You may read these words in the title and ask, “Are those people’s names? Or are those dinosaur names? Are they spelled correctly?” In Romans 16, Paul sends greetings to 26 individuals in the church at Rome. (Yet, he had never been there.) Reading through the names can be challenging, somewhat like a genealogical record. But it can also be a rich reminder.
Some of the names in Paul’s greetings were common names for slaves. About nine of the names were women (like Tryphaena and Tryphosa). It appears that there were multiple congregations in Rome, who met in different houses, so greetings were sent to specific brethren in specific “house congregations,” which included Asyncritus and Phlegon.
Here’s the point of this particular article. Read the names in Romans 16:3-16 and realize that these are YOUR brothers and sisters in Christ! There is a wonderful unity in the Lord’s church of ALL kinds of people, which will be realized and enjoyed eternally in heaven! What an amazing day that will be!