which there would be no Peace. Paul employs here the title, “the God of peace.” It indicates that the people of God enjoy free access to the Lord and the assurance that their petitions will be heard.

We might ask, is there anything God’s children cannot get from the One who laid aside all His wrath and breathes out only grace and peace upon them? The answer is: only if it’s contrary to His will. Such things are most often selfish requests for oneself or a plea for retribution and punishment on someone who tried to hurt them. If and when anyone says something meant to embarrass us or make us look silly, just thank them for giving you the opportunity to suffer for your Lord who suffered for you. We see, then, the efficacy of the peace of God, and what consolation believers experience and what confidence they have toward God in their prayers as a result. This comes by knowing for sure that they are praying to the God of peace.³

On the doctrinal aspects of what Paul says here in these verses, Charles Hodge points out that the effects of prayer, especially intercessory prayer, are real and are an important source of power and strength. Not only in its influence on the mind of the one praying, but also in securing the blessings for which they pray for themselves and others. Paul directed the Roman Christians to pray for the exercise of the divine providence in protecting him from danger, and for the Holy Spirit to influence the minds of the brethren in Jerusalem. This he would not have done were such petitions not given to God with earnestness and sincerity.⁴

Hodge then notes that there were people who were prejudiced against him, but that was no reason for him not to extend his ministry to them. The Jewish Christians were ready to denounce Paul and list him a persona non grata. Yet he went to all the trouble of collecting contributions for them and was very concerned that they should accept his services. The danger is neither to be courted nor fled from but engaged with humble trust in God. We should pray for others in the same way as they enter into their trials and conflicts and believe that our prayers, when sincere, are a real and great assistance to them. It is a great blessing to have confidence in the prayers of the righteous.⁵

Puritan preacher Charles Simeon told his listeners that they should strive in prayer for others as though they were wrestling for their own lives. They should be assured, it is not a few lukewarm petitions that God expects from them, nor any dry, rehearsed addresses to God composed for one’s own benefit. So he pleaded with them to be earnest in living for the Lord Jesus Christ. And for their own soul’s sake to strive with God in prayer, and never to let Him go till they obtained from Him the desired blessing. Plead with Him for mercy through the Redeemer’s blood; plead with Him for a more abundant outpouring of His Spirit upon their souls; plead with Him, to continue the good work He began within toward the goal of perfecting it to the end. Then will all these blessings descend upon them and God will be glorified in their everlasting salvation.⁶

It is interesting to note that somewhere before 107 AD, and approximately forty years after Paul was martyred in Rome, one of the Apostolic leaders, Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, where Paul received his ordination to go out as a missionary to the Gentiles, was able to visit Rome but for an entirely different reason. Ignatius was so intent in dying as a martyr for Christ as his greatest act of discipleship, that he wrote the church in Rome and shared his heartfelt anticipation of going to Rome to die.

Ignatius told them that through prayer to God he was granted by his captors the privilege of seeing their most worthy faces for which he earnestly begged God to grant him. For as a prisoner for Christ Jesus’ sake he hoped to greet them personally, if it was indeed God’s will, and be considered worthy of attaining the end he sought, that being to die as a martyr for Him. He noted that his arrest and becoming a prisoner started just as God planned it, and he prayed that he might obtain His grace without giving up or being hindered in completing his goal. He expressed concern that their love for him might end up being a disadvantage in that it might tempt him to want to stay alive. He told the Romans that it was easy for them to accomplish what their goals in serving Christ, but it would make it difficult for him to complete what he started out to do for God if their love for him proves too big of a barrier in carrying out his plan. What a contrast to Paul’s request from this same church when he faced possible martyrdom in Jerusalem.⁷

Paul closes here with a benediction. His words indicate that he fully intended to visit Rome and stay there for some time so that he could have some needed rest.

THE END OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (Lesson XXVI)

On the subject of Paul’s request for prayer that his goal may be realized and he would be granted the right by God to visit Rome, Robert Haldane suggests that we may learn from this that when we are sent by the Holy Spirit on an errand of importance, and we need plenty of prayer for success in our journey, how much more do we need prayer in our daily lives! God certainly encourages the exercise of prayer, especially that we pray for success when we do His work. Another aspect of what we read here in this passage is that it is one of the strongest defenses against the theory, by some, who propose that prayer is a useless exercise because God will not change His mind. We see here that Paul believed it was not only lawful and proper to pray to the unchangeable God, but that it is our duty to pray to Him to cope with whatever difficulties we may run into while trying to do His unchanging plans. We’re not praying that He won’t change His mind, but that we won’t change our mind.¹

Charles Hodge summarizes what he sees as Paul’s concerns about his impending visit to Jerusalem. He notes that there are three objects for which he particularly wished them to pray: his safety, the successful purpose of his mission and that he might afterward come to them with joy. There were many reasons for Paul to dread the violence of the unbelieving Jews, evidence is found in the history of this visit to Jerusalem written by Luke.² They started by trying to destroy his life, then accused him in front of the Roman governor, and ended up having him imprisoned for two years in Cæsarea. It didn’t get any better because he was eventually sent to Rome in chains. The unbelieving Jews were not the only ones he worried about. Even some narrow-minded Jewish Christians there, who were prejudiced against him as a preacher to the Gentiles and advocate of the liberty of Christians from the yoke of the Jewish Ceremonial Laws, were unforgiving in their hostility against him. That’s why he pleads with the Roman believers to pray hard that the mission he was on to help the suffering believers in Jerusalem might be accepted by all the saints there.³

Preacher Charles Spurgeon remarks that he too recognized Paul’s dilemma concerning extremely biased saints in Jerusalem who hated the fact that uncircumcised Gentiles were allowed equality in the Church. They were still tied to their Jewish bonds, and Paul was a little afraid that when he told them the offering he was bringing was from Gentile churches in the west, it might not be graciously accepted by them. So by asking the Roman believers to pray about that matter, he hoped the news of their support might change some minds back in Jerusalem. For Spurgeon, this raises this question: Is there anything about which believers may not pray? For instance, it would be ludicrous for anyone to pray that a Christian girl sexually assaulted by a criminal suffer a miscarriage because the one who committed the assault was a sinner. In God’s eyes, there is no need for that infant to suffer the punishment of another person’s crime. So we should only bring to Him in prayer those things He approves of. So Paul asked the Christians in Rome to pray about his journey to Jerusalem and also to pray for the door to open for him to visit Rome.⁴

Jewish scholar David Stern notes that Paul told the Thessalonians, who some of the disobedient people in Jerusalem were,⁵ and that it was the Judean nonbelievers who took issues with Paul ministry to the Gentiles.⁶ His answered prayer proved more literal than Paul wished,⁷ and it turned out to play a major role in him eventually realizing his desire to visit Rome.⁸

Stern then goes on to talk about Paul’s second request, that his mission to bring them some relief would be accepted by the saints in Jerusalem. Why would they refuse such a heartfelt gift? Aside from the humiliation of being seen as charity cases, resentment among believers at Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles remained even though the Jerusalem leadership stood solidly with him. The relationship between Paul and some of those not in leadership positions produced plenty of friction, and his temper may have added to the heat. Yet, it is reasonable to infer that the Messianic community in Jerusalem gladly received the fruit of his labor that he brought with him⁹.¹⁰

15:32-33 Then, if God wants me to, I will come to you. I will come with joy, and together you and I will be refreshed. The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul always left things in God’s hands. More than once God sent Paul to places not in his plans and prevented from going to places he wanted to visit. But in his mind, if God expressed His will this way, then let His will be done. So we see that when they put Paul in chains and Agrippa and Festus decided to send him to Rome, he accepted it without question.¹¹ Paul did not take being in prison as a negative. In fact, he wrote the Philippians and said: “Christian brothers, I want you to know that what happened to me helped spread the Good News. Everyone around here knows why I am in prison. It is because I preached about Jesus Christ. All the soldiers who work for the leader of the country know why I am here. Because of this, most of my Christian brothers saw their faith in the Lord made stronger. They have more power to preach the Word of God without fear.”¹² I like what Dr. J. Vernon McGee said about this. He hears Paul speaking very emphatically to the Romans. For instance, when the believers in Philippi heard that Paul was in prison, they sent a message to him by their pastor, Epaphroditus, and it probably went something like this: “Oh, poor brother Paul, we feel so sorry for you. Now your great missionary journeys are curtailed; you are in prison, and the Gospel is no longer going out!” McGee imagines this as Paul’s reply: “Look, I want you to know that the Gospel is going out, and the things happening to me won’t curtail the Gospel being preached, but actually furthered the Gospel.”¹³

On Paul’s closing remarks to this chapter, a number of early church scholars share several thoughts. For Ambrosiaster, because Paul’s mind is dedicated to delivering the gifts to Jerusalem from the Gentile churches he visited in the West, he wants their mind to be open and receptive to his mission, seeing it as their fellow believers’ love for them. That way, they could join together in one accord to give thanks to God on their behalf. Let them rejoice that because of the ministry God gave him, there were many made happy and now praising God, who otherwise would be lost in darkness forever. The God of peace is Christ, who said: “My peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you.”¹⁴ This is what he prays for them, knowing that the Lord said: “Behold I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”¹⁵ Paul therefore wants them to be the kind of people in whom the Lord Jesus Christ dwells, who showed them His spiritual presence will take away all the discord caused by human logic. And since they willingly received the truth, they may now live peacefully in that truth.¹⁶

Then Pelagius sees Paul arriving in Rome some years later and telling the believers there how his offering from the Gentile churches was accepted at Jerusalem and will then speak the Word of God with peace of mind. There are few things more difficult to overcome than heaviness of heart when trying to teach the Word of God. That’s because the God of peace dwells only in those who are peacemakers. It is good that Paul concluded this chapter with peace, because things go so much smoother when everyone is in peaceful agreement with each other.¹⁷ And Theodoret is convinced that Paul harbors no desire to do anything apart from God’s will. Paul called God, “the God of peace” for a reason, he was concerned about those at Rome who were battling one another or at least who were suspicious of one another. He wanted them to be at peace with each other because of the controversy which they were having over the observance of certain Jewish ceremonial laws.¹⁸

In response to Paul’s closing benediction, Martin Luther comments on the need for invoking the abiding presence of the God of peace. This will help everyone understand that the “God of peace” means the God who is worshiped in peace, just as the “God of hope” means the God who is glorified through hope. Idols and images are gods of contention. Luther then goes on to question whether the Apostle Paul ever got to Spain. He quotes from a work by Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples (Jacobus Faber Stapulensis (circa 1455–1536),¹⁹ a French theologian and humanist who referenced a passage from an apocryphal document saying that he did.²⁰ However, Luther doubts that such evidence is genuine.²¹

With regard to Paul expression that he longed to visit the believers in Rome, John Calvin notes that Paul suggests that prayer would be profitable for them also, as they prayed that he not be killed in Judea. The same goes for Paul’s wish to come to them in joy. It certainly would be advantageous to the Romans for him to come to them in a cheerful state of mind and free from all grief, that he might work among them with more energy and enthusiasm. And by using the word “refreshed,” again it shows how fully persuaded he was of their brotherly love. The desire of this all being part of God’s will reminds us of how necessary it is that we be diligent in prayer, for God alone directs all our ways by His wisdom.²²

Our Pastor, Rick Warren, at Saddleback Church here in Lake Forest, California is the best expository teacher I’ve ever listened to. Since I’m some sixteen years older than him, I can safely say, he reminds me of myself. That’s why I connect so well with him. He just started a new series of messages on “Why You Need To Think About What You Think About: Rethinking Your Life.”

I want to share his basic outline with you to give you some points to ponder. Under each major point, I will add my Reflection.

1. MY THOUGHTS control my life, BUT I CAN control my thoughts!

“Be careful what you think about because your thoughts run your life!” Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)¹

“. . . your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (TEV)²

[Reflection: All our thoughts are generated from something our six senses pick up. That’s where our control comes in. For instance, if you don’t like what you’re hearing, turn it off; if you don’t like what you are seeing, turn your eyes away; if you don’t like what your sensing, rebuke yourself and move on.]

2. ANY CHANGE I WANT IN MY LIFE will start in my mind.

“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (TEV)

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. THEN you can see God in the outside world.” Matthew 5:8 (Mes)³

[Reflection: Today this is called introspection. It is a soul-searching, heart-searching, mind-searching process. When a clock, car engine, or appliance stops running, it most often must be taken apart and examined to see what part is not functioning properly or even broken. God’s Word is our Spiritual Mechanics Manual.]

3. I CAN CHANGE how I feel by changing the way I think.

David: “My heart is breaking, so I TURN my thoughts to God.” Psalm 42:6 (TEV)

Jonah: “When I’d lost all hope, I TURNED my thoughts once more to the Lord.” Jonah 2:7 (TLB)⁴

[Reflection: The idea that David’s heart was breaking and Jonah was so hopeless is because they were looking in the wrong direction or at the wrong object. They knew that the one thing that would help clear their vision was God and His Word. That’s one reason why we go to church so that through a song, testimony, and God’s Message we can focus again on what’s right. That’s the only way to know what’s wrong.]

4. EVERY BEHAVIOR IS BASED ON HOW I FEEL ABOUT changing the way I think.

“….think carefully about your behavior.” Haggai 1:5 (NJB)⁵

ASK: What lie am I believing right now?

“A foolish person will believe anything. But a wise person THINKS ABOUT what he does.” Proverbs 14:15 (ICB)⁶

[Reflection: As the old saying goes, if you don’t stand for anything you will fall for everything. Since thoughts control our actions and words, that’s where our behavior and reaction to things begin. It’s what your mind uses to process what your hearing, sight, and emotions. If you hear a knocking sound in your car engine, it’s usually because it’s not getting enough oil. The more Word of God we have in our mind the more the oil of the Holy Spirit can keep it running smoothly.]

5. ANYTIME I SIN, AT THAT MOMENT I’m believing a lie!

“There are ways that some THINK [is] straight, but they lead in the end to death. ” Proverbs 14:12 (NJB)

“Temptation comes from the lure of our own inner desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and the actions lead to death.” James 1:14-15 (NLT) ⁷

[Reflection: Sometimes the lie that sets off our thoughts and emotions may be the one we’re believing or the one we’re hearing. Pastor Warren said that his Dad told him the reason why a fisherman puts the bait on the hook is because a fish won’t bite an empty hook. So we can learn from this that it’s not the bait that catches the fish, it’s the hook. Sometimes our eyes and ears are reaching for the bait without realizing there’s a hook inside.]

6. AN UNSEEN WAR IS GOING ON in and for my mind.

“It seems to be a fact of life that while I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I want to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned, but there’s something else deep within me that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin inside me. In my mind, I want to be God’s servant, but instead, I find myself still enslaved to sin.” Romans 7:21-23 (TLB)⁸

[Reflection: Some think that long prayers or voluminous reading of God’s word will do the trick of bringing this battle to an end. The Apostle Paul found out that as a dedicated Pharisee, that didn’t work. The real answer came when he learned that we live by what our faith tells us, not by what our eyes and ears are telling us.⁹ This is another way of saying that we can only take control of these mixed emotions through sanctification. This is the act of subjecting ourselves to purification. Cleaning out all those things that start the fight in the first place. This is done by using the cleansing solvent in God’s Word.¹⁰.]

7. TO WIN THE BATTLE IN & FOR MY MIND, I MUST HAVE God’s Spirit and God’s word within me.

While we live in the world, we don’t fight the same way the world does. We fight with God’s weapons, not worldly ones. Our weapons have God’s power to demolish the enemy’s strong places. We can knock down all the worldly arguments and prideful defenses that set themselves up (in our minds) against the knowledge of God. In this war, we capture every rebel thought and we make it give up, and obey Christ!” 2 Cor. 10:3-5

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ” Romans 8:6 (NLT)

Jesus: “If you learn and obey my Word, you will be my disciple. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

[Reflection: Just reading a Devotional Guide, watching a church service on TV, or even going to church is not enough to really impact your thinking. Highlighting interesting thoughts in the Devotional Guide; writing down what the TV pastor or evangelist is saying, and taking notes in church during the pastor’s message is also a good step. But it’s not until you tell someone else about what you learned that really puts God’s Word into action. That’s because the Word of God is like a seed. As long as it stays in a box, it will not produce any harvest. You have several ways to share: your phone, your email, Facebook, a home Bible Study, or a personal visit. Try it! Then watch how you grow in the Word.]

8. MY GOAL IS TO learn to think like Jesus.

“Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through, and more, learn to think like Him.” 1 Peter 4:1 (Mes)

“Your thoughts and attitudes must be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5

“We have the mind of Christ!” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV)¹¹

[Reflection: When we put the phrase, “have the mind of Christ,” then we can certainly add, “to think like Him.” Paul then gives us the formula to follow: “Consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let His mindset become your motivation. He existed in the form of God, yet He gave no thought to seizing equality with God as His supreme prize. Instead, He emptied Himself of His outward glory by reducing Himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled Himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in His death – a criminal’s death by crucifixion!”¹² (TPT)¹³

The example given here is not to be Jesus, but be like Jesus. That means, to adopt His attitude, His mindset. He refused to hold onto something that would keep Him from doing what His Father sent Him to earth to do. Instead, He willingly sacrificed whatever it cost to get the message out about God’s plan of salvation for all who believe. He did not expect nor demand that those He went to would receive Him like a prince or a king. In fact, to show how He really felt about His mission and role in God’s plan, He washed His disciples’ feet. And when it came to living or dying because of His relationship with God the Father, He willingly chose to die in order to fulfill His Father’s will.

9. RETHINKING MY LIFE TO MATCH HOW JESUS THINKS IS CALLED repentance.

“Repent – change your mind and return back to God – so that all your sins may be erased – blotted out and wiped clean – and so that times of refreshing . . . and recovering . . . and reviving . . . may come from the presence of the Lord!” Acts of the Apostles 3:19 (AMP)¹⁴

[Reflection: I agree with Pastor Rick that the word “repent” is so misunderstood by the world today. When they are told to “repent,” it’s like telling them to put on sackcloth and ashes, sit out in the public square, and let people see how really repentant they are. But that is not the true meaning of the word “repent,” The Greek verb metanoeō literally means “meta” to change, “noeo” one’s mind. The word “noeo” points to a person having understanding. They can think and form an opinion; this allows them to discern and make up their mind about something. But it also suggests a mind being directed, looking for an answer or the truth and then become part of what they feel is true.]

Here is a letter that Jesus asked the Apostle John to write to the church in Ephesus: “I know your good deeds, your hard work, and your perseverance . . . But I’ve noticed this: You don’t love me as much as you used to at first. So REMEMBER what it was like before you fell away, and REPENT – change your mind and attitude, and RETURN to doing the things you did with me at first!” Revelation 2:2, 4-5 (Paraphrase)

NOTE: If you like this here on Points to Ponder, let me know. If enough of you are interested, I will certainly share it with you each week until it’s finished. – Dr. Robert R Seyda