Romans – A Treatise
Chapter Sixteen
OBEDIENCE – THE MARK OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN
Scripture Reading: verses 19-22
After Romans 16:19 and 20, Paul shares with the Lord’s people in Rome further salutations from various brethren who were with him. In verse 21 Paul writes: “Timothy my fellow-worker saluteth you; and Lucian and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.”
This and the next two verses contain the greetings sent by Paul’s kinsfolk, his other fellow-workers, their host, and Paul’s amanuensis, there being no less than eight of these. Of course, Timothy was usually with the apostle when circumstances permitted it, and a great affection existed between them. Two of Paul’s epistles were addressed to him, and his name must be hailed as among the most illustrious in the Bible.
The last three names in this verse are those of Paul’s kin, of whom practically nothing is known. Regarding these three, it is possible that Lucius may be the one mentioned in Acts 13:1. Jason was once Paul’s host (Acts 17:5-9) in Thessalonica. “Sosipater” may be the longer form of “Sopater” mentioned in Acts 20:4.
The objection of some commentators to Paul not mentioning all of his kinsfolk in the same sentence is nullified by the fact that these three were not in Rome, but in Corinth with Paul, and were joined with Paul in sending greetings to others, including three more of the kinsfolk who were in Rome. If this elaboration of the point seems overdone, it is to refute the insinuations which fail to take this into account.
Interestingly enough, the person who actually did the writing of the Epistle at Paul’s dictation is included in verse 22. His name is Tertius. “I Tertius, who write the epistle, salute you in the Lord.”
Tertius means “third,” many Roman names having been formed from the ordinal numbers, such as Primus, Segundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus, Septimus, Octavius, etc. This Tertius was the person who transcribed Paul’s dictation, the usual manner of Paul’s writing. He customarily wrote a few lines at the end of his epistles with his own hand as a kind of signature. However, Galatians was written entirely by himself as he said: “Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand” (Gal. 6:11). In order to authenticate his epistles, Paul generally wrote the salutation or benediction at the close; 1 Corinthians 16:21, “The salutation of me, Paul, with mine own hand;” 2 Thessalonians 3:17, “The salutation of Paul with mine own hand; which is the token in every epistle: so I write.”
Tertius was a Christian, and Paul honored him by asking that he write his own salutation to the brethren in Rome, which he did in these few words. Some have wondered at Tertius’ greeting coming so far from the end of the letter; but such may be easily explained, either on the probability that Paul wrote the rest of the epistle himself with his own hand, or that there was a pause or break in the dictation at this point where the personal greetings were being included, before Paul proceeded to dictate the magnificent final doxology. Tertius’ greeting belongs here where it was placed; and the custom of modern secretaries who type their initials at the very bottom of business letters does not reflect against the logic and appropriateness of the placement of Tertius’ salutation.
Verse 23: “Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartus the brother.” This Gaius is doubtless that Gaius whom Paul baptized with his own hands (1 Cor. 1:14), and in whose house he was a guest when Romans was written. Gaius appears here as a man of considerable means and great hospitality, being called a “host of the whole church.” This could be understood to mean that his doors were continually open to Christians from many places, or that the congregation actually met in his house, as the church met in the house of Prisca and Aquila; and it could quite easily mean both these things. Gaius evidently requested Paul to include his greetings to the Roman Christians, some of whom, perhaps, had been partakers of his hospitality.
Erastus was the treasurer of the city of Corinth, being therefore a man of consequence and power in that metropolis. Not many of his station in life accepted and obeyed the Gospel; but it is refreshing to know that Erastus was an exception. A person, or persons, bearing this name were mentioned in Acts 19:22 and 2 Timothy 4:20; but there is no certainty, either that those references are to the same person, or that either of them refers to the treasurer of Corinth.
“Quartus the brother” is here mentioned alongside the treasurer of the city, and with the same dignity and tenderness. The community of love in Christ was actually operating under a whole new set of value judgments which counted all people, rich and poor, weak and powerful, wise and foolish, learned or unlearned, bond or free, Jews or Gentile – all people one in Jesus Christ.
Paul commends these saints of God in Rome because of their obedience. This is perhaps one of the highest commendations for any Christian. No doubt, most of the trouble that has arisen in the past and which continues to arise within the religious world has its origin in disobedience. God has put a remarkable Book in our hands. It is called the Holy Scriptures – the Bible. In it He has given us a detailed outline of what we should do and how we should behave if we profess the Name of Christ. In these days, there is a tendency to overemphasize the standing of a believer, while saying little or nothing about his state. They are corresponding truths in God’s Word. Our standing as an obedient believer before God is perfect and complete only in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the work of the Lord on Calvary’s Cross, redemption has been accomplished and we who were at a distance from God have been reconciled to Him through the death of His Son. We are accepted in the beloved One. The best robe of heaven has been placed on us and we stand arrayed in the acceptability of Christ. That is our standing – “As He is so are we in this world.” God sees us in Him; He is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. “He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might become God’s righteousness in Him.” All that relates to our standing before God and it is perfect and complete.
However, the commensurate truth has to do with our state. If the righteousness of God in Christ is a perfect righteousness, and gives us a perfect right to stand in God’s presence justified from all things, so the principle of righteousness should be the regulating principle of our lives as Christians. But, unless we display before men that we are righteous, we cannot boast about our perfect standing before God through the work of Christ on the Cross. The one is standing and the other is state, and they should correspond. If a person claims to be saved by God’s grace and continues in sin, living a life of ungodliness, his claim is false, and the sooner he wakes up to the peril of his false profession the better. There is nothing in the Bible, as far as we can see, that would justify anyone claiming to be eternally secure and yet continuing in sin. One is a contradiction of the other; the fact that one continues in sin demonstrates disobedience. Only a contrite heart, producing real repentance, can restore such a one.
However, these brethren at Rome were obedient. That is the real test of our profession. The mark of true children of God is that they are obedient to God’s Word. Of course, none of us can live perfect lives; never committing a single sin. Without a doubt, we are all sinners; but the general tenor of our lives should be obedience of God’s Holy Word and not disobedience. God has given us a conscience; He has given us His a written Word in order that we would be able to understand if we are obedient or disobedient. But there was something further regarding these brethren at Rome. Although they were willingly obedient to the Word of God, still the fact remained that they were not wary; they were too simple. They were being imposed on by self-seeking brethren, and Paul was warning them concerning this. He says, “I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” It is a fact that the people of God are often easily deceived, and God’s people must be warned against evildoers.
In verse 20 Paul comes back to an expression which he has used several times throughout this Epistle, “The God of Peace.” He says, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” This is, of course, a symbolic expression meaning that the time is coming when the Lord’s people will be exalted above the power of Satan, and evil will be subjugated under their feet. The Lord’s people live in the light of the blessed hope. Soon the Lord Jesus is going to return. Scripture says, “He must reign until His enemies are made the footstool of His feet.” In that day His beloved people will be in association with Him in a place of exaltation. Notice the word “shortly,” as if Paul would enjoin on us not to be too impatient regarding the power of evil. At this moment, Satan is on probation. The real power of the universe belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, but this is the day of His grace. Now He is calling men out of darkness into His marvelous light, and until the day of grace is over, the probationary period of Satan’s activities will go on. A day will soon come when, instead of being trodden down by the power of evil we will be exalted above it, and God has promised that Satan will be bruised under our feet.
Notice again it is the “God of Peace” who is going to do this. We are not going to launch forth into a long campaign against our adversary, the devil. The campaign has already been fought and won at Calvary. The Lord Jesus Christ is the triumphant Victor; the horse and his rider have been thrown into the sea. He has triumphed gloriously. Now peace has been made, the throne of God is established forever, and He is the God of Peace. The overcoming of Satan will be a mere gesture of His power – the power established when He raised Christ from among the dead and set Him at His right hand. What a privilege it is to be a Christian; to know the time will soon come when we shall be arrayed in beauty and glory by the side of the Lord of the universe.
Joseph brought his brethren into the land of Egypt so they might behold his glory; so they might share in that glory by being near to his heart. In like manner, there is a day coming when we shall behold the glory of our Lord exalted in the universe, and we shall be near to His heart, sharing in the administration of His goodness. So, in verse 24 Paul says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” There is no need to be impatient because of the power of evil, and even as we see the enemy’s depredations among the saints of God, i.e., divisions and stumbling blocks being put in the way of God’s people, we need not get excited or be impatient because the God of Peace is going to bruise Satan under our feet shortly. May we come to realize that we are on the Victor’s side. To not know Christ as Savior is to be on the losing side. Each of us must make a choice: either accept Jesus as Lord and obey His Gospel, or be assigned to a place prepared for the devil and his angels. The clarion call of the Gospel is urgent. Obey it now.
