Down an Unfamiliar Road

Last Sunday my wife and I enjoyed listening to Pastor Stephen Arterburn, from Indiana deliver an inspiring and humorous teaching on “Changing the Way You Think About Love. So I wanted to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

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FULFILLING PSALM 150 DOWN HERE

The following is a true story told by Mildred Honor, a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I was a lot like this boy Robby, she writes about when my Mom arranged for my sister and me to take piano lessons in Germany when I was twelve years old. Even my piano teacher, Brigitte, didn’t think I stood a chance of learning (and she was partially right). So you can imagine how much I can understand this story. By the way, this boy’s name is also Robert.

Mildred tells how she always supplemented her income by teaching piano lessons during the summer, something she did for over thirty years. During those years she found that children possess many levels of musical ability, and although she experienced the pleasure of teaching a prodigy, she did teach some very talented students.

However, she also tutored her share of what she called “musically challenged” pupils – one such pupil being a boy nick-named Robby. At the age of eleven, Robby’s mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. She preferred that students (especially boys) begin at an earlier age, which she explained to Robby. But Robby said that it was always his mother’s dream to hear him play the piano. That was enough for her so she accepted him as a student.

Well, Robby began his piano lessons and from the beginning, she thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. Nevertheless, he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary piano pieces that she required all her students to learn. Over the months he tried and tried while she listened and cringed and tried as best she could to encourage him.

At the end of each weekly lesson, Robby would always say “I know my mom’s going to hear me play someday.” But to her, it seemed hopeless, he just did not have any inborn ability. Mildred only recognized his mother from seeing her briefly as she dropped Robby off or waited in her to come in her old car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled, but she never came in and visited.

Then one day Robby stopped coming for his lessons. She thought about calling him but assumed that because of his lack of ability he decided to pursue something else. She was also glad that he stopped coming – he was bad advertising for her music lessons program!

Several weeks later she mailed out a flyer recital to each of the students’ homes about a recital. To her great surprise, Robby called and asked her if he could be in the recital. She told him that the recital was for current pupils and since he dropped out he really did not qualify. He told her that his mother had been sick and unable to bring him to his piano lessons, but that he kept on practicing. “Please Miss Honor, I’ve just got to play for my Mom,” he insisted.

To this day Mildred still doesn’t know what led her to allow him to play in the recital – perhaps it was his insistence or maybe something inside of her saying that it would be all right. The night of the recital came and the high school gymnasium was packed with parents, relatives, and friends. She put Robby last on the program. He would play just before she was to come up, thank all the students and their parents, and then play a finishing piece herself. She thought that any damage Robby might do would come at the end of the program and she could always salvage his poor performance through her “curtain closer” performance.

Well, the recital went off without a hitch. The students all practiced intently and it showed. Then Robby came up on the stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked as though an egg beater went through it. “Why wasn’t he dressed up like the other students?” she thought. “Why didn’t his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?”

Robby pulled out the piano bench, and she was surprised when he announced that he chose to play Mozart’s Concerto No. 21 in C Major. Everyone looked shocked! And she was also not prepared for what she heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories.

He went from pianissimo to fortissimo, from allegro to virtuoso; his suspended chords that Mozart demanded magnificently! Never did she hear Mozart played so well by anyone his age.

After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo, and everyone was up on their feet in wild applause! Overcome and in tears, she ran up on stage threw put her arms around Robby in joy. “I never heard you play like that before, Robby, how did you do it?” Through the microphone, Robby explained: “Well, Miss Honor …. remember I told you that my mom was sick? Well, she actually had cancer and passed away just this morning. And well …she was born deaf, so tonight was the first time she finally heard me play, and I wanted to make it special.”

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed in foster care, she noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy. She thought to herself, how much richer her life became bringing Robby as her pupil. (By the way, she never got to play her final piece to cover up for Robby’s expected bad performance).

No, Mildred never had a prodigy, but that night she became Robby’s prodigy. He was the teacher and she was the pupil, for he taught her the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself, and maybe even taking a chance on someone and you didn’t know why.

So after hearing this story, we can understand why Mildred was shocked to the core when she found out later that Robby was killed years later in Timothy McVeigh’s senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. May God rest his precious soul until he plays for heaven’s choir after the great resurrection, with his mom in the audience to proudly cheer him on. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

TO ALL MY FABULOUS STUDENTS AND FRIENDS

You may not have kept track, but here’s a little information for you. On our journey through the Book of Romans, you read 1411 pages of commentary. That means you studied that material in 489 Lessons. That comes to 97 weeks (over one and a half years) of constant reading and comprehending this fabulous Epistle. In other words, you spent more time studying Romans than most Bible School or Seminary students. So I congratulate you on your love for God’s Word.

Romans contains the premier Doctrinal Theology of the Christian Faith. It’s like learning what parts make up a complicated pocket watch. But there another step to this process of spiritual enlightenment through the Word of God. Now you must look at the Practical Theology of the Christian Faith. Since you know what it is, how does it work, and how is it applied to your everyday Christian life.

That is found in Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. So this is next in our curriculum. Galatians only has six chapters whereas Romans contained sixteen. So it’s a shorter distance to journey. But there is so much to learn of how all this is meant to work for us. We need to go from being young Christians in God’s Word to young adult Christians. And the Epistle to the Galatians helps us do that. Who knows, if God continues to give me strength, we may reach mature adulthood by way of Paul’s First and Second Letters to the Corinthians.

But as for now, this is Spring Break time. With my sweet and talented wife’s help, we are working on Galatians, Chapter One. I will start a new class on Facebook named: Called to Live in the Freedom of the Spirit! Now that we’ve learned how and why we were Reborn in Christ. Now it’s time to turn the coin of Grace around and see the other side that deals with how our Sanctification must be put to use. So if we do get to Corinthians we will take another step in discovering how being Baptized in the Spirit uses the coin to receive the necessary gifts and empowerment to do the work that God redeemed us to do.

I will keep you up-to-date on our progress on Galatians One, and let you know when Spring Break is over. Then we can jump in and take an exciting and invigorating journey through Paul’s letter to the Galatians. There will be a bumpy road, to begin with, as we learn of what can happen to new Christians if they don’t put their heart and soul into believing and serving God. But it ends up just fine as we discover just how much seed was planted in our souls by the indwelling Spirit upon our conversion to produce the Fruit of the Spirit. So stay tuned and we will give you updates between now and then.

I will let you know when the new class on Facebook is created so you can have time to join and have your friends join. Until then, God bless you for your faithfulness, and may He reward you greatly for your ambition in wanting to know more about Him by knowing more about His Word. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

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.

Choosing to Manage My Mind

Rethinking Your Life

Rick Warren

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)

WHY MUST I MANAGE MY MIND?

• BECAUSE my thoughts control my life.

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”

Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

[Reflection: As Christians, we are called to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5). We know that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Rom. 12:2). But often our minds seem to be out of our control. Thoughts come unbidden and unwanted. They entice us into sin or taunt us with doubts. We must learn how to control these thoughts by replacing them with positive spiritual thoughts, thereby truly taking them captive?]

• BECAUSE my mind is the battleground for sin.

  “I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind, I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead, I find myself still enslaved to sin.” Romans 7:22-23 (LB)

[Reflection: Jesus tells us to be careful that the light He placed in us does not go out and leave us in darkness. (Luke 11:35). We must recognize that the areas where we hide in denial will be the very areas of our future warfare. Also, beware because pride is a barrier that conceals those dark areas. We must realize that the greatest defense we have against the devil is to maintain an honest heart before God. Scripture tells us that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. So we must submit ourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from us. (James 4:6). Satan fears virtue. He is terrified by humility; he hates it. To compromise is refusing to explain away our thinking even though we know it’s wrong. Keep in mind that demonic strongholds are any type of thinking that exalts itself above the knowledge of God. This gives the devil a secure place of influence in an individual’s thought-life.]

• BECAUSE it’s the key to peace and happiness

“If your sinful old self is the boss over your mind, it leads to death. But if the Holy Spirit is the boss over your mind, it leads to life and peace.”

Romans 8:6 (NLV)

[Reflection: There are times when you feel so confused with what to do next or how to do one thing or another it makes you freeze in fear. There will also be times when you feel like you have no guidance or no assistance shows up to help. You feel miserable when you face that kind of confusion. In fact, the more miserable you feel, the more you will stay stuck with no ideas at all. The truth is, that kind of feeling attracts more resistance to receiving any inspiration. In order to gain inspiration and to attract more opportunities, you need to be at peace. In that state, your prayers are heard and inspiration will flow into your mind. Scripture tells us that God will keep those in perfect peace when their minds are concentrated on Him because He trusts us to obey His will. (Isaiah 26:3).]

3 DAILY CHOICES I MUST MAKE TO MANAGE MY MIND

1. I MUST feed my mind with truth.

   “Man does not live by bread alone. Rather, he lives on every word that comes from the mouth of the Eternal One.” Matthew 4:4 (The Voice)

[Reflection: We can call this “Soul Food.” We all know that seeing, hearing, and feeling are stimuli channels to the mind. How often do we watch a movie, see a TV show, or read a magazine that contains things that our conscience is not comfortable with, and sometimes, even offended. But we tend to overlook those things and try and find the good, exciting, dramatic, suspenseful, or funny content instead. Little do we know that like pollen, those things do not go away but migrate to our mind and heart where they generate thoughts and ideas we would otherwise never think of. That then leads to desire. As Jesus said so clearly, where your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:21). So if God and Christ and heaven are where our treasure is, our heart will follow. (Matt. 6:33).]

WHEN SHOULD I FEED MY MIND WITH GOD’S TRUTH ALL THE TIME!

I RISE EARLY . . . I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

Psalm 119:147 (NLT)

“Lord, how I love your Word. I think about it ALL DAY LONG.

Psalm 119:47

“Even in the DARKEST NIGHT, your teachings fill my mind.”

Psalm 16:7 (CEV)

“Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.” Psalm 119:95 (NLT)

2. I MUST free my mind from destructive thoughts.

   Three Enemies battle against the truth & my best intentions:

[Reflection: First we must identify our destructive, or negative, thoughts so we can challenge them. We should not have an all-or-nothing mindset. That means everything is either black or white, there is no middle ground for finding a solution. Also, we should keep away from overgeneralizing everything. Stop criticizing by telling someone, “You always do or say...”, “I never do or say...”, or “Everyone is or does…”. Having such a point of view will throw away a whole basket of apples because you spotted one bad apple in the bunch. Furthermore, get rid of your mental filtering, keeping out what you don’t want but need to hear; stop jumping to conclusions; relying on emotional reasoning; quickly labeling; habitually magnifying even the smallest thing, or as they say, making mountains out of ant hills. The Apostle Paul gives us a great list of ways to keep negative thinking from dominating our minds. “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:8-9).

• THE 1ST ENEMY OF MY MIND: is my old sinful nature

“I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.” Romans 7:23 (NAB)

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.”

Romans 8:5 (NLT)

[Reflection: You don’t have to believe everything you think is true. You must reject the thought that “a little bit won’t hurt that much;” or “I’ll try it just once to see if what they say about it is true.” or “Even though others say it’s bad for you, I don’t see anything wrong in it;” and “I’ll drop it if I don’t like it.” That’s what fooled Eve in the Garden of Eden. The serpent just wanted her to taste the forbidden fruit, in other words, just take one bite. Keep in mind, that the payback for sinning is disaster, even if it’s just a little bit. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23).]

• THE 2ND ENEMY OF MY MIND: is Satan.

Paul: (I’ve forgiven that man) so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11

[Reflection: There is a battle going on in this world. “Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the high places.” (Eph. 6:12). However, if we are born into the family of God by the spiritual new birth, we are on the winning side. We will battle much of our lives with the weakness of our own flesh. Some battles may be influenced by Satan. We should certainly know more about him. He is always a foe, never a friend. Nothing he says is true, he is a pathological liar. “He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44). So never believe anything he says. He only wants to make you look like a fool.]

• THE 3RD ENEMY OF MY MIND: is the world’s values.

“All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16 (KJV)

[Reflection: This equals a total lack of discipline. We live in a convoluted world. The morals of yesteryear that were considered of highest value are now considered as being of little worth, and what was thought of as trash is now bragged about as having great value. The Scripture says: “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” (1 John 2:15-16).

How to Fight:

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish STRONGHOLDS. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT to make it OBEDIENT to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

A “STRONGHOLD”: a lie that I believe.

“I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.”

Psalm 119:112 (CEV)

3. I MUST focus my mind on the right things

• Think about Jesus

“Keep your mind on Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:8 (CEV)

“Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:3 (NCV)

[Reflection: Remember these things about Jesus: He loves you unconditionally that’s why He died for you before you even knew Him. He wants the best for you, that’s why He wants to be a daily part of your life. He wants to be number one in your life. Either you make Him Lord of all or He cannot be Lord at all. He expects the best out of you and will give you all the help you need to be the best you can be. He doesn’t find fault in everything you do that doesn’t meet His expectations, but takes what you’ve done and helps you make the best out of it. And remember He’s not a pushover, He’ll stand His ground and fight for you. Even though you may not always follow Him, He’s always following you. Always keep in mind Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. (Luke 15:3-7). But it is much easier walking with Him than walking alone.]

• Think about others“

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

“Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds.”.

Hebrews 10:24 (NCV)

[Reflection: In being considerate of others, the scripture says “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for the person you’re trying to help.” (Col. 3:23). “Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people.” (Rom 12:16). “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3). “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Rom. 12:10-11). “We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.” (1 Cor. 10:24)

• Think about Eternity

“Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here.”

Colossians 32 (LB)

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

[Reflection: Everything we see around us will one day be destroyed. So what kind of people should we be? Our lives should be holy and devoted to God. We should be looking forward to the day we’ll be with the Lord, wanting more than anything else for it to come soon. When it comes, the heavens will be destroyed with fire, and everything in the sky will melt with heat. But God made a promise to us, and we are waiting for what He promised – a new sky and a new earth. That will be the place where only goodness lives. (2 Peter 3:11-13)

In the words of that old hymn we used to sing written by Albert E. Brumley:

This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Chorus:
O Lord, you know I have no friend like you,
If heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF HIS HEART

When we pray to God, we certainly hope He’s listening and will answer. I read this account of one person who imagined that they and God held a conversation and here’s how it went:

Me: God, can I ask you a question?

God: Sure

Me: Promise you won’t get mad

God: I promise

Me: Why did you let so much bad stuff happen to me today?

God: What do you mean, bad stuff?

Me: Well, I woke up late

God: Yes

Me: I ran into the biggest traffic jam I’ve ever seen, and ended up late for work.

God: Okay

Me: At the cafe, they gave me the wrong sandwich so I had to wait 15 minutes for another one.

God: Sounds normal.

Me: On the way home, my cell phone battery went dead, just as I received a call

God: All right

Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home – I just wanted to relax and watch the news but my satellite TV couldn’t pick up the signal because it was raining outside. So I don’t understand why You didn’t do anything about it?

God: Let me see…the death angel was at your bed this morning ready to give you a heart attack and I sent one of my angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me (muffled): OH!

God: I let you get caught in that traffic jam because you would have been in that five-car pile up you passed that was causing the backup.

Me: I didn’t think of that’

God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn’t want you to catch what they had from the contaminated sandwich you received, I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work.

Me (embarrassed): Oh my!

God: Your cell phone went dead because answering the phone would have distracted you and caused an accident that you wouldn’t be able to afford the repairs for because you bought the wrong insurance just to save money.

Me (softly): Oh dear Lord!

God: And your satellite TV signal didn’t come in because of the rain, but because I interfered with it to keep you from watching a program that wasn’t good for you instead of having your evening devotions.

Me: I’m Sorry God

God: Don’t be sorry, just learn to trust Me…. in all things, the good, and the bad.

Me: I will trust You.

God: And don’t doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan.

Me: I won’t doubt anymore, God. And let me just tell you, thank you for everything today.

God: You’re welcome, my child. It was just another day being your heavenly Father who loves looking after one of His delightful children. Amen!

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN

We see that Paul ends this Epistle, in the same manner, we might end a telephone call today by asking the one we’re talking to if they wouldn’t mind saying “Hello” and giving a hug to the rest of the family and mutual friends. The fact that the Apostle took the time to name as many as he could remember was a sure sign of his love and affection for the believers in Rome.

It is obvious that Paul started out with two main goals in his writing. First and foremost was for the Jewish believers to be patient with their Gentile brothers and sisters, since they did not come into the faith in Christ from the same moral, ethical, and religious background as they did, but from an idolatrous and heathen perspective on life – the survival of the fittest. And second, that the Gentile believers be understanding of their Jewish brothers and sisters who were still bound by a number of ties to their moral, ethical, and religious instructions and ceremonies concerning all things required by the Law of Moses.

Now in this last chapter, Paul closes with various instructions, greetings, warnings, and a doxology. Of particular note are his comments concerning Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchreae. Also, his greetings to Priscilla and Aquila remind us of how instrumental this couple was in the spreading of the Gospel. The remaining greetings from Paul remind us that there were many others who contributed to the growth of the church in the first century, and we should be as happy for them as Paul was.

A final warning is given against those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to what Paul taught in this epistle. For above all else, Paul wanted to ensure their continued obedience in the Gospel. Paul’s companions at Corinth add their greetings, and Paul closes this wonderful epistle with an expression of praise to God for the revelation of the Gospel which was leading to the obedience of faith among all believers in all nations.

None of what Paul says here as an afterthought. What he says is vitally important for the believers in Rome, and us today, in order to continue learning and growing in Christ until the day of our departure from this earth. I’m sure it was with some reluctance that Paul ceased his dictation of this letter to Tertius because there were other things he may have wanted to say. But what he did say is certainly sufficient for all who read this letter to understand God’s plan of Salvation and His inclusion of all peoples, not just Jews in His spiritual family. And the key to making the plan of Salvation work as it should is Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah. Then the final factor is that with the help of the Holy Spirit this message is spread all over the world so that as many as believe might be saved. And all to the glory and honor the triune God.

Paul’s doxology is the best way to end our study of this fabulous and indispensable book in the Bible:

Now to God, who can strengthen you, according to my Good News, in harmony with the revelation of the secret truth which is the proclamation of Yeshua the Messiah, kept hidden in silence for ages and ages, but manifested now through prophetic writings, in keeping with the command of God the Eternal, and communicated to all the Gentiles to promote in them trust-grounded obedience — to the only wise God, through Yeshua the Messiah, be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (Lesson XIV)

16:27 All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.

After explaining the revelation that Jesus of Nazareth was the awaited Messiah, who came from heaven to carry out God’s plan of salvation, conceived before the world began, what better way to end than with praise to our wise God for making it possible for His Son to come and be our Redeemer, Lord, and Savior. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wishes the believers God’s loving favor and peace, and all because of this: “Christ gave Himself to die for our sins. He did this so we might be saved from this sinful world. This is what God wanted Him to do. May He have all the honor forever. Let it be so.”¹

A number of early church scholars share their thoughts on this closing verse. Ambrosiaster believes that without Christ nothing will be understood because all things are to be seen through Him. It is acknowledged that praise is given to God the Father through Him because Ambrosiaster understands the term, “through Christ” to mean “through His Gospel.” This is the only way sinners are saved. Therefore, glory to the Father through the Son is also glory to the Holy Spirit because all are three-in-one and share in their united glory.²

Chrysostom is of the opinion that Paul is not in any way being uncomplimentary to God’s Son. For if all the things whereby God’s wisdom are made apparent through Christ and nothing is done without Him, then He stands equal with the Father in power and authority.³ It is quite plain, for Chrysostom, that the Son is also equal to the Father in wisdom.⁴ Pelagius shares his thoughts: God required that all the Gentiles to be called should obey and acknowledge Him as the Father. He foreknew when this would one day happen, so to show our love and appreciation we ought to send back our praise to Him through the One He sent. So to Him be glory and honor through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.⁵

In his remarks at the end of this chapter Charles Hodge makes the point that the Gospel itself is a mystery, that is, a system of truth beyond the power of the human mind to discover on its own which God chose to reveal for our faith and obedience. It was initiated in the beginning in the divine mind of God to be revealed by the prophets and apostles and the preaching of Jesus Christ. In fact, it is by God’s command He made it known to all nations. God alone is omniscient. Therefore, the most profound reverence and the most implicit submission are due to Him. People should not presume to call into question what He revealed, or consider themselves competent to sit in judgment on the truth of His declarations, or the wisdom of His plans.⁶

Several modern Bible scholars arrive at the conclusion that in this last chapter of Romans Paul greets at least twenty-six individuals and two families. He gives high praise for many of them – men and women alike – for their faithful service to God through Christ. The thing that ties all of these people together is their partnership in the Gospel. They have all been faithful coworkers with Paul in his mission. Paul specifically mentions around eleven individual women as a key part of revealing his attitude toward women serving the church. Indeed, several of the women are praised for their hard work in sharing the Gospel. In fact, Paul placed enough confidence in Phœbe to entrust her with his letter and commend her to the Roman Church. Paul clearly recognized women like Phœbe, Junia, and others as valued and respected coworkers in spreading the Gospel. Regardless of differing opinions about the specific roles that women deserve to have in ministry, all believers – men and women – should seek opportunities to serve to the full extent of their abilities and convictions. ⁷

Douglas Moo shares some interesting things about how we apply what we’ve read and learned here in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans to our modern-day situation. Concerning the social dimensions of the church, the social composition of the ancient Roman church is of interest to the Bible historian and Scriptural experts but who is to say that knowing it will have any significance on the layperson in the pew. To argue, for instance, that our churches today should have the same social composition as the Roman church would be to indulge in the worst form of trying to make history repeat itself. It is simply not always the case that “as things were then, so must they be now.” That goes for everything to the songs we sing, what translations of the Scriptures we read, or the way we dress. But Moo does point out that there are some principles that must never go out of style in the church during any era. The supremacy of the Gospel; Christ as the most important person in God’s plan of salvation; concern for the lost around us, including the poor and homeless. In other words, the church was to become a mission, not a museum.

Then Moo speaks about the organizational dimensions of the church. The fact that the Roman community was divided into house churches does not mean that the contemporary church should adopt a similar structure. Moo points out that Paul does not teach that the community of believers should be divided into small Bible studies. Indeed, house churches were no doubt a physical necessity in a time before church buildings existed and when other public buildings of any size were not available for Christians. Moo mentions how many local churches compete with each other, often finding some fault so as to persuade their members to switch. Since we all believe the same thing, for the most part, we should recognize one another as part of the larger Body of Christ, and despite our differences present the picture that Christ wanted – that we love one another even as He loves us.

And finally, Moos discusses the gender dimensions of the church. He turns to the matter of the potential significance for the contemporary church seeing women the same way as they were seen back then. There are a couple of things that must be clarified: First, women were an important and public part of the Roman Christian community. The term “public” in this assertion is especially important. In many religions in the ancient world and even some today, women were not allowed to participate directly in church affairs that, up to that point, were assigned only to men. It is obvious that Paul released the bonds on women as they were constituted in Judaism and gave women more freedom in the Christian Church. Paul recognizes women along with men, implying their equality in the community and their participation together in worship was to be accepted.

Moo finishes by noting that he cringes when he hears the modern debate put in terms of “Women in Ministry” – as if there should be any doubt about whether women should be ministers. The Final Covenant is insistent that every believer is a minister, that is, a servant of Christ and the church with important contributions to make to the life of the body. Moo regrets that too much chauvinism still lurks in the corners and hallways of our churches. Women are too often relegated to menial duties in the church even when the Body of Christ is aching because of the absence of gifted, trained women to teach other women, to counsel, to evangelize, and to organize. I agree with Dr. Moo wholeheartedly.⁸

I found this in an older commentary and thought it would be a good poetic way to close this great Epistle as an addendum to Paul’s doxology. I redacted it for clarity and smoother flow of thought. I pray it touches your heart as it did mine. Read it slowly and let the message sink in deeply.

“O King of ages! O Revealer of the mystery concealed during the ages of eternity! O God eternal, immortal, and invisible! O You who sits atop the lofty mountains of eternity; who, from Your elevated pinnacle surveys our narrow span of life, and of all the centuries gliding beneath Your throne, to You be all honor, and glory, forever and ever! O You, who by Your victory over death, have thrown open wide to us the gates of a blissful eternity. Grant that we always live with that in mind – rightly, stately, and devoutly – so one day will be partakers of its glory. Grant us to pass through this fleeting moment of life in such a way that by standing strong and standing secure we will be called into Your presence and joy forevermore so we can praise You and celebrate You in the company of all Your saints and angels. O Love Divine! O Beloved Eternity! My God and my All-in-All. Amen! 9”10

The writing of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans was so opportune. It came at the right time when they needed instruction on a better understanding of God’s grace through being Called, Chosen, Redeemed, Justified, Sanctified, Empowered, and Glorified as God’s children in this unenlightened and wicked world. It was a lamp they carried in the darkness to keep them on the right path. And as long as there is an ample supply of supernatural oil the flame of the Gospel will never go out. This requires the need for much studying to ingest the meat of God’s Word given through the Apostle Paul as they mature. We need this just as much, if not more, in the Church today than ever before. May all who take the time to study this masterpiece be blessed and enriched by God’s wisdom to the point of being able, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to show others the way to become obedient to the Gospel of Jesus the Christ, to the glory and honor of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen!

THE END OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (Lesson XIII)

Even though the mystery Paul speaks about was kept secret for many ages, Ambrosiaster sees Paul giving glory to God the Father, from whom are all truth and blessings flow, that he considered it an honor and privilege to deliver to the congregation in Roman a deeper understanding of Salvation by Grace. He planned to do this by confirming in their minds that the Gospel is a living document and that the mystery hidden for many ages is now being made manifest in Christ. Ambrosiaster concludes, therefore, that this deep mystery originally hidden in God was now revealed in the arrival of Christ. It proves that God is not alone, but out of eternity past He brought His Word and the Paraclete¹ with Him. God decreed that every individual was to be saved by coming to a knowledge of this truth. For the truth of this mystery was indicated by the prophets in symbols known only to God. Now, however, all this is out in the open for the world to see, and it is in the person of Jesus Christ, who was with God, is from God, and will forever be with God.²

Then Chrysostom shares his thoughts that Paul’s hopes and prayers for the believers in Rome are based on the assumption that their minds are not yet firmly fixed but they are still wavering on certain points in their faith and understanding of the Gospel. In order to clarify what he is saying he bases it all on “the preaching of Jesus Christ,” by which he means the things that Jesus Himself preached. For if Christ preached it, the teaching is not Paul’s but Christ’s. Furthermore, to be let in on a secret, especially on one kept undercover for such a long time is a sign of great closeness and friendliness.

Chrysostom also notes that by writing all this Paul is hoping to release the weaker believers from unfounded fear. For this secret was already contained in the Torah and the Prophets but was hidden on purpose. Indeed, it is what the writings of Moses and the Prophets are all about. There was no reason for anyone in Rome to ask why did God wait so long to disclose these hidden truths now. That would be questioning God’s wisdom and foreknowledge. They ought not behave like busybodies but instead be content with what they were given up to this point. But certainly more was to come, and this is what Paul wanted to deliver to the Romans personally.³ How true is Chrysostom’s admonition for believers and the Church today.

For Pelagius, part of this mystery of salvation by grace is the calling of Gentiles into the family of God. This was uncovered in the Gospels by using the testimonies of the prophets and is now plainly seen in the person of Christ.⁴ Although the prophets said many things about the Gentiles, none recognized as clearly as Paul did on how Gentiles and Jews were to become one in Christ. Some progress is seen in that the Jews did admit Gentiles into their faith as proselytes.⁵

Martin Luther states that the “mystery” that the Apostle Paul speaks about here should be understood as: “The mystery of Christ’s incarnation.” For Luther, the Gospel is nothing else than the proclamation of Christ.⁶ As far as Luther is concerned, the “secret” hidden so long from the world, was purposely kept under wraps from eternity until the right time came to reveal it. In other words, sending His Son into the world as the Messiah to be mankind’s Savior and Redeemer was not a last minutes decision just because the Law wasn’t working. It was part of His plan all along.

Luther ends by noting that the question here might be asked how the Gospel was kept secret and yet was known to the prophets?⁷ Even though Luther does not give a definitive answer, let me take the opportunity and privilege here of offering one for him: Although the prophets knew a Messiah was coming and what He would accomplish in order to carry out God’s plan of salvation, none of them knew this Messiah would be Yeshua of Nazareth. They knew where He would be born, and that He would be born of a virgin, but they didn’t know His earthly name.

As to the secret and mystery Paul speaks of here, John Calvin points out that all of the theologians and serious Bible scholars of his day were in disagreement with each other as to what Paul calls the hidden mystery in the Gospel, something Paul also mentions in Ephesians 3:9 and Colossians 1:26. However, Calvin feels that what is mostly in their favor is that they point to the calling of the Gentiles, to which Paul himself expressly refers in his letter to the Colossians.⁸ However, Calvin confesses that although he allows this to be one reason, he cannot settle it in his mind as being the only reason. It seems to him more probable that Paul had additional thoughts concerning what was hidden in the First Covenant and revealed in the Final Covenant. Because even though the Prophets formerly taught all those things which explained by Christ and now by His Apostles, yet they taught them with so much obscurity that in comparison with the clear brightness of Gospel light it is no wonder that those things are said to have been hidden which are now made manifest.

But Calvin was not finished. He doesn’t believe Malachi declared that the Sun of righteousness would rise without a good reason.⁹ Also, Isaiah earlier highly eulogized the government¹⁰ of the Messiah but offered no distinct function of that government.¹¹ Furthermore, it was not without reason that the Gospel is called the “Message of the Kingdom of God.”¹² Calvin concludes that all being said by the prophets came to fruition in Christ as a treasure trove of celestial wisdom opened for all to see. Finally, God appeared to His ancient people through His only-begotten Son, as it were, face to face, all shadows cast by His prophesied presence are now done away with. His being the Light of the World eliminated them. The real Person is now here for everyone to behold. Calvin sees Paul referring to the end he mentioned at the beginning of the first chapter, for which this Gospel is to be preached – God will bring all nations of the world into the circle of obedience of faith to His Son as the Savior of the world.¹³

John Locke makes note that Paul never referred to the Gospel as “his,” by virtue of being its author. He only meant that it was his because it contained something in it that distinguished it from what others were preaching. And the one thing he mentioned was the revelation of the mystery that God kept secret from the beginning of the world. Of course, he goes on to say that it was God’s plan to send the Gospel to the Gentiles so that they may also be saved and become part of His family. As we know from what Paul said about his visit to Jerusalem to meet with the Church Council, that there were some who insisted that all Gentiles observe a number of Jewish customs and manners concerning circumcision and a kosher diet. But Paul rejected that as competition for God’s grace and understanding brought by the Holy Spirit to enlightened all minds of the truth. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, the Law of Moses was done away with by the death of Christ.¹⁴ This also was part of the mystery Paul incorporated into his preaching.¹⁵

However, when it comes to the secret of the mystery of which Paul speaks, Adam Clarke interprets what Paul says here about the secret concerning Gentiles being admitted into the family of God, that when we look at all the prophesies scattered throughout all the books of the First Covenant, there is no clear revelation that the Gentiles would be admitted to the family of God without passing under the scrutiny of the Mosaic law. This was the point being kept secret. For Clarke, as to the calling of the Gentiles, this was declared in general terms by the prophets, and the Apostle quotes and makes important use of their essential predictions. But the other points on which the prophets gave no information God, through the Holy Spirit, particularly revealed it to Paul. This involved the revelation that the requirement of works under the Law of Moses was being replaced with the requirement of faith through grace under the Law of the Spirit.¹⁶

Robert Haldane explains what he understands to be the mystery Paul is speaking about in an interesting way. It involves that calling of the Gentiles out of the darkness of their ignorance concerning God and salvation into the marvelous light of the promise of a redeeming Savior. What Haldane marvels at is that their calling was supposed to be a mystery, yet the Scriptures Paul used to back this belief are plain enough for all to see. That’s why Haldane notes that it is the Gospel itself being called a mystery in Ephesians.¹⁷ The thing hidden by God from the beginning of the world was the plan of salvation through the death of His Son. It was now revealed by Christ and His Apostles, who were making it known to the rest of the world. Also, in Colossians,¹⁸ it is the Gospel as the Word of God that is the mystery. Then in the next verse,¹⁹ this mystery is said, by the preaching of the Gospel, to be made known among the Gentiles, just as in the verse before us here in Romans. So the calling of the Gentiles should not be called a mystery.

Haldane continues by pointing out that this mystery kept secret which pointed to the kingdom of God was camouflaged during the First Covenant dispensation. So we might say that all the truth as revealed in the First Covenant was similar to a parable that was then fully revealed in the Final Covenant. Even this method of instruction using parables by Jesus Himself as predicted in the Psalms,²⁰ which our Lord Himself quoted.²¹. This is an illustration of how mysteries were going to be revealed by the Messiah. When His disciples asked Him what purpose these parables were to serve, He told them: “To you it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest, it is in parables, so that, ‘Seeing, they may not see; and hearing, they may not understand.’”²² Thus the mystery, or concealed sense of what He said, was kept secret from those who were not yet chosen to understand. Haldane also points out that it is to the First Covenant, taken as a whole, that our Lord refers when He said to His disciples, If you don’t understand the parable I just told you, how will you understand any parable²³?²⁴

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (Lesson XII)

16:25-26 Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as the Gospel I preach says He will. This message about Jesus Christ I’ve shared with you reveals His plan for you who are not Jews, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as our eternal God commanded, I’m making this message known to all non-Jews everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey Him.

Here the Apostle Paul sums up his whole reason for writing this letter and what he intended to accomplish when he wrote it. These words are a perfect benediction to a masterful book that became the central focus of Christian Doctrinal Theology. It gives us the definition of “Righteousness.” It includes the doctrines of Justification, Salvation, Sanctification, and Glorification. Paul emphasizes the need for Christian tolerance and unity. In my opinion, no Preacher or Bible Teacher should consider themselves minimally prepared to share the whole Gospel with others until they read and study this wonderful document written under the inspiration and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wished and prayed for nothing more than that he be allowed to leave this world knowing that all those to whom he brought the message of salvation through Yeshua the Messiah would be left in good hands when he departed to be with the Lord. We see this same sentiment when Paul said a tearful goodbye to the leaders of Ephesus church: “And now, my brothers, I give you over to God and to the word of His love. It is able to make you strong and to give you what you are to have, along with all those who are set apart for God.”¹ We are told that after he gave this emotional farewell, he got down on his knees and prayed with them all. They cried and put their arms around Paul and gave him a Holy Kiss. What made them sad most of all was when he said that they would never see his face again. It may be that Paul wasn’t sure if he would ever see the believers in Rome, and wanted them to know how he felt about them.

We don’t know how many times Paul experienced this emotion, but we do know that he firmly believed that this was just the beginning of greater things for the glory of God and His Kingdom. He told the Ephesians: “God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us. May we see His shining-greatness in the church. May all people in all time honor Christ Jesus. Let it be so.”² And to the Thessalonians he wrote: “May our God and Father make your hearts strong and without blame. May your hearts be without sin in God’s sight when our Lord Jesus comes again with all those who belong to Him.”³

So how does Paul get the believers in Rome and other places to know which Gospel they should pay attention to? He warns them that he is not talking about just any gospel, but only the Gospel he taught them. It is the same good news he brought to the Thessalonians.⁴ And to the Corinthians Paul said: “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”⁵ He told the Galatians: “As for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world was crucified to me, and I to the world.”⁶ Not only that, but earlier in this letter Paul told the Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”⁷ And he reminded young Timothy: “Remember this! Jesus Christ, Who was born from the early family of David, was raised from the dead! This is the Gospel I preach.”⁸

As a matter of fact, shortly after Paul converted to Christianity he began preaching in synagogues in and around Damascus that Yeshua of Nazareth was the Son of God and the awaited Messiah.⁹ Also, he reminded the Corinthians: “When I came to you, I did not preach the secrets of God with big sounding words or make it sound as if I were so wise. I made up my mind that while I was with you I would speak of nothing except Jesus Christ and of His death on the cross.”¹⁰ Later, he mentioned to them: “We do not play with the Word of God or use it in a false way. Because we are telling the truth, we want men’s hearts to listen to us.”¹¹

It was important to Paul that what he preached would not be mistaken as some mystery like the various pagan religions and philosophies being spread around in his day. He told the Corinthians: “What we preach is God’s wisdom. It was a secret until now. God planned for us to have this honor before the world began.”¹² He also shared this with the Ephesians: “God told us the secret of what He wanted to do. It is this: In loving thought, He planned long ago to send Christ into the world.”¹³ And to the Colossians he wrote: “This great secret was hidden to the people of times past, but it is now made known to those who belong to Christ. God wants these great riches of the hidden truth to be made known to the people who are not Jews. The secret is this: Christ in you brings hope of all the great things to come.”¹⁴ So the Gospel that Paul preached was not something he thought up while sitting in a cave or meditating under a fig tree. It was a revelation of something God planned before the world began. What greater honor is there than to be chosen by God Himself to spread this good news?

But now the secret is out, and Paul can’t wait to spread the Good News far and wide. Paul told the Ephesians: “Let us honor and thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He already gave us a taste of what heaven is like… He was so willing to give all of this to us. He did this with wisdom and understanding.” And Paul encouraged Timothy not to be ashamed of spreading the good news that came with Christ. Although it was known by God from the beginning, Paul says: “We know about it now because of the coming of Jesus Christ, the One Who saves.”¹⁶ And to Titus Paul wrote: “God promised this before the world began. He cannot lie. He made this known at the right time through His Word. God, the One Who saves.”¹⁷

It’s not that God tried to hide all of this. Paul says if we examine what the prophets said it is crystal clear what God’s plan was. So the revelation was not what God planned to do in order to save mankind from the penalty of Adam’s sin, but the revelation that His Son was the One being sent from heaven to carry it out. We are reminded of the Ethiopian who read the Scriptures as he made his way back home after his pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit told Philip to find this man and explain to him what he was reading. After Philip caught up with him and heard him reading from Isaiah 53, he asked him if he understood what the Prophet was saying. The man from Ethiopia asked Philip: “Is the prophet talking about, himself, or someone else?” So Philip started with this part of the Holy Writings and taught the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah to him.¹⁸ So the revelation of the secret now is, who Yeshua the Messiah really is. And that same revelation must be preached until He comes again.

The same situation occurred when a Roman soldier named Cornelius sought to know God better. So one afternoon an angel appeared to him and instructed him to send for a man named Peter who was staying in Joppa at the house of a man who worked with leather. That this Peter would reveal to him all he really needed to know. After Peter arrived and understood what was going on, he told Cornelius and his household all about Yeshua, and that all the early prophets spoke of this. Therefore, everyone who puts their trust in Christ will have their sins forgiven.¹⁹ So again, Jesus is the secret revelation of how salvation was brought to whosoever believes in Him.

Then, after Paul’s arrest following his arrival in Jerusalem and being brought before King Agrippa, in defense of his right to preach the Gospel he told Agrippa all about Jesus. When his opponents objected, Paul said to Agrippa: “I have told only what the early prophets and Moses said would happen. It was that Christ must suffer and be the first to rise from the dead. He would give light to the Jews and to the other nations.”²⁰ Once again, God’s plan of sending a Messiah to be the Savior of all mankind who were bound and imprisoned by sin was already known to the prophets. The revelation of the secret was that Yeshua of Nazareth was this Messiah.

On the Revelation that was kept secret of which Paul speaks, Origen feels that Paul wants to explain the two ways in which those who believe in the Gospel are strengthened in their faith. One is by way of preaching, which is the preaching of Christ’s passion and resurrection. The other is by the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages and which is now revealed in Christ. That is the mystery of salvation by grace and not by works. All of this was done with plenty of suitable witnesses and the backing of the prophetic Scriptures.²¹

Origen goes on to point out that those who advance in their knowledge of the Gospel do not treat the things written in the Torah and the Prophets with disrespect. On the contrary, they bestow even greater honor upon them, showing what a depth of wise and incomprehensible truths are contained in these writings, which were not fully comprehended by the Jews who treated them superficially, even to the point that although everybody had their opinion of what it meant, the mystery of what it really meant would never be solved without help from God.²² That’s why the clarification came upon the arrival of the Son of God, the Messiah. Unfortunately, some modern preachers commit the same error. Instead of thinking of the First Covenant as mystical with new things coming to light every day, they treat it as being out-of-date and irrelevant to today’s Christian lifestyle.

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (Lesson XI)

16:21 Timothy, a worker together with me, sends you his greetings. Also Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater (these are my spiritual family) send their greetings.

Now Paul adds a few more greetings, but this time it is from his missionary team to the believers in Rome. He begins with Timothy. His name means, “Honored or Valued of God.” He is from Derbe in Galatia, located in the south-central Province of Karaman in modern Turkey. His mother’s name was Eunice, a Jewish lady. His father, a Greek, was already dead by the time Paul visited Derbe the first time.¹ He was a child with a godly heritage;² a youthful reader of Scripture;³ Paul’s child in the faith;⁴ who became an ordained minister at an early age;⁵ and blessed with the Gift of Evangelism;⁶ and became indispensable to Paul;⁷ receiving constant instructions from the Apostle.⁸

This certainly qualified Timothy to become an ambassador for Paul, and he was given the responsibility of restoring a backslidden church which required both gifts and grace;⁹ as well as offering comfort to believers during times of tribulation;¹⁰ What he learned helped him when he became a co-sufferer with Paul.¹¹ Paul planned to send Timothy to Philippi during their first Roman imprisonment.¹² Tradition says he died a martyr in 97 AD for his faithfulness as a Bishop during the reign of Cæsar Augustus (96-98 AD), while attempting to stop an indecent heathen procession during the Festival of Diana. By doing so, this God-honoring minister sealed his testimony with his blood. The two epistles Paul addressed to Timothy are rich in their pastoral counsel.¹³ It almost goes without saying that the brethren in Rome already heard about Timothy and gladly received his warm greetings.

Next comes Lucius, which means, “of the light or luminous.” There are several theories on who this dear brother was. There was Lucius from Cyrene, a teacher at the church in Antioch;¹⁴ and the one mentioned here without any introduction. However, some also identify him with Luke the physician who traveled with Paul and compiled one of the Synoptic Gospels as well as the Acts of the Apostles. Many believe it was this Lucius who stood constantly by Paul’s side, and according to the “we” portions of the Book of Acts experienced many of Paul’s travels and hardships. However, since Paul made no further mention of who this Lucius was, it seems only logical that the brethren in Rome knew full-well who he was.

This is followed by Jason, which means “healer” or “he that cures.” There are two Jasons in the Scriptures. One of them was a believer in Thessalonica who showed great hospitality to Paul and Silas;¹⁵ and is the one mentioned here by Paul. Some say that “Jason” is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Joshua.” Then comes Sosipater, meaning, “defends his father.” In addition to the greeting here, he is also mentioned as a fellow traveler with Paul, having met in Berea, he went along on Paul’s journey from Philippi into Asia.¹⁶ Paul does not refer to this last group simply as his team or coworkers, but his spiritual family.

On Timothy’s and other’s greetings to the saints, Origen gives the information on these kinsmen of Paul according to the documentation in his day ((185-254 AD). He says that Timothy is well known from the Acts of the Apostles, where it is recorded that he was from Derbe, the son of a believing widow and of a Gentile father. Paul asked him to remain at Ephesus in order to warn the people there not to teach anything different from what they were taught nor listen to myths and endless genealogies.¹⁷ Lucius may have been the same person as Luke the Evangelist because names are sometimes given in the native form and sometimes in the Greek or Roman form. Jason is the same person as the one who, when there were riots against Paul and Silas at Thessalonica, posted a bond for them so that they might have the freedom to preach.¹⁸ Sosipater was the son of Pyrrhus, from Berrhoea.¹⁹ Paul calls them all his kinsmen because, although they were Gentiles, they were his brothers in Christ.”²⁰

16:22-23 I am Tertius, the one writing this letter for Paul. I send you my own greetings as one who belongs to the Lord. Gaius is letting me and the whole church here use his home. He sends his greetings to you. Erastus and our brother Quartus also send their greetings. Erastus is the city treasurer here.

There is an obvious break between the dictations of Paul and some closing remarks by his scribe and secretary. Tertius is nowhere else mentioned in the New Testament. His name is Latin and means, “the third.” Some scholars feel that Tertius is another name for one of Paul’s closest friends, Silas. According to Greek Orthodox Church history, Tertius was named Bishop of Iconium after Sosipater and was in the list of the seventy that Jesus sent out. He died a martyr in the service of Christ. Iconium is known today in Turkey as the city of Konya and is about 100 miles south of the capital city Ankara.

We also find out that Tertius and Paul have a mutual friend named Gaius who is mentioned five times: twice by Luke,²¹ once by Paul,²² once here by Tertius, and once by the Apostle John.²³ His name means, “I am glad.” According to Luke, Gaius was from Derbe and was seized in the riot at Ephesus along with Paul.²⁴ He also hosted Paul while he was in Corinth,²⁵ and Paul especially commends Gaius for letting the local congregation use his home as their church. And then in John’s third letter, it is evident that the Apostle who spoke so much about Love had a deep affection for this saint he called “the well-beloved.” It seems that the Apostle John was the one who earlier led Gaius to Christ.²⁶ John prayed for God to send showers of blessings to fall on Gaius.²⁷ The Apostle also commended him for his faithful care of his fellow brethren who were ministers.²⁸

There are interesting Jewish writings related to someone using Gaius’ house, or part of their house, as a synagogue. In one place we read where Rabbis were discussing the Passover meal. By allowing the Passover meal to be held in one’s home, they were said to have “sanctified the day.” In other words, they helped make the day holy by offering their house as a synagogue.²⁹ Every new city Paul went into, he first visited the local synagogues, so it is not out of common logic that early Christians would think of the place where they meet in the same way they thought of the synagogue. We also know that the early Christians instituted what they called the Agape Meal, or Love Feast to go along with their worship service.³⁰ This would become better known as the Eucharist. So following some of their old Jewish customs when it came to meeting for fellowship was not ideological, but sociological.

Then we come to Erastus, the city treasurer in Corinth. Luke tells us that Paul sent two of his helpers to Macedonia – Timothy and Erastus,³¹ and Paul tells Timothy: “Erastus stayed in the city of Corinth. I left Trophimus behind in the city of Miletus, he was sick.”³² And finally, Paul mentions Quartus, meaning, “the fourth.” It is believed that Quartus was also among the seventy who were sent out by our Lord into the harvest, and was known as Quartus of Berytus. He became the Bishop of Berytus (now Beirut) and also suffered greatly for his faith.

Some Greek manuscripts contain a verse twenty-four here that reads: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” But since it is not universally so in all manuscripts, many Bible scholars take it as something a later scribe added to his manuscript. Others believe that it is a benediction to this portion of Paul’s Epistle. Either way, it would not be out of Paul’s character to add such a blessing after sharing love and compassion from his heart.