ROMANS UNWRAPPED 231

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

There's a lot in a name, especially if recorded in the bible. Most of us would be thrilled if our names appeared in the context of public honour; but to be named in records of heaven is the highest acclaim indeed! Back in Exodus chapter 1, the Pharoah of Egypt (then the most powerful man in the world), was not named, yet the two Hebrew midwives, with whom he dealt, were named!   The Bible speaks of the "church of the firstborn which are written in heaven."   Hebrews 12v23   Jesus said to His disciples "rejoice not because the spirits are subject unto you, but that your name is written in heaven."   Luke 10v20   Indeed the Bible ends with a warning that your whole existence is nothing if your name is not written in the book of life.   Revelation 20v15   Here we have in verses 3 - 16 a list of names, not only who were  "written in the book of life" but whose lives had been lived out to adorn that high calling.   Is your name in the book of life?    Paul salutes the following:

• Epaenetus -  described as "the firstfruit of Achaia unto Christ."   Apparently the very first person to be saved in Achaia and Paul never forgot it.   Some say it should be rendered Asia rather than Achaia, but no matter, the point is this person is very dear to Paul and calls him "my beloved."
• Mary    -    She "bestowed much labour upon us."   No doubt this was in tending to all their daily needs.    
• Andronicus & Junia    -    Possibly husband and wife.   Paul says four things about them;  they are" my kinsmen"  meaning they were fellow Jews; they were Paul's "fellow prisoners" so they had suffered alongside him; they are "of note" among the apostles, which may mean they were well known to the apostles, or that they themselves were sent on a special mission for God, though not part of the official thirteen apostles commissioned by the Lord; finally, they were "in Christ before me," thus spiritually speaking they were Paul's seniors.
• Amplias    -    "My beloved in the Lord".   His name means  "enlarged" and possibly he was a large hearted person as well as a broad minded person and Paul appreciated him.
• Urbane    -    "Our fellow helper (worker) in Christ."    No doubt in the spread of the gospel.
• Stachys    -    "My beloved."    Paul does not give out this term easily and refers to spiritual love in Christ.  
• Apelles    -    "Approved in Christ."    They idea is one who is genuine, and proved to be so after a period of testing.   This person has gone through a time of testing from the Lord and has come through.
• The household of Aristobulus    -    Possibly he was the master of the house, but it was his servants who were saved.  
• Herodion    -    "My kinsman"   Another Jewish convert living in Rome.
• The household of Narcissus    -    Again possibly the servants In the household who are described as being "in the Lord."
• Tryphena & Tryphosa    -    Possibly sisters, even twin sisters, whose names suggest they came from an elite and privileged background.   Their names means "dainty" and "delicate."   In this light it is even more amazing what Paul says about them  "who labour in the Lord."   The word for "labour" is to "work to the point of exhaustion."    These high class, privileged women were not afraid to give themselves wholeheartedly to the work of God.
• Persis    -    Paul calls him "the beloved Persis who labored much in the Lord."   The Holy Spirit thus records not only those who labour, but those who labour much.    No detail will be missed in the Divine rewards for service rendered.  
• Rufus    -    Possibly a black man whom Paul described as "chosen in the Lord."   This means that he was outstanding in some virtue in the community.   He was one of God's elite.   Paul also refers to his mother, who was not only a mother to Rufus, but was motherly towards Paul.  
• Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes,    -   "And the brethren which are with them."    The named ones are possibly the leaders of their particular group.
• Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, & Olympas    -    And all the saints with them. The churches in Rome were mostly small groups.

A simple look over this list of names will reveal the many and varied people that the gospel has reached in so short a time.    People from all walks of life, receiving the same grace of God beyond any national or cultural or social or economic barrier, and living out, in their lives, the various graces produced within them as they gave themselves to the service of God.   The epistle to the Romans would not be quite the same without this hall of fame.   These names honoured the Lord who saved them and they will be occupied in the service of their Lord for all eternity.   This is evidence that the gospel saves real people in real time, and the story continues.   To these names have been added countless individuals from all over the world.   Have you added your name yet?   There is no doubt that here is the proof of the statement by Paul in chapter 1v16 that the gospel is  "the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."