ROMANS 16:21

“Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, and so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.”

I have had the privilege to have had many ministry colleagues in my 47 years of ministry. Some of those remained lifelong friends. I can look back at each location where I served a church, children’s home or other parachurch organization and name such individuals. Sometimes I have even traveled with these coworkers and have sent greetings back home in their name. So, I can relate to Paul’s verse today.

Four more individuals are mentioned in today’s verse. Some are more familiar than others. Paul calls them fellow workers or kinsmen. These are men who have sacrificed to follow Paul and work with him on his missionary journeys or have given him shelter when needed. Let’s take a look at these men of God.

APPLICATION

Timothy needs no introduction. Paul calls him his child in the faith. I personally believe Timothy was saved when Paul preached in his hometown of Lystra. Does that town sound familiar? This is where Paul was stoned to death, got back up and walked back into town. Who knows, that might have been the event that changed Timothy because when Paul returns to Lystra on his second missionary journey, there is Timothy who is described as “a disciple…well spoken of.” And here he is with him in Corinth as he writes this letter.

Lucius may be the same Lucius mentioned in Acts 13:1 where it says, “Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.” If he is, then he was one of the founders of the church at Antioch. Remember that church? This is where believers were first called Christians.

Many believe Jason is the same Jason who helped Paul in Thessalonica and reaped the angst of the Jews. See what happened to him in Acts 17:5-6. “5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and they attacked the house of Jason and were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brothers before the city authorities,…”

Sosipater is the last one mentioned in the verse. Ellicott believes this may be a different spelling for Sopater, who is mentioned in Acts 20:4. “And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus,…” That’s pretty plausible since Timothy is also mentioned in that verse as being with Paul.

Whoever these men were and whatever became of them is not the issue. The point is they were loyal companions of Paul and stuck with him. Are you a loyal companion to those with whom you serve? Whether that be at work or church, let your Christlike trait of loyalty come through. Who knows, your name might get mentioned in a letter one day.

Father, thank You for loyal companions in life. Help me loyal to others myself.

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