Personal Plans to Visit and Greetings
Romans 15:23- 16:27
Thesis: Paul indicates that someone else established the church in Rome, but he had many friends there to greet and to visit.
I. PAUL’S PLAN TO COME TO ROME WAS ONLY FOR A VISIT (23-29).
A. He had longed for many years to see the Romans (23).
B. He planned to see them on his trip to Spain (24).
C. He wanted them to assist him on his journey, after he enjoyed their company for a while (24).
D. When he wrote this letter, he was on his way to take aid from Macedonia and Achaia to the poor saints in Jerusalem (25, 26).
E. The Macedonians and Achaians were glad to send aid because it was right for them to give physical aid to those who had helped them by sharing the gospel with them (27).
F. He planned to visit Rome after he made his delivery to Jerusalem (29).
II. PAUL WANTED THE CHRISTIANS IN ROME TO JOIN HIM IN HIS STRUGGLE (30-33).
A. He wanted them to aid him by praying for him (31).
1. He wanted them to pray that he would be rescued from unbelievers in Judea (31).
2. He wanted them to pray that his service in Jerusalem would be acceptable by the saints there (31).
B. He wanted to then visit them and be refreshed (32).
C. He prayed that the God of peace would be with them (33).
III. HE COMMENDED PHOEBE, ASKING THEM TO ACCEPT HER AND HELP HER (1, 2)
IV. HE SENDS SPECIFIC GREETINGS TO SPECIFIC PEOPLE FOR HIM AND ASKS THEM TO GREEK ONE ANOTHER (3-16).
V. HE URGES THEM TO WATCH OUT FOR FALSE TEACHERS AND CHURCH DIVIDERS (17-20).
VI. HE SENDS GREETINGS FROM SPECIFIC PEOPLE (21-24).
VII. HE PRAYS A BENEDICTION UPON THEM (25-27).
Conclusion: Paul liked visiting his friends and wanted them to assist him, even in places where he did not plan to evangelize.
© 2004, Dr. Wm. T. (Bill) Lambert
Professor Emeritus – NT Literature and Interpretation
College of Bible and Religion
Harding University