Romans 16:1-27
Sister Phoebe Commended
1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
Greeting Roman Saints
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
Avoid Divisive Persons
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Greetings from Paul’s Friends
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Benediction
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
The end of the letter to the Roman church is full of final thoughts dealing with a commendable, many greetings, a warning against divisive people in the church, and a final benediction of grace. The commendation to Phoebe who served the church in Cenchrea reminds them of her need for assistance in her ministry of helps (1 Corinthians 12:28) within the body. They saints (all who are called in Christ) were exhorted to lend her a hand to help the helper in a worthy way for them to show the unity and love in supporting that ministry just as we should be doing in various ministries in our churches today as we commend those who serve in all aspects and roles according to the gifts given each one. Then Paul goes on to pass on greetings to many there such as the venerable Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:2-3, 1 Corinthians 16:19) who were his co-laborers of the gospel in Christ and all those of the church that met in their house. This couple had risked their own lives to provide for the apostle as he brought the gospel amidst staunch opposition from those rejecting Christ. They lived as crucified to Christ by bearing the cross of death to themselves daily in sacrificial living and ministry. We ought to doubly honor such people. He goes on to mention many others by name equally needing greeting and commendations from him, such as Tryphena and Tryphosa and the beloved Persis, who all labored much in the Lord, approved in Christ and working out their salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13) along with Paul. He summed up the greetings with a holy kiss of brotherly love to each and a greeting from all the churches of Jesus Christ in addition to his own affections and thanksgiving for their work in the gospel. He then gave the warnings against those rising up from within (Acts 20:29-31) and without (2 Corinthians 7:5), for there are always those who cause trouble as they stir up division among the brethren and set snares to cause others to stumble spiritually through bad teaching and even worse motives and examples. These are self-serving instead of humble servants as commended earlier who work to flatter and mislead believers to deceive those not mature in Christ according to sound understanding of the scriptures. We are to disciple others to be wise concerning what is good and simple concerning the evil wiles of the enemy’s attack (Matthew 10:16, Philippians 2:15) so as not to start thinking or participating in those things which dishonor the Lord and His people. We have the assurance of victory over the evil adversary in the omnipotent Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57) who is Sovereign over all. The end of the letter appears here in the final verses (or in the majority of extant Greek manuscripts after Romans 14:23) to remind the Romans and us of the power of God to establish us in the faith and work of the gospel as the mystery hidden from the beginning is shown in and to and through us (Colossians 1:27) as the scriptures reveal (Luke 24:26-27, Acts 17:2-3) that all who are called out of every nation, people, and language may obey the gospel through repentance and faith to glorify God in Christ For revealing Himself to us and through us to the world and the heavenly realms!
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