Study 27 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 16:1-16
1. What may we learn about Phoebe
from her name and the place where she lived (see Note 1); from the description
of her as ‘sister’ and ‘deaconess of the church’, and from the service which
she rendered? What did Paul ask for her from the Christians at Rome
2. Looking down the list of names,
note the references to (a) diligent service; (b) sufferings borne for Christ;
and (c) Christian character. Cf. 2 Cor.
5:9, 10.
3. How often do you find the
phrase ‘in the Lord’ or ‘in Christ Jesus’ or ‘in Christ’? Notice also the
different connections in which it is used. What significance do you attach to
the phrase?
Notes
1. Verse 1. The name Phoebe, being
that of a goddess, suggests that Phoebe had a heathen background. But now she is a sister in the Lord, one of
the household of faith. Cenchreae, the
eastern port of Corinth
2. Verse 7. ‘My kinsmen’: this
probably means ‘fellow countrymen’, fellow prisoners’; they may at the time
have been imprisoned with Paul because of the gospel.
3. Verse 13. Rufus, possibly the same as in Mk. 15:21.
