Epistles (written)

Friday, 7 February 2014

…that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Romans 16:2

Speaking of Phoebe from the previous verse, Paul continues his thought. He commended her to the Romans because she was a “servant of the church in Cenchrea.” Because of this he desired that they would “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints.” In Christ, the once-limiting or exalting distinctions of “Jew,” “Gentile,” “male,” and “female” are set aside and all are one in Him. Therefore, it was his desire that she be so noted and treated.

In addition to receiving her, he wished them to go even further and to “assist her in whatever business she has need of” from them. If this meant time, resources, or money then Paul would desire them to go to those lengths in order to accommodate her. It is certain that if men had been sent on this mission, they would have received such things and Paul was establishing now that the same courtesies should be extended to women. As Paul’s letters are doctrine for the church, this precedent is intended to be carried out in all subsequent generations.

Finally, he gives another reason for his request. It is because “indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.” The word here for “helper” is prostatis and it indicates a female guardian, protector, or patroness. This is an honorable title and so it is Paul’s way of saying she is deserving of their assistance because of the position. This word prostatis is used only here in the New Testament. The verb form of it is always used with some sort of leadership position and so modern and liberal scholars make the unfounded supposition that she was therefore in such a leadership position.

This is inappropriate handling of such a word because elsewhere Paul has stated that women are not to be in such positions of authority over men. Therefore the translation “helper” is certainly appropriate. To translate this as a “leader,” particularly in the context of Paul’s surrounding words, would lead to exceptional confusion in doctrine and disorder within the church. The title, as given here, means that she probably was one who greatly helped Paul and others by providing meals, lodging, etc. She was probably also one to visit the sick in the congregation and to help others at the expense of herself; a tireless servant of the Lord.

As she was probably a widow (as noted in the previous verse), she would be the ultimate example of one, such as is described in 1 Timothy 5:9, 10. Paul recognized her importance, used her in the significant cause of transmitting the epistle because of this, and desired others to recognize her and reward her as well.

Life application:
Stop. Ask yourself, “Have I been a tireless servant of the Lord? Have I used my time and energy in the most effective way in serving Him?”
Consider. What can you do to improve upon the negative answer you just gave to yourself?
Determine. Resolve to develop your service for the Lord.
Act. Put your resolution into action.
Honor. Don’t let your future service become a point of boasting. Instead, give God the glory for whatever you do in the name of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, today I want to consider what I have actually done for You with my life. What would You consider of value when I stand in Your presence for the judgment of my deeds? As I consider this, I know it hasn’t been very much and so I ask You now to redirect my thoughts and actions to Your glory and for the sake of the exalted name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thursday, 6 February 2014

I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea… Romans 16:1

The last chapter of Romans begins with Paul’s introduction of Phoebe, one of approximately 35 people that he will mention in the verses to come. His note, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister” is used as a way of highlighting her as a member of the church. Because she was travelling with the epistle, she was either specially chosen or volunteered for the duty. Thus she was a woman of note and so Paul includes the thought “I commend.” As a believer in Christ, she was thus to be treated in a worthy manner. In Galatians 3:28, we read that –

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Being a woman in the empire at this time and with a number of Jewish people in the church at Rome, without Paul’s commending her to them, it is possible that they would have treated her in a manner of less weight than she was so entitled. Based on her name, we know that she was a Gentile. And because she is traveling with the epistle, she was most likely a widow. Women who were never married, or who were currently married, would not be given such freedom to travel. Therefore, being a widow is an obvious conclusion.

Next Paul notes concerning her, that she “is a servant of the church.” The Greek word for “deaconess” is used here and so many try to interject that she was an instructor of the church or one who performed some type of ministerial function. It should be noted though that Scripture will never violate one of its own precepts. In 1 Timothy 2:12, it is explicitly noted that a woman is not to teach or have authority over a man. Therefore, any role she held would have been in a capacity which would not violate this precept. There would have been a specific order of women in the church for the service of other women.

As Albert Barnes notes concerning this, “Reference is made to a class of females whose duty it was to ‘teach’ other females, and to take the general superintendence of that part of the church, in various places in the New Testament; and their existence is expressly affirmed in early ecclesiastical history. They appear to have been commonly aged and experienced widows, sustaining fair reputation, and suited to guide and instruct those who were young and inexperienced.”

In this, there is nothing intended to diminish the value or importance of women, but there is – just as in the family unit, a hierarchy which has been established and which is intended for the overall good of those within it. This precept has been neglected in modern churches and doctrine has suffered because of it. When one precept is violated, it quickly leads to the violation of others.

Lastly, Paul notes that her position was at the “church in Cenchrea.” Cenchrea was a sea-port near Corinth and so it can be deduced that the epistle was probably written by Paul there in Corinth.

Life application: When evaluating Scripture, such as the verse today where Phoebe is called a “servant” or “deaconess,” the entire body of Scripture must be considered. Just because the title “deacon” is used in certain ways when speaking of others, it does not immediately mean that all people mentioned with that title bore the same level of authority or responsibility. Scripture will never violate Scripture. One must be careful when making assumptions to include a detailed analysis of everything the Bible intends for us to see.

Gracious and wonderful God! What an honor it is to know that You who set the stars in their places and who started them into motion also have care for me. Surely this is true because You sent Jesus for humanity, of whom I am counted. And so I know that even I am considered in Your mind. It is a truly humbling thought as I look to the vast sky which is filled with an uncountable number of stars. Amen.

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

…that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Romans 15:32

Taking the entire thought of verses 30-32 together we find the necessary context for this verse –

“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,  that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.”

The “prayers to God” for Paul were requested in the immediate sense that he would be “delivered from those in Judea” and also that his service to the saints in Jerusalem might be acceptable. If those two things occurred, he was certain that in the long term he would be free to go to Rome and meet with the saints there “with joy by the will of God.”

These things in fact happened. He was delivered from those in Judea. The account in Acts is an amazing read. His life was threatened several times, almost coming to bodily harm. There was a plot to have him assassinated. He was imprisoned and spoke before rulers and even a king. But he was delivered, albeit in chains as a prisoner, from those in Judea. In those chains, he was taken to Rome to face trial before Caesar. Certainly none of this was expected, but “the will of God” was realized.

The book of Acts ends with the note that, “Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,  preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” Acts 28:30, 31

Though bound under house arrest, he was “refreshed together” with those in Rome. The anticipated and prayed-for meeting did come about and God’s will was realized.

Life application: He is there… God is there even when it seems He is far distant. Because God is Spirit, we don’t see Him and we often wonder about the events which happen around us. But if we truly live in the Spirit, remain obedient through the trials, and keep our thoughts and eyes fixed on Jesus, we can always have the certainty that everything is as it should be.

Heavenly Father, Your word says that no man has seen You or can see You. But I know my faith isn’t tied up in a fable. You truly are a very present help in times of trouble. When things are looking bad, I only need to think of what You did for me at Calvary. Jesus prevailed over that trial and so whatever I face now will be defeated and forgotten. The light affliction of the moment is working a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Hallelujah and Amen!

Monday, 3 February 2014

…that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,… Romans 15:31

Paul just previously stated, “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me…” This then sets up what continues in verse 31. He is asking for these prayers so that he “may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe.”

Before being called by Christ, he was a persecutor of the church. He was given letters to arrest those who followed in this new faith and he was even in attendance at the stoning of Stephen, Christianity’s first recorded martyr. His standing in Judaism was well known and he was a Pharisee who had progressed beyond many around him. But with his conversion, all of that was over. Those Jews whom he once fellowshipped with would have considered him an apostate from the faith and would certainly intend him harm.

This is one reason he requested such fervent prayer. Along with this, even the believing Jews may have considered Paul a rogue. He was out ministering to the gentiles and in Acts 21:20-25 rumors had spread that he was teaching “all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.” (Acts 21:21)

Because of this, even those Jews who had accepted Christ were most assuredly wary of him. In order to alleviate such concerns, he had taken a vow under the Old Testament Nazirite system and was intending to complete the customs associated with that vow when he arrived in Jerusalem. This would help to dispel the notion that he had rejected his Jewish roots or that he would speak contrary to the customs of the Jewish people.

But in this verse, along with what has been noted so far, is another reason for his requesting of prayers. It is that “my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.” Because Paul was chosen as the “apostle to the gentiles,” and because he had been slandered among his people, the saints in Jerusalem might very well not accept his offering to them. He also might not be sure if they would consider charity from the gentiles as an acceptable means of support. Further, even if they accepted what gentiles offered, they may not receive it because of Paul’s position. These things probably weighed heavy on him as he prepared to depart for Jerusalem.

It should be noted that even today, 2000 years later, old habits die hard. Within the body are many who are “weak in the faith” because of a lack of proper upbringing in Christ, or because they carried a lot of baggage along when they came to Christ. All people are at different levels of maturity and all people are prone to different types of failings. Because of this, what may be perfectly acceptable to one, may be shunned by another. We need to be empathic with those who have limitations which differ from us.

Life application: When facing a coming challenge of whatever sort, it is always best to precede meeting that challenge with prayer. Depending on the weight of what lies ahead, it may even be good to reach out to others for their prayer as well. Paul’s letters show us that this is the preferred method of handling such things.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for those around me who remember me in prayer during my times of need. And I thank you that I can be there for them during their tough spots as well. You have given us each other to build up and support one another. What a great encouragement and comfort that is. The world is a tough place, but with You among us as we petition You for help, we can make it through any trial. Thank You Lord. Amen.