If it weren’t for the names that belong to another century, it would sound almost like a message posted on Facebook today: “Be sure to give a warm welcome to Phebe; she’s been so kind and generous to so many. Say hi to Priscilla and Aquila; they really stuck their necks out for me. And hello to Epænetus, Andronicus, and Junia too.”
All in all, about 30 Christians, who’ve mostly been lost to history, are given a shout-out here in the final chapter of Romans in the Bible. It’s quite a glimpse into the building of the early Church.
Their building wasn’t so much a place to gather as a way of living that deepened their commitment to Christ. There is no indication that any of them had known the personal Jesus, as Paul himself had not. Instead, the inspiration of the Master’s selfless life, his teaching that was so intimately connected to his healing ministry, and the magnificent joy they found in the good news of God’s infinite love and grace—these bound them together as tightly as any family.
