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Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Some people were specially honored by the Apostle Paul.<\/p>\n \u201cAmplias<\/span>\u201d is a shortened form of the Latin name Ampliatus, meaning \u201cenlarged.\u201d Some Greek manuscripts have the full name rather than the shortened form.<\/p>\n \u201cBeloved<\/span>\u201d is translated from agap\u0113tos<\/em><\/span>, which is based on agape<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ca perfect self-sacrificing love.\u201d There are two different Greek verbs translated \u201clove\u201d in the New Testament. The first is Phile\u014d<\/em><\/span>, referring to a \u201cbrotherly love\u201d or \u201cfondness\u201d as expressed between good friends. The other is agapa\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which indicates more than just emotion. It implies action which is directed toward the benefit of the beloved even at the expense of personal sacrifice on the part of the loving one.<\/p>\n Paul spends the entire first half of this final chapter of the letter to the church at Rome giving greetings to specific people who are associated with the church. Each one of these people is someone whom Paul considers worthy of greeting. In some cases he tells us a little about the person (or persons) but in others, like Amplias in today\u2019s verse, he tells us almost nothing.<\/p>\n What we do know about Amplias is that Paul considers him beloved in the Lord. In other words, he considers Amplias more than just a friend. We don\u2019t know what Amplias did to earn such an esteemed position in Paul\u2019s mind, but whatever it was, Paul expresses a level of affection for this person that he offers to few others; in fact, of all those greeted in this letter only four are referred to as beloved by Paul. They are Epenetus (Romans 16:5<\/strong><\/span>), Amplias (Romans 16:8<\/strong><\/span>), Stachys (Romans 16:9<\/strong><\/span>), and Persis (Romans 16:12<\/strong><\/span>).<\/p>\n Though Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles, well known by virtually everyone in the church throughout the known world at that time, he did not consider himself above others in the church, especially those who labored fervently for God. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul referred to himself as the chief of all sinners:<\/p>\n This is<\/em> <\/span>a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.<\/span> (1Timothy 1:15<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n In this passage in 1Timothy, Paul has recounted some of the despicable things he did before he got saved. And yet, in 1Timothy 1:15<\/span><\/strong> he does not say, \u201cof whom I was<\/strong> chief,\u201d he said, \u201cof whom I am<\/strong> chief.\u201d<\/p>\n The Apostle Paul does not think of himself as better than other Christians. He is well aware that apart from God\u2019s grace he is destined for hell just like the rest of us. And, out of his humility he gives recognition to a number of unknown people who give their all for their Savior. In today\u2019s verse we see him giving recognition to one of his dearly beloved friends, Amplias.<\/p>\n Imagine how honoring it must have been for a simple Christian man like Amplias to receive recognition in a church letter from the Apostle Paul. What would be even better would be to receive recognition from our Lord as He ushers us into heaven with, \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant!\u201d Will God say that about you? Remember, how you serve Him now will<\/strong> have eternal consequences.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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