Final Shout-Outs Romans 16:1-16

One of the ways that people pay respect to loved ones or faithful fans is through what is affectionately referred to as a “Shout-out.” You will often see these at concerts, sporting events, interviews, or in speeches (acceptance, valedictorian, political, etc.). The person with the spotlight will says something to the effect of “shout-out to my friends in…(such and such a place)” or “shout out to my mom who (did such and such)” or even “shout out to all my fans who voted for (such and such an award).” Typically the shout out is only meaningful to the ones mentioned in the comment itself, leaving others in the audience at an arm’s length until the speaker/recipient/star gets back to more general comments. However, the shout-outs that Paul offers at the end of Romans are a bit different. In Romans 16:1-16, Paul provides shout-outs to several different groups that are not only personally meaningful to the addressees; they are also telling for us today. Therefore, let’s read through three groups of shout-outs in this passage and learn about what kind of character is commendable within the body of Christ.

1. SHOUT-OUT #1: A Personal Reference-16:1-2

The first shout-out that Paul provides to the church in Rome comes in the form of a reference letter of sorts. Reference letters or commendations were commonplace in the first century. This is no different. Many relied on such letters because people could not count on public facilities for food or lodging and were made instead to depend on the generosity of trusted individuals. Paul commits and approves of Phoebe and asks the same of the church in Rome so that she might be taken care of when she arrives. Phoebe is a fellow believer whom Paul had become acquainted with in Corinth. Some believe that she was traveling to Rome on business (Moo, ZIBBC, 90). Others think that she was the one entrusted with the task of carrying the epistle to the church at Rome (Mounce, Romans, 272). Regardless, Paul wants the church to accept her as one of them when she arrives.

As Phoebe is a “sister” in Christ and a proven “servant of the church which is at Cenchrea” Paul implores the church in Rome to “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints” (16:2a). In part, the glowing reference of Phoebe is provided in an effort to help the church behave upon her arrival.

On certain occasions people often go out of their way to show respect and warm welcome to new people. Successful businesses trying to make a sale often bend over backwards so that a customer’s experience is positive. Families or parents, upon meeting a new boyfriend/girlfriend, are often encouraged to be on their best behavior so that they do not scare the poor lad/lady away.  Even churches encourage their membership to go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome and loved (thankfully our church does this naturally 😊).  Paul is doing the same thing here. A special guest will be arriving at the church in Rome and Paul is encouraging them ahead of time to treat her with special care.

Not only are they to treat her well, Paul wants the church to help her out in any way necessary—“and that you help her in whatever she may have need of you,…” (16:2b). Churches helping ministry partners has been a mainstay in the body of Christ ever since its inception in Acts 2. This is no different.

Showing Phoebe respect and providing for her needs ought to be easy when the church considers what kind of servant she herself proved to be. As Paul continues his reference he lists some of her credentials—“For she herself has also been a helper of many and of myself as well” (16:2b).

When people are asked for references for a job or, say, adoption, they are encouraged to seek out those people who know them well and can prove to be a good judge of their character as a result of having witnessed them in action (i.e. a former boss, colleague, manager, family friend, etc.). Paul is an appropriate reference for Phoebe’s positive character traits not only because he has witnessed her on many occasions helping others, but also because he has personally experienced her help as well.

The first shout-out that Paul provides is a personal reference for Phoebe—a proven servant of the Lord.  This is provided so that she might be welcomed and blessed upon arriving in Rome. 

2. SHOUT-OUT #2: An Appeal for Greetings-16:3-15

The next shout-out is really a list of smaller shout-outs provided in the form of multiple greetings (some 17 greetings in verses 3-15)! Though Paul often concludes his correspondences with greetings like this “nowhere else in Paul’s writings do we find such a lengthy list of personal greetings” (Mounce, Romans, 274). Some on this list are given more attention to others and we will follow suit.

Priscilla and Aquila are the first to be greeted—"Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house” (16:3-5a). Why are they mentioned first and given added attention?  These two ministered with Paul during his 18-month tenure in Corinth. Later, they left to help establish a church in Ephesus where Paul eventually rejoined them (see Acts 18:18; 1 Cor. 16:19). Paul says that they even, on one occasion, “risked their own necks” for him! This is probably a reference to a riot that occurred in Ephesus recorded in Acts 19. Paul had great affection for these two because of their shared ministry experiences and trials by fire. If Paul were handing out superlatives, these would be the most likely to be there for you. Not only did Paul want to especially greet them, he also desired to greet all who were associated with them—i.e. the church that met in their home.

Next, Paul says “greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia” (16:5b). Imagine carrying that title! Think of all the weird firsts that are celebrated today in comparison to this truly exciting and meaningful first. Paul celebrated people coming to know Christ and certainly the first Asian convert was something worthy of special mention.

After Epaenetus, Paul greets “Mary, who has worked hard for you” (16:6). So far Paul has celebrated those who were especially loyal and those who marked important firsts.  Now, Paul greets a hard worker. In fact, this is the third woman given special attention in this passage (and not the last) in light of special participation in the mission of God (in verse 12, Paul will greet Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis in light of their hard work). In this particular case, tales of Mary’s hard work for the church in Rome must have reached Paul who was a long ways off (remember, Paul had not had the time to visit Rome yet). Like Epaenetus who was known as the first convert in Asia, Mary was known for the acute effort that she leveraged for the ministry in Rome. What a thing to be known for!

Following the comments about Mary, Paul greets “Andronicus and Junias” whom he calls “my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me,…” (16:7). These two share a special relationship with Paul as he calls them “kinsmen” or “relatives” and “fellow prisoners.” Nothing like a little shared prison time for the cause of Christ to bring believers together! Not only had they become prison brothers, Paul says of these that their missionary and evangelistic service was notorious—“who are outstanding among the apostles” (16:7). This use of “apostle” does not mean that Paul is placing them on the same level of Peter, James, John, and himself. Instead, Paul is sticking to the more literal translation of the word—sent messenger—not the nuanced definition this term is given when applied to the twelve plus Paul. Paul reveals that these two were “in Christ before” him, meaning that they had become Christians at a time prior to Paul’s own conversion. Some have suggested that they must have been among the earliest Palestinian believers (Mounce, Romans, 276).

In addition to these special cases, Paul also greets several others in verses 8-15:

“Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.”

Within these ranks are “beloved” “fellow workers” “approved in Christ.” They are called “in the Lord” and some even “a choice man in the Lord.” Paul greets both men and women from different backgrounds and geographic locations who are in some way connected to the center of the world that is Rome. Not only that, but he also is sure to include “all the saints who are with them” in his greetings.

In this compendium of greetings, It is not sex or background that Paul commends as he surveys those around him; it is the selfless and persevering labor of all kinds of people, even in the midst of great struggle, that the apostle acknowledges. Loyalty, conversion, hard work, shared suffering, these are the superlative that Paul applauds. Can the same be said of the church today? Unfortunately,….no! Now, it is the size of a church, the money one brings in, or the impressive facilities that often get the most praise among church leadership. Paul understood what was most commendable—so should we.

3. SHOUT-OUT #3: A Warm Salutation-16:16

The final shout-out that Paul offers is a warm salutation. Really, Paul gives a shout out to the whole church in this last section of the passage when he says “greet one another with a holy kiss. All the church of Christ greet you,” (16:16). “The kiss was a common form of greeting in the ancient world generally and in Judaism in particular. It is referred to often in the New Testament, and by the second century, the Christian liturgy contained a ‘kiss of peace’ as a standard feature. We don’t know that this kiss was a part of worship services in Paul’s day. But if so, Paul probably envisages his letter being read aloud in a worship service, concluded with such a kiss” (Moo, ZIBBC, 93). A contemporary parallel to the type of activity that Paul encourages here is a “holy” handshake or side-hug. In essence, Paul exhorts the church to show brotherly affection to one another in a respectful and encouraging way. Such affection is refreshing and compatible with how many show and accept love. 

Paul concludes these shout-outs with “all the churches of Christ greet you” (16:16). This along with the apostle’s comments throughout this passage indicate a real team spirit in the early church. 

Churches are greeting church and church leaders are greeting and commending other church workers from various contexts and across geographical, gender, and socio-economic lines. There is a real unity that is demonstrated here that Paul exemplifies and that, as he called for earlier in this epistle, he hoped the church in Rome would endorse. This unity, support, and team-spirit would be necessary if the church was to be effective in the brave new world of the first century.

So What?

The same must be said of the church today. Do unity, support, and team spirit characterize the church of God? Are loyalty, life change, longevity, and love the values that we champion within the body of Christ? Or do we major on the minor, divide ourselves across unnecessary and unbiblical lines, and exalt measurable successes over faithfulness. If we sow more of the latter, we will reap disunity, a lack of involvement, and rampant individualism? Friends, the Holy Spirit revealed to Paul what kind of character the church needed in order to accomplish its mission in the brave new world they faced. In so doing he has provided appropriate applications for us to endorse today.