Chapter sixteen of Paul’s letter to the Romans contains 35 names. Three of these are familiar to us: Priscilla, Acquilla, Timothy. Of the rest, nothing is known, and very little can even be speculated. One or two names appear elsewhere in the Bible, however we don't have any way of knowing whether they are the same persons.

So here we find the names more than 30 persons whom we might call the unknown disciples, and of course we can find others referred to in the chapter who are not named.

  
 Phoebe      Epanetus  Mary
 Andronicus  Junias    Ampliatus
 Urbanus     Stachys   Apelles
 Aristobulus Herodion  Narcissus
 Tryphaena   Tryphosa  Persis
 Asyncritus  Phlegon   Hermes
 Patrobas    Hermas    Philologus
 Julia       Nereus    Olympas
 Lucius      Jason     Sosipater
 Tertius     Gaius     Erastus
             Quartus 

We do, of course, know more about these folk than just their names, for this chapter that records their names tells us three important and beautiful things about these people. Had they not shown these qualities, their names would not have been recorded. These folk are representative of what Christians in general should be. Let’s look at the three qualities in which these unknown disciples have set us an example.

They were Workers

You will find people in this chapter who were "servants" of the church. You'll find people who were "helpers", people who "laboured much" in the Lord, people who were "hosts" to the church. These folk were so zealous for the Lord’s work that Paul was proud to call them "fellow workers". Have a look through the chapter and see how many workers you can find.

They were Saints

You will find people in this chapter who were dedicated and whom Paul was pleased to refer to as "saints". A saint is a sanctified person, which means one who is holy, dedicated, separated to a sacred task.

In the Bible, the concept of sanctification goes together with that of election or being chosen. Hence, one of the persons named is called "a choice man in the Lord" (Rom 16:13).

They were Kinsmen

An aspect of the relationship between disciples of Christ is brought out strongly in this chapter. This is the family relationship. People become "kinsmen" in Christ although they may have no biological relationship.

AFFECTIONATE

Paul refers to these disciples as "brethren" (that is to say brothers and sisters). He even calls one person his "mother". She was the mother of Rufus, but there was a spiritual and certainly affectionate mother-son relationship between her and Paul.

HOLY

All the disciples are to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (verse 16). We may change the kiss (according to our culture) to some other form of affectionate greeting. But we must retain the character of the greeting for that is cross-cultural. It is always a"holy" greeting. Kisses and embraces between disciples of Christ should be the kind that brothers and sisters, mothers and sons, aunts and nephews, give each other. They are signs of affection without any sexual element to them.

RESPONSIBLE

The relationship between disciples of Christ is not merely affectionate, but like any kin or family relationship, it is responsible. When somebody in the family is misbehaving and is being rebellious, offensive, divisive, then the family disciplines that person. That’s what verses 17-18 are about. Paul is an affection man, but he doesn't resile from calling some kinsmen in Christ "slaves of their own appetites" or accusing them of "smooth and flattering speech by which they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting". These are stern and even harsh words, but they are deserved. Paul is not going to be all affection and no rebuke. He is not going to say "kiss" these wayward kinsmen. Rather he says "turn away" from them. Warm handshakes, smiles, hugs, and kisses, are all very well. But don't let them be hypocritical and irresponsible.

OBEDIENT

The joy of kinsmanship in Christ is expressed in verses 19-20. It exists when the disciples show "obedience" to the Lord. It exists when the disciples are "wise in what is good, innocent in what is evil" --and don't mistake innocence for ignorance or a blind eye.

ESTABLISHED

This brings us to the last verses of the chapter, 25-27. An important feature of any good family is its stability, its ability to close ranks and survive adversity, its ability to put down roots and become established. If we practice discipleship as workers, saints, and kinsmen, then God will "establish" us as promised in the "revelation" of the "gospel" which Paul and other church prophets and apostles preached.

If we are disciples like that, then we will bring "glory forever" to the "only wise God through Jesus Christ". You cannot be more established than to be a family forever, yet that, no less, is what God’s true church family will be.

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