May 19 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Romans 16:5-16 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Paul is continuing to greet people that he knows in Rome. Many of these people are unknown to us today, but clearly they were important to Paul. He refers to Epaenetus as being "well beloved", and mentions that he was the firstfruits of Achaia. Apparently, he was the first person in that area to receive Christ. Mary is said to have worked hard on the behalf of Paul and those that traveled with him. Andronicus and Junia were probably husband and wife. They were saved before Paul was, and were very well respected by the other apostles. In addition, they had been imprisoned for their faith. Urbane was Paul's helper and co-laborer. Amplias and Stachys were beloved. Apelles was "approved in Christ". The word used here described precious metals such as gold or silver that were refined by fire and proven genuine, having passed the test for purity. Tryphena and Tryphosa were women who labored for the Lord, as did Persis. In verse 13 we see the name Rufus. He is probably the son of Simon of Cyrene, who helped to carry Jesus' cross. Mark 15:21 says,

"And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross."

One thing that is worth noticing is that there is one particular name that is not mentioned in this lengthy list. That is the name Peter. According to Catholic tradition, Peter was the bishop of the church at Rome, and thus became the first Pope. He supposedly served as Pope from 42-67 AD. Yet when Paul wrote this letter to the church at Rome around 58-60 AD he mentions 27 different people by name, but not Peter. He also does not address the epistle to Peter. This would certainly seem to indicate that Peter was not in Rome, and not the pastor of the church there. In fact, there is no Biblical evidence that Peter was ever in Rome. Paul wrote Colossians in 64 AD from Rome. He states in Colossians 4:10 that Aristarchus, Marcus and Jesus (called Justus) are his only fellow workers. He wrote II Timothy from Rome in 66 AD, and says that only Luke is with him (II Timothy 4:11). These facts are important, because the Catholic doctrines of the authority of the priesthood and salvation through the church are based upon the false premise that Peter was the first pope and passed "apostolic authority" and "the keys to the kingdom" on to all the popes and priests that followed after him. If he isn't the first Pope, then their entire religious system of the necessity of the mass, the confessional, and the other sacraments falls apart. More importantly, it also falls apart because it contradicts the Word of God.

Paul concludes in verse 16 by saying,

"Salute one another with an holy kiss".

"The holy kiss was an oriental form of friendly greeting, which was adapted by the early church to indicate Christian love, with men so greeting the men, and women the women. Robertson says, 'The near-east mode of salutation, as hand-shaking is in the west.' The kiss was to be 'holy'; free from everything unworthy of their calling as saints."

How do you greet your fellow church members? Do you greet them all the same way, regardless of who they are?