I A Commendation of Phoebe (vv. 1-2) II Greetings to the Saints/Believers (vv. 3-15) III Greeting One Another (v.

16)

Who is Phoebe?
- From the church at Cenchrea (a seaport of Corinth). - Like Lydia (Acts 16:14), she was most likely a businesswoman too. - She is called a servant or deaconness.

Ministry is simply service.

1. Paul was honoring faithfulness in service/ministry. 2. Paul was honoring the service of a woman. 3. Paul was endorsing this woman and urging the church to come to her assistance.

1. Very personal: Paul greeted at least 26 people by name as well as 2 unnamed persons (Rufus mother and Nereus sister). 2. Very appreciative: Paul even accorded them some description a sort of appreciation. -

Ephesians 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for

you, remembering you in my prayers.

Philippians 1:3-4 I thank my God every time I

remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, i always pray with joy. Colossians 1:3 We always thanks God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We always thanks God for all

of you, mentioning you in our prayers.

- A Christian greeting is the manifestation of Christian unity. -Paul tells the church at Rome how this greeting should be expressed with a holy kiss [this command is found 5x in the NT: Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26 and 1 Peter 5:14]

- Is an exhortation to demonstrate unity of the believers in a tangible way. - This command was a real test of obedience for people during Pauls time who were so inclined toward animosity.

 Christian Unity
must be something we not only declare in concept but demonstrate in our conduct.

1. To greet one another is our personal obligation. 2. People are to be our priority. Our service to God is to work itself out in loving and serving others.

Let us be a church marked out by our love for one another, in this way, we are demonstrating that we are indeed disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.