THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Romans 16:1-27
Key Verse: 16:20

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

* FOUNDERS OF THE HOUSE CHURCH (1-5)

1. Who was Phoebe? Approximately how many persons does Paul greet? How many women? Who were Priscilla and Aquila? See Acts 18:1-3,18,19,24-28; 1 Co 16:9; 2 Ti 4:19.

2. What does it mean that he calls them his “fellow workers in Christ”? Why is co-working both hard and important? (Remember Barnabas, Paul’s first coworker, Acts 9:27; 11:25-26a; 13:2, 13; 15:39.)

3. What can we learn here about the early church? Why might the church have met in houses? How many times is the word “greet” or “greetings” found in this chapter?

* REMEMBER THEIR LABOR IN THE LORD (6-16)

4. Why was Epenetus so precious? What does it mean to a ministry to have one “Abraham of faith”? Why does Paul greet and praise Mary (6)? Who were Andronicus and Junias (7)?

5. Read verses 8-10. Who are coworkers he mentions here? What does it mean to be “tested and approved in Christ”? What does he remember about these coworkers (11-16)?

* THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS BE WITH YOU (17-27)

6. What warning does he give the believers? (17) Why? (18-19) What is his sure hope? (20)

7. Who are the fellow workers who are with Paul? Among them, what can you find about Timothy? (Php 2:19-22; 2 Ti 1:5,7,13-14) In his benediction, what are his topics of praise and prayer? (25-27)