Behind The Curtain - Romans 16:21-24

Scripture

• Romans 16:21–24

About this sermon

Introduction: I love history. And because I love history, I love to think about what life was like during the many different eras that preceded our own. I enjoy looking at early paintings or photographs that help us understand what normal every day life was like in previous ages. In terms of photographs, we cannot even go back far. The oldest surviving photograph was taken in 1826 or 1827. The oldest selfie was taken in 1839. Photographs will not take us back even 200 years. So, what we have are the accounts from history, paintings, statues, carvings, and our imaginations. I guess this is something strange about me, but when I think of wishing I could spend a day in some ancient civilization, I do not think so much about dropping in some high point in history, some famous setting. I like to think about the average, every day, experience of the average person who lived at that time. What was that like? Well, the verses we come to tonight represent something like that. In fact, this entire chapter represents a very unique look back into the world of the 1st century church. James Montgomery Boice – “What is said, though brief, is one of the most remarkable pictures of Christian life and fellowship from the ancient world or, for that matter, from all history or literature.” That is true. We see this as we now look at the second list in Romans 16. As we look at this list, we get a glimpse behind the curtain, so to speak. We get a glimpse of something of the camaraderie, the fellowship, the interest in ministry, and the various roles and abilities, that existed among Paul’s companions. • THE SETTING Most believe that Romans was probably written when Paul was in Corinth. There he stopped before he would eventually make his way to Jerusalem. If you look for a corresponding section in the book of Acts, it would be the first part of Acts 20. Following the uproar in Ephesus, Paul spent some time in Macedonia, and then Greece, before some further travels that eventually lead to Jerusalem. We learn from this list that Paul is making use of a secretary. His name is Tertius. And, because Romans is a long letter, it is likely that Paul has dictated this over a period of days. He is now bringing this letter to a close, and as he does, there are other people who are with him and who want to send their greetings to the church at Rome. The way that this is worded, especially the breaking in of the greeting from Tertius, it gives the feeling that those who are mentioned are in the room with him as this letter finishes.