Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Joe on Romans 16 - 3 years ago
    Although I have read this chapter numerous times, I do not understand it. Paul says "greet ... and salute ... about various people.

    Where were these people physically located? In or around Corinth?

    vs 3: "Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:" makes it seem as if Priscilla & Aquila were actually going to Rome, along with Phebe, to deliver the letter.

    Or, as if the Romans had come to Corinth and are being introduced by Paul to the Corinthians.
  • Chris - In Reply on Romans 16 - 3 years ago
    Joe, we don't get the full picture of people or events in Scripture, so one can only try & put the pieces together to gain some understanding. Paul had never been to Rome - actually he was anxious to visit them & so wrote this letter, Romans, (his steno being Tertius, as we understand that Paul had some vision problem: Gal 6:11), to prepare for that visit. So, he wrote this letter from Corinth & from there went to Jerusalem to deliver the money he was collecting from Corinth for the poor in Jerusalem. Then after doing that, his intention was to visit Rome & go onto Spain (15:24). All these plans fell apart as he was arrested in Jerusalem & eventually taken to Rome as a prisoner.

    So all these people that he mentions in Romans chap 16 who belonged or associated to a Church he never visited has perplexed us. Paul also gives similar greetings to the Church at Colosse ( Colossians 4:7 ff), a Church he also never visited. But we think that those people that he mentioned in Romans were those he had met & acquainted with in his travels or at least heard specifically of them through others & remembered them in his prayers: hence naming them specifically.

    Priscilla & Aquila were known to Paul ( Acts 18:1-3 & 18-21) when he left them at Ephesus while he went on to Caesarea. So in their travels, they must have been in Rome ministering there at this time of the epistle.

    With Phebe, I don't think she travelled with Paul as all his travel plans were changed after his arrest, but was probably charged to carry this epistle to the Roman Church. I see Paul truly commending her to them as his representative, envoy & forward party preparing for his planned visit. I hope this quick account helps you.
  • Jesus Paul MaryMagdalene - In Reply on Romans 16 - 3 years ago
    I find some names and places by Googling them and typing 'Bible' after it. Many Bibles don't have Very good maps.

    Paul was never married. There are many women in the Bible who followed Jesus and the disciples doing chores, meals and being able to hear some teachings too.

    Same with Paul and those that traveled with him also.

    Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. She had been a prostitute but was radically saved and joined the group he traveled with.

    Despite what Hollywood films often perverts, there was nothing dishonorable going on. The best film to watch is Jesus Of Nazareth: very close to scripture.

    We are all supposed to follow Jesus. He's alive and still calls people into ministry to this day.



This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.

Note: Comment threads older than a month are automatically locked.
 

Do you have a Bible comment or question?


Please Sign In or Register to post comments...