Greet those who.
Now, this narcissist, he's not the narcissist from Greek mythology that saw his reflection and fell in love with himself. We have a lot of people today that don't have to see their reflection, and they are in love with themselves. And the internet has just taken this to shames narcissists, he'd be jealous. Don't overstate yourself. That humility should Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will lift you up.
in due time, which is Greek for, or when he's good and ready. This is Cross-Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Romans. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching.
And now, here's Pastor Rick in the book of Romans, chapter 16, with his conclusion of the study of this book and his message called Church People. churches, church buildings are a step forward. And the church always met. and assembled Uh in houses. Usually, of the wealthy who had large enough rooms or square to do it, they were always open to the public unless they had to go underground.
That means the persecution was so heavy they had to meet in secret.
So, the wealthier members of churches were the ones that usually had large enough. homes to accommodate an assembly of people. Greet, he continues here in verse five, greet my beloved Eponetus. who is the first fruits of acacia to Christ.
Now, none of the names that he's going to rattle off other than Rufus are found elsewhere in Scripture, but Acacia. Is uh Corinth, that area where Corinth and Cancrea is.
Now we have a problem here, though. Because some of you are using Well, let me put it back up a little bit. Your New Testament essentially comes from two sources. The original manuscripts are long gone. The ink would not have been preserved.
So, what they did is they made copies of the original, and we call them manuscripts. And we have two sources primarily, and I'm boiling this down. You have your Egyptian source and you have a Syrian source.
Well, the Syrian source is where most of the manuscripts. have been preserved from. There are hundreds into the thousands of fragments and whole Bible books of the New Testament. We're only talking about New Testament at this time. Those are the most reliable.
But scholarship Won't allow that. It goes back to Nestle Land, other scholars, who, when an archaeologist named Tischendorf, Found these manuscripts in our Monastery ready to be burned. He recognized them as manuscripts. He said, Save those. And they became largely a part of that Egyptian source.
that we have for our New Testament. The only thing it has given to us is confusion and doubt. Those Egyptian source materials have added nothing to the church. It's very easy to prove this. And why so many scholars back it up?
Because those manuscripts are older, they must be better. That's not true. The younger ones are better because and more because they were so good. They kept them in circulation. They kept copying them.
So you only have 100 or so from Egypt, but you've got, again, Thousands. uh of fragments and whole books From the Syrian source.
So that brings us to the modern translations that you have of your New Testament: your American Standard Version, your New American Standard Version, your English Standard Version, your NIVs. All of these are using that Egyptian source material mainly. It also has some other ones like the Latin Vulgate, which brings us to this verse.
So Jerome, who was a scholar, He decided, rightfully so, that he was going to translate. the Greek New Testament into Latin. The common language of the of the Latin. Uh the the Vulgate.
So when he gets to this verse. He gets confused. He doesn't admit that. And I can't tell him because he's been dead for over a thousand years. But What he says is, well.
Eponidus Is said here to be the first fruits of Acacia, but in 1 Corinthians 16, Stephanus is said to be the first fruits of Acacia. And in his mind he's saying, well, they both can't be.
Well he's wrong. There's no reason to this this Roman letter was written years after the Corinthian letter. Eponetus was probably in Rome, just like Aquila and Priscilla were in Ephesus and Corinth and all over the place. And Paul probably met Eponetus. in some other location.
And so for Jerome to take the liberty to assume, oh, this can't be Acacia, this must be Asia. That sort of Translation license interpretive translation is unacceptable. 'Cause it's a theory.
Now translators from time to time have to use Interpretive license because things are not clear in a particular verse or word, but the context gives them the foundation to do that. He has no foundation here. And I point all of this out because some of you are still using the N SAB and the NIVs and such like that. And it won't affect your your You'll gossip the gospel.
So, you know, it's still an acceptable document, and sometimes. The translations are superior. But the source is foul.
So, I only point that out so that you'll know if you come to this verse and it says Asia, but I'm reading Acacia. I'm right and you're wrong. One more thing. About these source materials. If you go to, don't go now, I'll go there for you.
If Mark's gospel, and this is what I meant, chapter 16, when I said it has not added anything to Christianity. Using these uh manuscripts that have come to us From the Egyptian source. When you get to chapter 16, Their manuscripts end the Gospel of Mark at verse 8 hour verse 8. And the last word, the last characterization of the apostles they stick us with. is fear.
And they said, For they were afraid. And then they say, anything after that, somebody else added. Which makes you now doubt your New Testament. But what else have they done to the New Testament? But they didn't add that.
Actually, those in the Egyptian area took it out, lost it in some way. How careless of them. From nine forward, we get such things as go into all the world and preach the gospel. We have found other documents older than the Egyptian manuscripts that have quoted these verses from Mark. Sixteen.
Forward of verse 9. And so you have a little footnote. Other manuscripts have added this. No, they haven't. You've taken it out.
All right, so we finished that up, and I really enjoyed that, I have to tell you, because you know, as a Christian, when I came to Christianity and I began to study these things, wait a minute. Who who would add this? That's corrupt. You can't do that. And then I found out, oh, there's another side of scholarship that doesn't belong to the side that promotes the Egyptian source, that promotes, they promote the majority text.
From Syria. And their reasons make a lot more sense in the end.
Okay.
Well, I've taken enough time on that. It is typical of scholars to pull stunts. Jerome pulled one here. And again, He's wrong. Verse And with great satisfact, too much satisfaction, I say that.
I don't want to be, you know, I don't want God to get me. I don't care what you think. I don't want God to get me. Verse 6. Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
Say hello to Miriam. Let's see, the original has Miriam.
Well, Mary is a derivative of Miriam. that Old Testament heroine from the book, you know, Moses' sister. A lot of the Jewish women in particular would name their daughters Miriam And when they were Hellenized or part of you know the Greek Culture got in there. Mary was what they would go with. And that's what you've got.
So many of them in the New Testament. Anyway. He says to greet Mary, she labored much for us. The word labor is better translated. toiled.
and elsewhere it is translated. Ma uh Luke's Gospel chapter five, same. Greek word. This is when the apostles were fishing, and Jesus shows up on the shore and he says, Throw your net on the other side.
Well, Peter. Thank you. Peter steps up. Master, we have told you. coiled Same Greek word, all night and caught nothing.
hauling in those nets back and forth. That's gonna that's toil. Nevertheless, at your word, I will let down the net. And I wanted to keep that part in there because it shows Peter. Bullheaded as he was.
Yeah. Still submitted to the Lord. They'ren't that bullheaded. And we read in 2 Thessalonians about. toiling, but Nothing to do with the word itself, just the action.
Paul writes, But as for you, brethren, Do not grow weary in doing good.
Now remember, if the Bible tells you do not grow weary, it's because the work is wearisome. You say I'm oh man, I'm on the ushers list, I don't I'm tired. Weary in the work, don't get weary of the work, as D.L. Moody was noted for saying. Verse 7: Andronicus and Junea, my countrymen and fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who are also.
or who also were In Christ before me. They're probably older than Paul. Likely a married couple. The name Junia is a unisex name.
However, Other ancient documents outside of scripture use the construction of her name of Juneau. Always in the feminine.
So this is a woman. And probably the wife of Andronicus, and that's why he couples them together. When he says, My countrymen, fellow Jews at the least, possibly Benjamites, but not kinship. And I point these things out because I read what others write, and you have studied Bibles, and I know where they get their information and what they do with it. I don't agree with them a lot of times, and I hope I can always back up why I don't agree with them.
I don't think there's any license to say, well, these were family members of Paul. He would have said, my nephew, my niece, my uncle, etc., as he did in Acts chapter. I think it's. It's one of those chapters in Acts. and my fellow prisoners.
The Greek word fellow prisoners, co-captives. I mentioned to you that there were more things that happened to Paul than we know about. Again, 2 Corinthians 11. In prisons more frequently.
So there's a reference to jail time at some persecution. And at some point, these two minister h to him or Shared a cell with him. That wasn't uncommon when he writes the Hebrews. Letter he says to them, You had compassion on me in my chains. Joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods.
In other words, When I was persecuted as a Christian, you were persecuted as a Christian, and you still weren't ashamed of me. You ministered to me.
So we knew a lot of this was going on. Just because we don't have it documented as we do other things doesn't mean it wasn't. all over the place. He says, who are of note amongst the apostles? The apostles knew them.
That's what he's saying. The apostles not only knew them, but admired them.
Some will get into, well, we don't know if they were, they weren't apostles of Jesus Christ. There were only 13 men in your New Testament. that are singled out Personally, by Jesus Christ, and appointed to the office. Even Matthias was not singled out by Christ. The apostles came up with that.
They cast lots to do that. They never we have we never read of them casting lots again. That's like sort of pick a straw, roll the dice, kind of a Way to get to the heads of tails. Uh It it you know, it put God in a difficult position. In the sense that, well, what's he supposed to do now?
Say, Matthias, you're, you know. Unserviceable, I'm not using you. No, he wasn't going to do that because Matthias was a great Christian.
So he honored There. Guffoonery. Goof goofy and buffoonery in the same word. And so Matthias became an apostle. but he was not ever singled out as the other thirteen were.
Paul was. Even Barnabas was not singled out. Oh, nor James, the brother, the half-brother of Christ.
Well, anyway, they suffered persecution. who were also in Christ before me. They were very possibly saved at Pentecost. or by other Jews from Pentecost, They were believers for at least 25 years. They were veterans.
Verse 18, greet Amplias, my Beloved in the Lord. Verse nine, greet you Urbanus. Our fellow worker in Christ, and stay kissed, my beloved.
Now we have to pause here, even though 10:11. 9, 10, 11 go together, we have to pause here. The term of endearment My where he says Amplius My beloved verse Eight. Amplius, Urbanus, Stacus, and Apelles were common slave names. We know that because we have other materials.
Outside of the scripture, That list slaves, and these were common names, which may indicate that they were slaves. There are slaves in this church. Verse 10, greeting. Apelles, approved in Christ. That's what I want to be, approved unto God.
Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus, verse 11. Greethrion, my countrymen, greet those who are of the household of Narcissus. who are in the Lord.
Now we take 10 and 11 together. Approved means faith in action. In verse 11, Herodian. I don't know if I pronounced it, I may have mispronounced it when I said it in a minute. It's Herodian.
Uh the name means heroic. And it has nothing to do with it except that I just like that. for imagine that that were my name. I wouldn't want to be called Herodian, but I'd like to be called heroic. I'm not there yet.
But I'll let you know. because I'm humble enough to be able to suppress it until it happens. There's no confirmation that he was related to the Herods, the butcher Herods of Jerusalem. That's speculation. It was not that uncommon of a name.
But in verses 10 and 11, We have another insertion by the translators, and it is an honest and it's a good one, but we need comment on it. He says The household of Aristobulus, the household of Narcissist.
Well, that word's not there in the Greek, and that's why it's italicized. In your New Testament, to say that translators have put this there because it flows more naturally and it does not lose the meaning.
Well, that's right, but here's the issue. What he said is, greet those who are of Aristobulus, who are of narcissists. Meaning, he's not saying, greet Aristobulus, greet narcissist. He's not saying that. He's saying greet those in their house.
may be family members, may be slaves, maybe both. But he's bypassing those two guys. which would tell us. They weren't saved, but people in their household were. And even if not saved, they were allowing people in their house.
to be Christians.
So as a positive Outcome. My countrymen, again, Jews or Benjamites. Greet those who.
Now, this narcissist, he's not the narcissist from Greek mythology that saw his reflection and fell in love with himself. We have a lot of people today that don't have to see their reflection and they are in love with themselves. And the internet has just taken this to shames narcissists, he'd be jealous. Don't overstate yourself. That humility should Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
in due time, which is Greek for or when he's good and ready. who are in the Lord.
Again, the slaves that were believers and possibly family members. Verse: Paul incidentally restricted this type of greeting to these two men. Everybody else is treated as though. They're sure Christians. Verse 12.
Greek Trifina and Trifosa. who have labored in the Lord greet The beloved Persis who labored much in the Lord.
Well, these two are likely twin sisters, Trifina and Trifosa. The name means delicate and dainty. One is named Delate, the other is named Dainty. That's all we know. They're all feminine names.
But there's more to this. He says. Who have labored in the Lord.
Well, labor here in the Greek, I'm told by those who know these things. is present tense. But When he says greet. The beloved person Persis A lady, it's a feminine name. He says who laboured Past tense.
In the Lord. Yeah, so I'm having some problems with the translators, but They're fine. They're off doing what they're doing. Anyway, this indicates that Perseus was likely. Elderly Christian who once served, but now was not able to serve anymore.
But Trifina and Trifosa, they were still serving. In the Lord. Well, verse 13: greet Rufus. Chosen in the Lord, and his mother, and mine.
Now, Rufus, the son of Simon. The Cyrenian who bore the cross for Christ. Mark 1521. And they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus. As he was coming out of the country and passing by to bear his cross.
So this chosen in the Lord singles him out. From all the other names that he's saying there.
Well, God doesn't choose who's going to be saved, he chooses those who choose to respond. to the plan of salvation. We're not Calvinists here. If you're a Calvinist and you're not comfortable here, then you should be going to a Calvinistic church. But I'm in no way, I disagree with all five of their points and a bunch of other side points with them.
I don't mean any disrespect, but I dislike their doctrine. And and that's just how it is. And they they say the same thing about mine. But I'm accustomed to people being wrong when it comes to these things. Anyway, I know they're all up in arms over that, but you know.
Get yourself a church, you can say that about me. and his mother and mine.
Well, I'm not debating Rufus. I've already singled it and pointed out. why he's singled out as a little different from everybody else. Because of his father.
Well, this would be Simon the Cyrenian's mother. that Paul is not naming but referencing the wife of Simon. Paul has embraced her as her own.
Some scholars like to debate: well, is Paul talking about his mother too? Greet your mother and also my mother.
Well, come on. If I wrote a letter like this and I left my mother's name out. She punched me in the nose. I mean, it's you know, I don't I don't buy it. I think that what this means is what I what is the first impression.
That uh Polar had endeared himself to the mother of Rufus. and sort of adopted her as his mother. Do you see why this is such an easy section to love? Because there's nothing but love coming off these pages. Even the two Characters, Aristobulus and Narcissus.
that they allowed those of their household to worship. Very promising. Verse 14. Greet a syncretus. Fledge on.
Hermas, Petrobus, Hermes And the brethren who with them, verse fifteen. Greek phylologus, which means talkative. And Julia Nirus and his sister, and Olympus, and all the saints who are with them.
Well Phyla logos, the word phyla uh phyla like phileo And logos, word, love the word, but in the Greek, when the way it's structured and spelled, it's talkative. He and Julia were likely husband and wife, but Nerus. And his sister likely their children. And so that's you know, it could be that Nerus was not the Child of Pala Logos and Julia. A separate group doesn't matter, you can go either way with that, and it's just still.
sense the warmth. And all the saints who are with them.
Well, we don't know how many that makes, but. We know that the cohesion of the Roman church was so solid That a first reading of this sixteenth chapter, you might not catch. that there might have been three assemblies there. Because it's just so United as one. That's called seamless ministry.
You can't find where one begins and the other one ends. And one other note: Rome was a big city, so you just couldn't. Just catch the public transportation to the other you couldn't Uber to the other side of of Rome. It'd be nicer if you, and houses wouldn't accommodate. Verse 16: Greet one another with a holy kiss, the churches of Christ greet you.
So, many of these people in this church were outcasts. for following Christ. Jew and Gentile alike. But when they found Christ, they found new family and new friends. And over almost 40 years as a Christian, When approaching it.
Um I've met so many Christians. That were detached from their families. But the church was their family. And they loved it. This is my family.
These are my friends. They embraced it. They are sure they would have liked to have a better relationship. with blood relatives, but it didn't work out that way.
Well, this is a culturally adjustable thing. We're not commanded to. kiss each other. Paul would have been arrested for saying this during COVID.
So The commandment is about kindness. Not so much to kiss. If the kiss were so Wonderful a thing than Judas. Would not have used it. Luke 22.
But Jesus said to him, Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? You're kidding me, right? Of all the gestures you could have used, you chose that one.
Well, once Paul, this Paul, he hated Christians. And now he look he loves them. And so we close with this. If anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation. Old things have passed away.
All things become new. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for joining us for today's teaching on Cross Reference Radio. This is the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Virginia.
We're currently going through the book of Romans. If you're in need of hearing this message again or want to listen to others like it, head over to crossreferenceradio.com. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast too, so you'll never miss another edition. Just go to your favorite podcast app to subscribe. On our website, you'll be able to learn a little more about the ministry of Cross-Reference Radio, so make a note of it, crossreferenceradio.com.
That's all we have time for today, but thanks so much for listening. Pastor Rick will be back next time in the book of Romans here on Cross Reference Radio. Uh
