Romans 16:9-10 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.
Almost every name listed in this chapter has some description with it. Urbanus is a fellow worker. When Paul uses this term, it usually implies that this person was involved in the ministry. Although Paul made tents and likely worked with leather and animals skins to make things, possibly even his own parchments, that does not mean that Urbanus was in the same industry. Paul’s bi-vocational job was only a way to support himself so that he would not be a burden to the churches and to give him more freedom and opportunity to share the gospel. I wish we knew more about each of these names.
Stachys is called beloved, a term of close relationship. Early Christians shared a bond closer than blood relationships. When we are united in Jesus Christ, when he is the head of the church, our human walls of separation come down. We can call each other beloved because of the love of God that is in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
Apelles is approved by Christ. The word for approved (dakimos) can also be tested. Apelles may have gone through a trial of some type and his character and faith were tested. He did not back down or give in during his trial and so receives the mark of “approved.” Specifically, his approval is “in Christ” implying that he placed his identity with Jesus Christ and not the world. His approval comes from Christ because he has aligned his life under the lordship of Christ.
Paul does not say much about the family of Aristobulus, but even to mention this family gives us a hint of early Christianity. Here is a family that has come to believe. We cannot tell from this brief statement if Aristobulus is still alive. He may have passed on and the family has remained faithful. Or, it could simply be a way of greeting a whole family, of which Aristobulus was the head. This family put their faith in Christ and lived in Rome. To be a believing family in Rome was risky, but they were faithful.
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