Section 12
a specific place, our heart should be wide and broad enough to embrace all the churches.
The third mention of the church is in 16:5, where Paul says, "greet the church in their house," referring to the house of Prisca and Aquila. On the one hand this couple was for all the churches; on the other hand they were for their local church in particular. When they were living in Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19), the church in Ephesus was in their house (1 Cor. 16:19). When they were in Rome, the church in Rome met in their house.
The "church in their house" in verse 5 was the church in Rome. To have the church in your home is a very heavy burden. If you try it, you will discover how heavy a burden it is. However, Prisca and Aquila were absolute for the church life; they did not care for the heavy burden.
In 16:16 Paul says, "The churches of Christ greet you." Suddenly Paul mentions "the churches of Christ." Wherever the churches are located, in your city or in my town, they must be the churches of Christ. The church in every locality must be the church of Christ. Do not say that the church is the church of Brother So-and-So. Such a say ing is mistaken. We must all learn to say "the churches of Christ."
The last mention of the church in Romans