Romans from a Torah Covenant Perspective – Chapter 16

Romans 16:1 I commend to you Phoebe our Yisraelite sister, who is a deacon of the congregation that is at Cenchrea: Phoebe a diakonos. Romans 16:2 That you receive her in vuvh, as becomes Yisraelite kidushim, and that you assist her in whatever business she has need of: for she has been a great help to many, and to myself also. She was more like a trusted emissary or ambassador. She was likely a scattered Israelite/gentile because her name’s associated with Phoebus; from the mythology of Apollos. Phoebe a deacon of the assembly at Cenchrea, one of the two seaports of Corinth. Deacon not deaconess, diakonos is masculine not feminine form. Romans 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aqulas my helpers in Moshiach gauvh:  Romans 16:4 Who have for my chayim laid down their own necks: for whom not only I give hodu, but also all the congregations of the Yisraelite nations. Pricilla and Aquilla would have been among those Jews that were expelled from Rome under the Edict of Claudius and worked with Paul in Corinth and Ephesus: Acts 18:1 After these things, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jewish man named Aquila—a native of Pontus having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all Jewish people to leave Rome.  A learned Alexandrian Jew who had the revelation of the Melchitzedik transference from John to Yahusha, but was less familiar with other subjects was instructed by Priscilla and Aquilla! Acts 18:24  Now a Jewish man named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, well versed in the Scriptures. 25  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. With a fervent spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the facts about Yeshua—while only being acquainted with the immersion of John. 26  This man began speaking out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately. 27  When Apollos wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. Upon arrival, he greatly helped those who by grace had believed.28  For he powerfully refuted the Jewish people in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that the Messiah was Yeshua. Priscilla is mentioned before her husband Aquila most probably due to her being converted before him, maybe even leading him to faith. The RTNE has v.4 : ‘but also all the congregations of the Yisraelite nations.’ Other translations have; ‘the churches of the gentiles.’ Some will try and use this verse to separate Jewish and gentile congregations; like there’s a separate gentile church, void of Jews, void of anything Jewish like the Shabbat, Feasts and dietary commandments, but that takes the text out of the context of Yahusha’s call to regather Israel and Paul’s implementation of it! The point being, that non-Jewish believers get to be part of the same community as Jewish believers! Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the congregation that is in their bayit. Greet my well beloved Epainetos, who is the bikkurim of Achayah to the Moshiach.  Romans 16:6 Greet Miryam, who worked very hard for us. Romans 16:7 Greet Andronikos and Junia/Iounias, my relatives, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the shlichim, who also were in Moshiach before me.  Junia/Iounia a woman not Junias a man! Old time scholars considered this figure to be Junias; a male! Today, almost all are in agreement with Junia; a female. Outstanding among the apostles, i.e. she was an apostle. Andronikos was also a woman. Junias didn’t exist before medieval times. Luke 8:3 Joanna/Iōanna, the wife of Kuza, Herod’s finance minister; Susanna; and many others—were supporting them out of their own resources. Iōanna/Joanna could very likely be Iounias/Junia of Rom 16:7, early Jews who were out having contact within the dispersion – the Hellenized world; often took on Latin names that sounded like their Jewish ones. Romans 16:8 Greet Amplias my beloved