The Letters · New Testament
Romans 16
Romans 16: a commendation, greetings to named believers, a warning, and a closing doxology
General context
The chapter opens by commending "Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea", asking that they receive her and "assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you", because "she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also". Greetings follow, each name given a short clause. Priscilla and Aquila are "my helpers in Christ Jesus" who "have for my life laid down their own necks", with the church in their house. Epenetus is "the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ"; Mary "bestowed much labour on us"; Andronicus and Junia are kinsmen and fellowprisoners, "of note among the apostles", and "were in Christ before me". Amplias, Urbane, Stachys and Apelles follow, then the households of Aristobulus and of Narcissus, Herodion a kinsman, Tryphena and Tryphosa "who labour in the Lord", Persis "which laboured much in the Lord", Rufus "chosen in the Lord" with his mother, then Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and the saints with them. All are told to greet one another "with an holy kiss". A warning interrupts: mark and avoid those who "cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned", who serve "their own belly" and deceive "the hearts of the simple". Then greetings from Timotheus, Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, from Tertius, who names himself as the one "who wrote this epistle", from Gaius the host, Erastus "the chamberlain of the city", and Quartus. A doxology closes the letter.
Cited passages: Romans 16:1, Romans 16:2, Romans 16:3, Romans 16:4, Romans 16:5, Romans 16:6, Romans 16:7, Romans 16:8, Romans 16:9, Romans 16:10, Romans 16:11, Romans 16:12, Romans 16:13, Romans 16:14, Romans 16:15, Romans 16:16, Romans 16:17, Romans 16:18, Romans 16:19, Romans 16:20, Romans 16:21, Romans 16:22, Romans 16:23, Romans 16:25, Romans 16:26, Romans 16:27
Romans 16 (KJV)
1I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.
11Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
15Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
21Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
22I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Printed after this letter in the King James Version: Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.
Historical context
This is the letter's longest run of personal names, more than thirty, with two households named for men who are not themselves greeted, Aristobulus and Narcissus, and one gathering described as "the church that is in their house". What the text says of each person is short, usually a single clause: labour, kinship, imprisonment, risk taken, or being first in a region. Several women are named, among them Phebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis and Julia, and two appear without names, the mother of Rufus and the sister of Nereus. Places attached to people are Cenchrea and Achaia. No ages, occupations or family details are given, apart from Erastus, called "the chamberlain of the city", and nothing is said about how any of these people came to Rome. Tertius is the only person identified as having written the letter down. In this source verse 27 also prints a closing line, "Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea", as part of the verse text rather than as a heading.
Cited passages: Romans 16:1, Romans 16:3, Romans 16:5, Romans 16:6, Romans 16:7, Romans 16:10, Romans 16:11, Romans 16:12, Romans 16:13, Romans 16:15, Romans 16:22, Romans 16:23, Romans 16:27
Literary context
The list alternates between two verbs, "Greet" and "Salute", and almost every name carries a descriptive phrase rather than a title, so the section reads as a set of short characterisations. Labour is the note that recurs most, in "bestowed much labour on us", "who labour in the Lord" and "which laboured much in the Lord", and it is attached to women each time. The rhythm breaks at verse 17 for a sharp warning in a different tone, then resumes with the names of companions, and the scribe adds a sentence in his own name, "I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord." The closing doxology returns to the vocabulary of the opening chapter, the gospel, the prophets, all nations and the obedience of faith, so the letter ends where it began.
Cited passages: Romans 16:3, Romans 16:5, Romans 16:6, Romans 16:9, Romans 16:12, Romans 16:16, Romans 16:17, Romans 16:18, Romans 16:22, Romans 16:25, Romans 16:26, Romans 1:5
Key moments
- Phebe commended (Romans 16:1). A sister and servant of the church at Cenchrea is commended to them.
- Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3). Two helpers are greeted, with the church that meets in their house.
- Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7). Two kinsmen and fellowprisoners are described as of note among the apostles.
- Rufus and his mother (Romans 16:13). A man chosen in the Lord is greeted along with his mother.
- Greet with an holy kiss (Romans 16:16). The greetings close with an instruction to the whole group.
- A warning about divisions (Romans 16:17). Those causing divisions contrary to the doctrine are to be avoided.
- Tertius names himself (Romans 16:22). The person who wrote the letter down adds his own greeting.
For reflection
Most of the people here get one clause each, and nothing more is said about them anywhere in the letter. What do those short clauses suggest about what the writer thought worth recording?
People in this chapter
Also indexed here: