David Bahn – Reflections

Romans 16:1-15

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Chapter 16 of Romans is a listing of names of people Paul names and greets as a closing to this letter. It makes clear that the process of mission is not an impersonal project, but a highly relational experience. Paul’s list of people begins with Phoebe (a woman), whom he calls, “a servant of the church.” Paul mentions Prisca, Mary, and Rufus’ mother – all of whom are not only people who made it into the Bible, but who are known and loved by Paul.

I was taught that the Bible prohibits women from serving as pastors, and I have held to that understanding for my 35 years of ministry. I am not ready to abandon that understanding, but neither am I as adamant about what that means, and how it is to be applied in the context of mission today – or how it was practiced in Paul’s day either. What I do know is that many people serve in many different ways for the cause of the kingdom of God and the advancement of the Gospel.

This chapter certainly does not establish the role of women as pastors in the church. But it does testify to how vital these women were to the cause of the gospel in Paul’s day. That is certainly true, also today. Beyond that, we are called into a fellowship within the Body of Christ. We need each other: men and women, high and low born. The greetings and good will among brothers and sisters in Christ propel us forward in the mission of God. The importance of that fact ought not be lost on us.