The End of Romans
Thinking about Romans 16:21-27.
Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (Romans 16:21-27)
As the letter to Romans concludes, we have greetings from Paul’s companions at the time the letter was written, as well as a final word of praise to God for who He is and what He has done through Jesus Christ.
Greetings from Paul’s Companions.
When Paul traveled, he usually didn’t travel alone. As his letter to the churches in Rome closes, greetings are mentioned from Paul’s current traveling companions.
Timothy. One of Paul’s most trusted friends to whom he wrote 1 and 2 Timothy. Timothy was like a son to Paul (1 Corinthians 4:17). Timothy was closely involved in helping Paul take the gospel to the lost, and is called Paul’s “fellow worker.”
Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater. Paul referring to these three men as his “countrymen” probably means they were Jewish. There is no way to know for certain who these men are, but a man named “Lucius” appears in Acts 13:1 and is one of the teachers in Antioch. A Christian named “Jason” allowed Paul to stay in his house in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9). There was also a Christian named “Sopater” from Berea mentioned in Acts 20:4. Perhaps these are references to the same men, perhaps not.
Tertius. This man was Paul’s scribe or “amanuensis” who wrote down the words of the letter to the Romans. A letter like this would usually be dictated to someone who wrote it down - and Tertius was that “someone” for Paul, at least for this letter.
Gaius. Paul stayed in the house of Gaius at least some while in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14), and Gaius’ house had enough room to “host” the whole church in Corinth. He probably provided space in his home for the church to meet and was also hospitable to traveling Christians.
Erastus. Erastus was the city treasurer of Corinth and is mentioned two other times (2 Timothy 4:20; Acts 19:22). “Such officials were often former slaves, and many were very wealthy” (Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 603).
Quartus. We know nothing about Quartus except that he was “a brother.” Some think Erastus and Quartus were brothers.
These companions of Paul, and Paul himself, extend final greetings and wishes for God’s grace to be upon the Christians in Rome.
A Final Word of Praise and Glory to God.
Paul prayed the Christians in Rome would be established (firmly committed) according to the “good news” proclaimed by Paul - the “preaching of Jesus Christ.”
This “good news” had not been fully revealed when the world began, but now it had been fully revealed and made known to all people “by the prophetic Scriptures…according to the commandment of the everlasting God.” And this “good news” proclaimed at God’s command was meant to be obeyed - “for obedience to the faith.”
All of this was not for Paul’s glory or anyone else's glory. Praise, glory and obedience were due “to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”
All that God has done is according to His plan and is accomplished through His Son. We are called to respond with obedience “to the faith.” In this, God’s wisdom is exalted and He is glorified through Jesus Christ forever (Ephesians 3).
What a glorious, humbling end to the letter of Romans!
So beautiful and clear and uplifting. All glory to God.