Romans 16:8-10

Historians tell us that Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys and Apelles are all common slave names found in the staff of the imperial household.

When writing to the Philippian church, Paul — who was probably in Rome — sent them greetings from "all the saints… especially those who belong to Caesar's household" (Phil 4:22). The phrase "Caesar's household" might refer only to the actual relatives of Caesar, but would generally refer to a much larger number which included the staff — servants and freedmen in the imperial household — as well as the relatives.

J.B. Lightfoot made a study of burial inscriptions of imperial establishments available in his time (St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians, London, 1879, pp. 171-178). He determined that a number of the names found in Romans 16 were also found in those inscriptions. Since Philippians 4:22 mentions "saints… who belong to Caesar's household", it is reasonable that some of the lesser-known saints mentioned from this point forward in Romans 16 may have been slaves in Caesar's royal household.

Romans 16:8

Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.

This is "Amplias" in the KJV, which is a contraction of Ampliatus — the latter being the reading in the best New Testament texts. The Latin name means "enlarged", similar to the English word amplify. Again, as in the mention of Epenetus (v 5), Paul expresses his very warm personal attachment. This demonstrates the reality and depth of Christian friendship which developed between him and others who remain rather obscure to us. Paul was a man who gave himself in love to the people among whom he served and to those who worked alongside him. If for no other reason, they encouraged and strengthened him merely by returning his love!

William Barclay writes:

Behind the name of Ampliatus may well lie an interesting story. It is a quite common slave name. Now in the cemetery of Domatilla, which is the earliest of the Christian catacombs, there is a decorated tomb with the single name Ampliatus carved on it in bold and decorative lettering. The fact that the single name Ampliatus alone is carved on the tomb — Romans who were citizens would have three names… — would indicate that this Ampliatus was a slave; but the elaborate tomb and the bold lettering would indicate that he was a man of high rank in the church. From that it is plain to see that in the early days of the church the distinctions of rank were so completely wiped out that it was possible for a man at one and the same time to be a slave and [an elder] of the church. Social distinctions did not exist. We have no means of knowing that Paul's Ampliatus is the Ampliatus in the cemetery of Domatilla, but it is not impossible that he is.

Daily Study Bible: Romans 16

In the Lord: Perhaps we read this simple phrase so often that we lose the impact of it. "In the Lord [Greek 'kyrios']" occurs frequently, particularly in Paul's writings, and means the same as "in Jesus Christ":

  • Paul affirms and exhorts "in the Lord" (Eph 4:17);
  • he loves "in the Lord" (Rom 16:8);
  • people are received "in the Lord" (Rom 16:2; Phil 2:29);
  • the ecclesia rejoices "in the Lord" (Phil 3:1);
  • it stands firm "in the Lord" (Phil 4:1);
  • it works "in the Lord" (Rom 16:12); and
  • it greets one another "in the Lord" (Rom 16:22; 1Cor 16:19).
  • Believers are to marry "in the Lord" (1Cor 7:39);
  • they are to be strong "in the Lord" (Eph 6:10); and
  • to walk "in the Lord" (Col 2:6).
  • Paul was a prisoner “in the Lord” (Eph 4:1).
  • Our work is not in vain "in the Lord" (1Cor 15:58).
  • The believer has eternal life "in the Lord" (Rom 6:23); etc.

For believers in Jesus Christ, the whole of life, both in the present and the future, is organized around his absolute supremacy. Paul and his friends knew they were always standing in the presence of, and under the protection of, their risen Lord — as though he were (which he was) the only eternal and immovable place of safety in a transient and dying world.

I am sure we would all agree that, of all the saints we know, Paul is the man whose example we might best follow. Surely those whom Paul loved "in the Lord" we should also love "in the Lord"! Those whom Paul greeted, received, exhorted, walked with, and worked with "in the Lord", on the way to the Kingdom… we would surely have treated those same brothers and sisters in the same way Paul did. Do any of us doubt that this should be so?

Yet today we have factions — political parties, almost — in our brotherhood. We choose sides, and force others to choose sides also, on the basis of relatively minor differences: what Bible versions they read; how old they believe the earth to be; which interpretations they embrace of future events outlined in Revelation or Daniel or Ezekiel; how they dress; what holidays they observe; or what they eat, or do not eat!

Then we treat brothers and sisters on the "other side" of our pathetic little self-imposed divides as something less than truly "in the Lord", certainly not nearly so much "in the Lord" as our own specially favored ones — with whom we agree 100%! "My brethren, such things ought not so to be" (James 3:10, KJV). I have no doubt at all that the great apostle, if he were in our midst this very day, would never cease to remind us that we should "destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died" (Rom 14:15, KJV). Nor should we "destroy" our brothers and sisters "in the Lord" with our clothing requirements, or with our prophetic predictions, or our Bible versions, or our specialized use of Hebrew and Greek, or any of a hundred minor issues, or else we will be like those whom Christ said "neglected the most important matters of the law — justice, mercy, and faithfulness… [so that they might] strain out a gnat but swallow a camel" (Matt 23:23,24).

Romans 16:9

Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ: The KJV renders this as "Urbane". This is another Latin name, meaning "refined" or "elegant". Paul seems to indicate that this man helped him at some time in the past and that he assisted others also in the work of the Lord. He is the only believer in Rome other than Aquila and Priscilla (v 3) whom Paul expressly called a "synergos", i.e., a fellow worker or co-worker.

And my dear friend Stachys: This name signifies "ear of grain". Was this brother a farmer? Otherwise, we know nothing else about this believer, except that he was dearly loved ("agapetos") by the great apostle.

Romans 16:10

Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

Greet Apelles: The word means "separate".

Tested and approved: "Tested and approved" translates one word in the Greek text here: "dokimos" (see Rom 14:18; 1Cor 11:19; 2Cor 10:18; 13:7; 2Tim 2:15). In 1 Peter 1:7 a related word, "dokimazo", is used of gold that has been put through the smelting fire, and purified (see also Rom 12:2; 1Cor 3:13; 11:28; 2Cor 8:8; etc.). Had Apelles come through some severe persecution with his faith intact, or even strengthened?

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus: There is no Greek equivalent for "household", either here or in verse 11. The literal phrase is "those of Aristobulus", or "those of Narcissus" (see also 1Cor 1:11).

"Aristobulus" signifies "great counselor", which sounds like a government official. Those of his household were probably his slaves. Since Paul did not greet Aristobulus himself — even as he did not greet Narcissus personally in verse 11 — this man may have been an unbeliever, or may have died by this time.

Lightfoot identified Aristobulus as the grandson of Herod the Great, who lived in Rome and apparently died there. If this is correct, Aristobulus was either not a believer or had died before Paul wrote, since he is not personally greeted. Those addressed would then be his slaves and employees who had become Christians. On the other hand, if this identification is incorrect, we must think of an otherwise unknown figure whose family is mentioned here. The former alternative is somewhat favored by the fact that the next person to be greeted (v 11) is Herodion, a name suggestive of association with, or admiration for, the family of Herod. Even though no actual relationship may have existed, the placing of the two names with Herodian association so close together may support Lightfoot's thesis.

Everett F. Harrison, Expositor's Bible Commentary

Romans 16:11

Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

Greet Herodion, my relative: Here "relative" ("kinsman": KJV; Greek "suggenes", meaning: same family) may simply mean a Jew, or perhaps a Benjamite.

Greet those in the household of Narcissus: Again, as with "the household of Aristobulus" (v 10), this phrasing suggests that Narcissus was not a believer, but that some of his "household" of slaves and servants were "in the Lord". Obviously, what William Barclay says below can only be, as he admits, speculation — but it is possible:

"The household of Narcissus" may have [an] interesting story behind it. Narcissus was a common name; but the most famous Narcissus was a freedman who had been secretary to the Emperor Claudius and had exercised a notorious influence over him. He was said to have amassed [an enormous] private fortune. His power had lain in the fact that all correspondence addressed to the Emperor had to pass through his hands and never reached him unless he allowed it to do so. He made his fortune from the fact that people paid him large bribes to make sure that their petitions did reach the Emperor. When Claudius was murdered and Nero came to the throne, Narcissus survived for a short time, but in the end he was compelled to commit suicide, and all his fortune and all his household of slaves passed into Nero's possession. It may well be his one-time slaves who are referred to here. If Aristobulus really is the Aristobulus who was the grandson of Herod, and if Narcissus really is the Narcissus who was Claudius' secretary, this means that many of the slaves at the imperial court were already Christians. The leaven of Christianity had reached the highest circles in the Empire.

Who are in the Lord: This phrase modifies the previous phrase, that is: Paul is greeting, not the whole of Narcissus' household, but all those who were "in the Lord". This indicates a divided household, with some "in the Lord", i.e., giving allegiance to Christ, while others had no connection with Christ.

Romans 16:12

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord: Similar in name, these two were probably sisters, maybe even twins if judged by the similarity of their names. It was not uncommon then, as now, to give children, especially twins, similarly sounding names (e.g., Jean and Joan). Possibly they belonged to an aristocratic family, since "dainty" and "delicate" (or "luxuriating"), as their names mean, would seem to fit this category. If so, their Christian convictions led them to put aside any tendency to live a life of ease. Ironically, Paul praises these two sisters for not living up — or down — to their given names, but rather for being hard workers in the Lord's cause:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col 3:17).

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord: Her name simply means "a Persian lady", so this could well be a nickname or title: 'the woman from Persia'. "Dear friend" is the Greek "agapetoi", meaning one who is especially beloved.

The same words for "work hard" (Greek "ekopiasen" and "polla") are used in verse 6 of Mary, and again here in verse 12 of three other women, sisters in the Lord. Is it coincidental that in this chapter Paul uses it of four believers, and they are all sisters?

In congregations of believers, women are often the hardest workers. Men may spend much of their time pondering deep and meaningful Scriptural things, and those are certainly very important. At the same time, women may often ponder such matters too, while at the same time they are also occupied with caring for the household, the children, the meals, and various other needs of believers and acquaintances.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were a song and dance team in movies and stage productions from the 1930s to the 1950s. Astaire was the headliner, with Ginger Rogers generally perceived as following his lead. Their partnership inspired a famous line, which described their relative roles, as well as the effort expended by Rogers to keep up with her male partner. It was said that Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did, except she did it backwards and in high heels! There are quite a number of wives who fill a similar role with their husbands in the ecclesias: both may be working hard in the Lord, but we may be certain that one partner in the relationship is working harder than the other!