Romans 15-16

In verse 4, Paul tells us that the purpose of the scriptures is to give us hope. Whenever life confronts in ways we cannot control, the only hope that brings lasting peace comes from the Lord and the scriptures are one of the quickest ways through which we can access his hope. Hope cannot be found in the world. People spend all kinds of money looking and seeking for that which they cannot find in the world. I think life's answers to questions and problems are always found in far more simple ways than we realize. It's a simple thing to read the scriptures. It's not hard to pray. And the more we pray and the more familiar we are with the scriptures, the easier it is to find the deep and meaningful things we are seeking.

In verses 9-12, Paul uses the scriptures to show how Isaiah and other prophets prophesied of the gentiles receiving the gospel. In verse 20, it appears that Paul liked to do his missionary work in places where it had never been heard, rather than go where others have already preached. He says he doesn't want to build on other men's foundations. Finally, he says he wants to go to Spain. We have no record of him going there so we don't know if he did or not.

Romans 16
This epistle to the Romans is going to be taken to them (Paul is writing this from Corinth) by Phebe, a member of the church from Cenchrea, the port town south of Corinth. She had assisted Paul in the work previously and now she's carrying his letter to Rome. Paul mentions the names of 28 people in this chapter, some of them women. Verses 7, 11 and 21 seems to indicate that some of these people were relatives. One person, Erastus, was the city treasurer in Corinth. A stone slab has been discovered that reads "Erastus, in return for his position as city treasurer, laid this pavement at his own expense." Evidently he was a wealthy and influential member of the church.