Journey through the Book of Romans

Paul sends Greetings from Fellow believers with him and Exalts our God in closing Prayer

Romans 16:21-27 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea. KJV

Paul now completely concludes his epistle or letter to these beloved believers in Rome of whom he has never yet met personally face to face by sending them greetings and well wishes from those brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus that he did know very well, having spent much time with most of them, if not all of them. First, Paul mentions brother Timothy who Paul had referred to in this manner, 1 Timothy 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV when he wrote two epistles or letters directly to Timothy. Paul then list three people by name Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater who he refers to as his kinsmen, either in earthly family flesh or fellow Jewish converts to Christ Jesus our Lord as was Paul himself. Paul did not write this epistle or letter by his own hands but instead dictated it to Tertius who sends his greetings also to these fellow believers in Rome.

Paul sends greetings by Gaius who apparently Paul lived with for a period of time. This no doubt is the same Gaius that the Apostle John so warmly writes to in his letter 3 John when he said this in greetings to this man, 3 John 1:1-8 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. NKJV Paul affirms everything we read above about this beloved brother of all the true saints of God when Paul says of him, “mine host, and of the whole church.”

Paul sends greetings from brother Erastus “the city treasurer” and brother Quartus. Paul begins his prayer for them by petitioning our Father in Heaven for His Grace that only flows in and by and through our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of them in Rome to keep them, strengthen them, and sustain them. Paul lifts up his whole heart to heaven an prays these words “to Him that is of power” “to establish” you and the English phrase “to Him that is of power” is translated by the Greek word dunamai which means able, mighty, strong, and powerful and the English phrase “to establish” is translated by the Greek word sterizo which means to set fast or literally to turn resolutely in a certain direction, and to make stable, place firmly, fix to strengthen, make firm to render constant, confirm, one’s mind.

Paul prays for our Lord Jesus Christ (after he warned them thoroughly of the false teachers or brethren that would rise up in their midst) to so ground them in Himself and His Truth by the power of His Gospel of Grace that no principality or power from satan or any human instrument that he might work through would ever be capable of steering them away from their steadfastness in the truth of the gospel. Paul declares to them that this revelation or manifestation or disclosure of God’s Secret or Mystery has now been fully made known to them through the death, burial, and resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ and He has declared it now to the whole world bound, living, and under sins dominion and those who Paul writes to now in Rome have heard and repented and believed being obedient and complying with God the Father’s only way of salvation or deliverance from sin and its bondage over all humanity. Paul closes by lifting  his heart to God the Father in humble obedience to Him which is the reason and purpose he wrote this epistle or letter in the first place and declares God alone to be wise and alone deserving of Glory and alone to receive Glory through our Lord Jesus Christ forever Amen and so let it be.

“Our redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ, in the foundation, method, and fruits of it, are, without controversy, a great mystery of godliness, 1 Timothy 3:16. This bespeaks the honour of the gospel; it is no vulgar common thing, hammered out by any human wit, but it is the admirable product of the eternal wisdom and counsel of God, and has in it such an inconceivable height, such an unfathomable depth, as surpass knowledge. It is a mystery which the angels desire to look into, and cannot find the bottom of. And yet, blessed be God, there is as much of this mystery made plain as will suffice to bring us to heaven, if we do not willfully neglect so great salvation.” Matthew Henry

“Christian souls ought to desire to live chiefly in the remembrance of those to whom they have been known as having done some little bit of work for Jesus Christ. We may well ask ourselves whether there is anything in our lives by which we should thus wish to be remembered. All our many activities will sink into silence; but if the stream of our life, which has borne along down its course so much mud and sand, has brought some grains of gold in the form of faithful and loving service to Christ and men-these will not be lost in the ocean, but treasured by Him. What we do for Jesus and to spread the knowledge of His name is the immortal part of our mortal lives, and abides in His memory and in blessed results in our own characters, when all the rest that made our busy and often stormy days has passed into oblivion. All that we know of Tertius who wrote this Epistle is that he wrote it. Well will it be for us if the summary of our lives be something like that of his!” Alexander MacLaren

“It is God alone who has power to transform sinful souls into obedient souls that give Him Alone all the Glory and Honor and Praise for everything good, noble, lovely, and true.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Journey through the Book of Romans

Paul Cautions us to Avoid Divisive People Part 2

Romans 16:18-20 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. KJV

Paul now begins to describe in more vivid or graphic detail for us the type of men that are responsible for causing the divisions and offences among a body of true believers. Paul declares that these men do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but instead are servants of their own belly. The English word serve Paul uses is translated from the Greek word douleuo which means to obey or to submit or to yield to or to give one’s self up to or to be in bondage to or finally to be a slave to something or someone. Paul loudly warns these beloved believers in Christ of the character that will come to the forefront from the heart of these men that will be manifested or made visible in their daily lives. What they will visibly display is a strong desire to satisfy their own belly and this English word “belly” is translated from the Greek word koilia which means here figuratively the innermost part of man, the soul, or the heart as the seat of thought feeling or choice. Paul declares them to be slaves of their own thoughts, feelings, and choices that are ungodly, profane, and immoral as described by the Apostle Peter here, 2 Peter 2:14-15 Having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. NKJV

Paul then says that these men will use “good words” and “fair speeches” in order to “deceive” the “hearts” of the simple. Paul uses four very rich and deep words in describing to these beloved believers the character of these men that will rise up from among them having never been true, real, or genuine believers at all. The first English word or phrase is “good words” and it is translated from the Greek word chrestologia which means to speak with smooth and plausible words which simulates, feigns, or makes a pretense of goodness. The second English word is “fair speeches” which is translated from the Greek word eulogia which means polished language in a bad sense, or language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer. The Apostle Peter wrote in his epistle or letter these words about these sort of men that buffet every warning that Paul gives to the Christians in Rome, 2 Peter 2:18-19 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness or by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. NKJV

Paul says that it is by this speaking that they will “deceive” and this is the third rich word Paul uses in this discourse and it is translated from the Greek word exapatao which means to seduce wholly or to beguile, bewitch, enchant, or hoodwink. Paul here begins to point to the true source behind the motivation of these men and that is their father the devil, as our Lord Jesus spoke briskly, directly, and forcefully these words to the religious hypocrites the Pharisees, John 8:38-44 “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.” They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” NKJV

The fourth very rich word Paul uses here to warn these beloved brothers and sisters in Rome is the English word “heart” which is translated from the Greek word kardia which means figuratively the thoughts or feelings, the center of all spiritual life, the seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, emotions, and sensibilities and finally the soul or the mind. Paul warns these believers that this is where the devil’s arsenal of wicked weaponry is launched upon every true, faithful, and steadfast believer in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because these people themselves possess only a wicked mind that they too want to corrupt as many others as possible. Paul describes the minds of the wicked or unregenerate man as he speaks these words to the believers in Ephesus warning them of their responsibility to not live in the very same manner as these people lived, Ephesians 4:17-19 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. NKJV Paul wants these beloved members of our Lord Jesus’ Mystical Body to not be simple or naive or unenlightened or uninformed of the character of these men or inexperienced in the recognition of them as they infiltrate within their midst or without instruction as to their true nature, true motives, and their true intentions toward the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ true sons and daughters.

Paul acknowledges to them the news or reports of their true character and obedience to the Apostles doctrine and teachings that has been given to him perhaps by some of the previous list of beloved believers he named earlier in verses 6 through 16, but by whatever method Paul received this information, he was convinced of their authenticity and wanted them to recognize the evil persons that would filter in among them and turn away from them (2 Timothy 3:1-5) and continue in their shunning of all things that were evil. Paul then concludes by giving them this great truth to encourage and strengthen their hearts and keep them all knit together in love and the truth of the gospel of Christ and the Apostles doctrines and teachings by reassuring them what our Glorious God is going to do to satan and all who follow him. Paul uses the English phrase “shall bruise” in referring to what God is going to do to satan and his cohorts and it is translated by the Greek word suntribo which means to crush completely, that is to shatter or break into pieces, to tread down or to put satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him to break him down, and this is very clearly demonstrated by these words written by the Apostle John here, Revelation 20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NKJV The English word “tormented” the Apostle John uses is translated from the Greek word basanizo which means to torture or to vex with grievous pains. This the Apostle Paul declares to them to set their hearts and minds at ease that although they may now be experiencing injury from satan and his cohorts, that the final page of the whole story is yet to be fulfilled, but as certain as we can expect the sun to rise at the dawning of another day, we can even be more certain and assured that the troubler of all of us faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ will be “crushed completely under our feet shortly” and Paul then says “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, Amen or let it be so”, for it is His Grace only that we need to sustain us.

“The devil and his agents have a particular spite against flourishing churches and flourishing souls. The ship that is known to be richly laden is most exposed to privateers. The adversary and enemy covets such a prey, therefore look to yourselves, 2 John 1:8. ‘The false teachers hear that you are an obedient people, and therefore they will be likely to come among you, to see if you will be obedient to them.’ It has been the common policy of seducers to set upon those who are softened by convictions, and begin to enquire what they shall do, because such do most easily receive the impressions of their opinions.” Matthew Henry

“Our walk with Christ Jesus our Lord in this world of evil, woe, and sin, as we are always hounded by the devil and his minions, as well as the human instruments he uses, is just like the 1972 Miami Dolphins football team, though they were in hard fought games Sunday after Sunday, and despite many players being bruised and injured during the season, at the end their team was undefeated and the last one standing holding the Super Bowls Lombardi Trophy.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Journey through the Book of Romans

Paul Cautions us to Avoid Divisive People Part 1

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. KJV

Paul immediately after his words of love and affection to those individual brothers and sisters in Rome that he knew and who Paul had found the qualities or character in them described by the Apostle Peter when he said, 2 Peter 1:2-8 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV “beseeches” them for the third time in this epistle or letter and we are reminded once again that this English word is translated from the Greek word parakaleo which means to call near, to invite, to invoke, to implore, and to exhort or even beg.

Paul had always been aware of the wiles, schemes, cunning, and craftiness of the devil to infiltrate the domain of the true believers by disguise so that he could root up the true gospel of grace and lead some away into liberalism, license, or legalism as Paul said very passionately on this occasion as he was about to depart from the family of our Lord Jesus Christ in Ephesus with these words, Acts 20:25-32 “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. NKJV Paul tells those Christians in Rome to “mark” those people found “speaking perverse things” and this English word “mark” Paul uses is translated from the Greek word skopeo and it means to take aim at (spy), to observe, to fix one’s eyes upon, or to direct one’s attention to those particular people. Paul wanted these beloved believers to him as were those in Ephesus and all the saints to spy out these individuals or groups of professing believers who began to go away from or abandon all together the Apostles doctrine or teachings passed down to them (Acts 2:42).

Paul calls these people those who cause “divisions” or “offences” and this would be how the faithful and true disciples would be able to recognize them. The first character trait of these men would be to cause “divisions” and this English word is translated from the Greek word dichostasia which means disunion (the act of separating), dissension or discord (disagreement among those expected to cooperate), and sedition (the act of resisting lawful authority in this case the Word of God). The second character trait of these men would be to cause “offences” and this English word is translated from the Greek word skandalon which is where we get our English word scandal from and it means to trap or to snare or to cause displeasure or to cause others to stumble or offend or to fall into sin that defiles the person or persons and destroys the body’s fellowship and unity and lastly that dishonors our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul shines the light of truth on these false brethren and urges the true brothers of our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:11) to “avoid” them and this English word is translated from the Greek word ekklino and it means to deviate from, to shun (stay away from deliberately; stay clear of), to turn aside or away from or finally to completely depart from or cessation (to stop something).

Paul painted the picture for the believers in Corinth making it crystal clear their responsibility to any person that claimed to be a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ that did not hold to the doctrine or teaching from the Apostles in their everyday life by word and deed. Paul had been made aware of a man in the Corinthian fellowship that carried on a continual sexual relationship with his father’s wife and Paul wrote to that body of believers as to their responsibility with him or any others who would live in that manner without repenting and turning from sin so that our Lord Jesus could then forgive and cleanse them (1 John 1:9). Paul’s word to these in Rome to “avoid” such people can be found consistent with his teachings to all the churches as we see in these words written to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves. NKJV

“Those who cause divisions on obscure points of doctrine are to be avoided, lest they lead us away from the fundamentals. We need to be wise in heavenly wisdom and guileless in regard to evil. The pure, childlike heart is quick to discern the right and wrong, because of the breath that evil leaves on its clear mirror.” F. B. Meyer

“A danger discovered is half prevented. To shun it: ‘Avoid them. Shun all necessary communion and communication with them, lest you be leavened and infected by them. Do not strike in with any dividing interests, nor embrace any of those principles or practices which are destructive to Christian love and charity, or to the truth which is according to godliness. - Their word will eat as doth a canker.’” Matthew Henry

“It is a treacherous, tragic, but true fact that there are many among us that present themselves as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, but have no love for Him born out of a regenerated heart and consequently they have no true love for us either and will seek to bring us down into their level of easy believism that acknowledges sin, but accepts sin, and acts out all manner of sin with no remorse, regret, or repentance ever desired.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Journey through the Book of Romans

Paul Acknowledges by Name many who mean so much to him

Romans 16:6-16 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. NKJV

Paul now moves into the home stretch of his epistle or letter to these brothers and sisters in Rome by praising with loving adoration and brotherly kindness and thanksgiving all of the saints he knew who aided him or assisted him in various capacities in the parts of the world Paul had traveled proclaiming the gospel of grace. Paul first mentions by name Mary and declares to those Christians in Rome that this woman had worked hard for them and their good even to the point or weariness. Next Paul mentioned Andronicus and Junias who were Jews like Paul and also imprisoned with him for the cause of Christ and the proclamation of the gospel. Paul not only had such dear affections for these two Jews for that cause, but also because they suffered for our Lord Jesus like Paul in prison for the truth of the gospel and bore the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ in their own bodies as Paul spoke of himself (Galatians 6:17). Paul also used the English phrase “of note” among the Apostles and this phrase is translated by the Greek word episemos which means having a mark on it, marked, stamped, coined marked in a good sense of note. These two Christians were very well-known and widely known among all the saints and even the first Apostles to be genuine, authentic, devout, and steadfast followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul acknowledges Ampliatus and Stachys as beloved to him as well as Urbanus all were fellow workers with Paul for the gospel. Paul names Apelles as approved in Christ which literally means tried or tested and found to be true. Aristobulus and Narcissus and their entire households receive commendation from Paul. Herodion another fellow Jew like Paul is mentioned in Paul’s greeting. Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and Persis Paul greets as hard workers for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and also beloved by Paul. Paul mentions a man named Rufus and his mother, who Paul considers as his own mother. Paul had surely found the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples to be true when He said, Mark 10:28-30 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.” NKJV

Paul had found this in these brothers and sisters in Christ as well as many others throughout all of his journeys for the sake of the gospel and Paul knew what it was to be hated and despised by his “own kinsmen” the Jews and it is why he is always quick and eager to recognize a fellow Jew turned to Christ as such in his list of names acknowledged here. Paul continues on acknowledging Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them, then Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Paul then concludes his discourse of grateful adoration for these members in our Lord Jesus Christ Mystical Body by urging and exhorting them to greet one another with a holy kiss or a physically pure kiss with the sincere love of Christ in their hearts as the motivation for such greeting. It was a common way of receiving other people in that part of the world at that time and it is still practiced throughout that region of the world even to this very day to kiss on both cheeks the man or woman you greet. Paul adds the phrase “holy kiss” to place the genuine mark or stamp of the believer’s regenerated hearts of love for one another as always the motivation for everything we do with one another, for one another, and to one another. Finally, Paul ends by telling them every Church of Christ greets them.

“The Gospel that came into the world to rend old associations and to split up society, and to make a deep cleft between fathers and children and husband and wife, came also to more than counterbalance its dividing effects by its uniting power. And in that old world that was separated into classes by gulfs deeper than any of which we have any experience, it, and it alone, threw a bridge across the abysses and bound men together.” Alexander MacLaren

“He concludes with the recommendation of them to the love and embraces one of another: Salute one another with a holy kiss. Mutual salutations, as they express love, so they increase and strengthen love, and endear Christians one to another: therefore Paul here encourages the use of them, and only directs that they may be holy - a chaste kiss, in opposition to that which is wanton and lascivious; a sincere kiss, in opposition to that which is treacherous and dissembling, as Judas’s, when he betrayed Christ with a kiss.” Matthew Henry

“When we find our new found relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ has driven a wedge in many of our earthly family relationships, we can gain strength knowing that our brothers and sisters in Christ love us with a pure, passionate, and perfect love in Christ that can never fail us.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…