The final chapter, the greetings and a little about most of them and a doxology to end the book. It’s a fun one to read. See what you can decipher too. Enjoy!
Please read Romans 16:1-2
Greetings and Love Expressed
1 Now I introduce and commend to you our sister [a]Phoebe, a deaconess (servant) of the church at [b]Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord [with love and hospitality], as [c]God’s people ought to receive one another. And that you may help her in whatever matter she may require assistance from you, for she has been a helper of many, including myself.
While this is the chapter full of greetings it behooves us to pay some attention to them. So Phoebe, I bet she was a lovely person. Helpful and kind and strong enough to make the trip from Cenchrea to Rome, likely alone or with few people accompanying her. But most of all it was her faith that gets her this position in Scripture. And first place in the list of greetings too.
Please read Romans 16:3-7
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks [endangering their very lives] for my life. To them not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Also greet the church that meets in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor]. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked so hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and [d]Junias, my kinsmen and [once] my fellow prisoners, who are held in high esteem [e]in the estimation of the apostles, and who were [believers] in Christ before me.
Prisca and Aquila are mentioned several times in Scripture and also hosted a church in their home. Here they gave very important help to Paul, perhaps even life-saving help.
Epaenetus was the first convert in Asia Minor to Christ. Can you imagine being the first? Oh my that would be lonely and somewhat terrifying, but also full of God, so loved, and full of faith too.
Mary worked so hard for this church in Rome. Faithful.
Andronicus and Junias were in prison with Paul and became believers before Paul and such close friends he calls them kinsman who are held in high esteem by the apostles. The wonder of church as a place where strangers become family and it’s such a blessing to us all.
Please read Romans 16:8-13
8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, the one tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of [f]Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, an eminent and choice man in the Lord, also his mother [who has been] a mother to me as well.
So many want to send their greetings and Paul wants to introduce to the other church at least by name and relationship to him, most of them being beloved by him and likely on his very long prayer list.
Please read Romans 16:14-16
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all [g]God’s people who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a [h]holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Groups of people aside from the names mean many house churches. Groups perhaps Paul is only partially familiar with, but wants to keep them faithful and prayed for and introduce them too.
Please read Romans 16:17-20
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and create obstacles or introduce temptations [for others] to commit sin, [acting in ways] contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Turn away from them. 18 For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and base desires. By smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting [the innocent and the naive]. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached everyone, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The [wonderful] grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
I think what he means by ‘keep your eyes on’ here is be aware of those who do these things and keep yourself away from them. And keep growing your faith so that their speech won’t deceive you.
The promise here, if you are wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil, is God’s peace. Because God is a peaceful God. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Even in the turmoil of what they’re experiencing here, that Peace is available if they just keep hold of their faith and through it obey.
Please read Romans 16:21-24
21Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
22 I, [i]Tertius, the writer (scribe) of this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church here, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.24[j][The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]
The whole group of them are at Gaius’ home. Likely not at the same time, but so many anyway. Even Timothy is there. And this Jason might be the one who helped Paul in Thessalonica. Whoever they all are, they are believers and it’s quite an honor to get their greetings and names in this letter.
Please read Romans 16:25-27
25 Now to Him who is able to establish and strengthen you [in the faith] according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [of the plan of salvation] which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now has been disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God, leading them to obedience to the faith, 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forevermore! Amen.
Amen indeed. Take those three verses and break them down into phrases or however it makes sense to you and see what you can learn from them that is confirmed by other Scripture or something else in your memory. When I do this it always helps me see it even better. Grow your faith.
Romans Bible Study Links.
Footnotes
[a] Romans 16:1 – [a]Phoebe – Phoebe (“bright,” “pure”) was chosen by Paul as his emissary to deliver this letter to Rome. She may have held a recognized position within the church.[b] Romans 16:1 – of the church at [b]Cenchrea – Cenchrea, a few miles east of Corinth, served as Corinth’s port and was probably visited by Paul during both his second and third missionary journeys. This letter was written from Corinth near the end of the third journey.[c] Romans 16:2 -as [c]God’s people ought to receive one another – Lit the saints.
[d] Romans 16:7 – Greet Andronicus and [d]Junias, my kinsmen – Or Junia (feminine). There is a higher probability that the name is feminine; no masculine forms found in this or near time periods.
[e] Romans 16:7 – who are held in high esteem [e]in the estimation of the apostles – The Greek and larger context favor this understanding; Andronicus and Junia are not identified as apostles here.
[f] Romans 16:10 – the household of [f]Aristobulus – Believed by some scholars to be the brother of Herod Agrippa I and grandson of Herod the Great.
[g] Romans 16:15 – all [g]God’s people who are with them – Lit the saints.
[h] Romans 16:16 -a [h]holy kiss- A traditional act of salutation in the early church.
[i] Romans 16:22 -I, [i]Tertius, the writer (scribe) of this letter, greet you in the Lord. – Paul’s helper, who wrote this letter as Paul dictated it, inserted a personal greeting, undoubtedly with Paul’s permission.
[j] Romans 16:24 –[j][The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.] – Early mss do not contain this verse; it was taken from the Latin Vulgate.