As
Paul the apostle continued to list certain individuals to greet among
the believers in Rome, he told the believers to, “Greet
Mary, who bestowed much labor on us”,
and in
chapter
sixteen and verse seven of Romans,
Paul instructed the believers to, “salute
Andronicus
and Junia”
where
we read:
Salute
Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners,
who
are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
The
verse begins, “Salute
Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners,
...”
Paul
began with the word, “salute”
which
means “greet, bid welcome, wish well to and receive joyfully”
“Andronicus”
whose name means “man of victory” and was “a Jewish Christian
and a kinsman of Paul” “and
Junia”
whose name means “youthful” and was “one of his kinsfolk and
fellow prisoners”, “my
kinsmen”
which means “Paul's relative who was related by blood or as a
fellow countryman”, “and
my fellow-prisoners”
or “co-captive”. Paul wanted the believers in Rome to “bid
welcome and greet” both “Andronicus
and Junia”
who were his relatives and “fellow-prisoners”.
The
verse goes on to say, “...
who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before
me.”.
Paul continued with the words, “who
are of note”
which means “Andronicus
and Junia”
were marked, stamped, coined and famous” “among
the apostles”
or “by and with the delegates, messengers and ones sent forth with
orders which was specifically applied to the twelve apostles of
Christ”, “who
also were”
which means “that were indeed and even so” “in
Christ”
which refers to “within the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son
of God” “before
me”
which means “prior to Paul”. Paul recognized how “Andronicus
and Junia”
were well known and “marked” by the “sent out messengers” of
Jesus and were indeed Christians “prior to” Paul becoming one.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see two more examples of
people who served well in the ministry. “Andronicus and Junia”
appeared to be “relatives” of Paul at least in “spirit” if
not also in actual blood relations, and they performed their duties
so well they were acknowledged by the original “apostles” of
Jesus. God Almighty desires a relationship with all people through
His Son Jesus Christ, and when a person receives Jesus as their
personal “Savior and Lord”, they will desire to function in a
manner that is pleasing not only to God but also to men. May all who
read these words not only admire “Andronicus and Junia”,
but also desire to serve in the manner in which they served.
Next
time
Paul tells the believers in Rome to “greet
Amplias”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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