Friends we are grateful for

At Thanksgiving time, it seems appropriate that we turn to chapter 16 in Romans. Here, Paul concludes his letter to the Romans with a joyous round of applause for all the workers in the field.

He starts in verses 1-2 with Phoebe, and asks that she be welcomed and assisted. Then there's Prisca and Aquila (New Revised Standard Version) "who risked their necks for my life" (Rom 16: 3-5). He continues with "my beloved Epaenetus, ..the first convert in Asia for Christ" (16:5), hard-working Mary (16:6), plus Andronicus and Junia (16:6) who Paul explains were in prison with him and were followers of Christ before Paul himself. 

More loving greetings are conveyed to Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, the Aristobulus family, Paul's relative, Herodion, and the Narcissus family. 

In verse 12 he mentions Tryphaena and Tryphosa. (Note from me: Some years ago, while sailing in the Kimberly region of Western Australia, we met a couple who had named their little yacht Tryphaena, so whenever I come to this part of Romans, I think of them.) And then the hard-working Persis.

We can tell that some of these folk have become like family to the wayfaring apostle. He mentions Rufus, and Rufus' mother, who has "become a mother to me also" (verse 13).

Finally he lists Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and other brothers and sisters, Philogus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints (verses 14-15).

Although there are no citations from Romans in this year's Thanksgiving Lesson (in the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons), we do hear from Paul in I and II Corinthians.  Here are the passages from the NRSV

B4 - II Cor 4: 15 Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

B13 - II Cor 1: 4-6 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind--just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you

B14 - II Cor 2: 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.

Paul was such an encourager. While never shirking his responsibility to warn as appropriate, he nevertheless was a master at giving a pat on the back when it was earned.

Thanksgiving greetings to all. You are welcome to join us this Wednesday at 1pm for our Annual Thanksgiving service.

Julie Swannell