In Romans 16:1-15, Paul sends greetings to various Christians living in Rome. There are a surprising number of women in his list, two of whom stand out: Priscilla (Romans 16:3) and the mother of Rufus (Romans 16:13).
This Rufus is most likely the son of Simon from Cyrene, who was compelled by the Romans to carry Christ's cross (Mark 15:21).
Paul states that this anonymous woman was a mother to him.
What he means can be seen in his relationship with Aquila and Priscilla because he lived in their home while in Corinth (Acts 18:2-3). We may say, then, that Priscilla was like a mother to Paul as she took care of all those who lived in her home.
But Priscilla was more than a homemaker; she was a teacher. When Aquila and Priscilla encountered the gifted and learned Apollos, they realized that he was not yet a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, so they both instructed him in the way of the Lord (Acts 18:24-26).
As we think about mothers, we must remember that Scripture teaches us that the Church is our mother (Galatians 4:24-31).
Reflecting on the truth of Hebrews 10:24-27, one can understand why the teachers of the past, including Cyprian, Augustine, Calvin and others, taught that those to whom God is "a Father, the Church must also be a mother" (Calvin, Institutes, Book IV, Chapter I, Section i).
Born again people desire fellowship, they want to hear God's Word proclaimed, they want to assemble together.
While we may be providentially hindered from assembling in large groups now, when this is over, we must examine ourselves if we choose to stay away, on and on. Can such a person ever have been born again?
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After serving Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, Bob was honorably retired on Sunday, September 27, 2015, and given the title "Pastor Emeritus." This was forty years to the day after he became their pastor.
He now works for the Presbytery of the Gulf South as...
