Introduction to Phoebe

16 I’m introducing our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant^[a] of the church in Cenchreae. ² Welcome her in the Lord in a way that is worthy of God’s people, and give her whatever she needs from you, because she herself has been a sponsor of many people, myself included.

Greetings to Roman Christians

³ Say hello to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their own necks for my life. I’m not the only one who thanks God for them, but all the churches of the Gentiles do the same. ⁵ Also say hello to the church that meets in their house. Say hello to Epaenetus, my dear friend, who was the first convert^[b] in Asia for Christ. ⁶ Say hello to Mary, who has worked very hard for you. ⁷ Say hello to Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners. They are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. ⁸ Say hello to Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. ⁹ Say hello to Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. ¹⁰ Say hello to Apelles, who is tried and true in Christ. Say hello to the members of the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Say hello to my relative Herodion. Say hello to the members of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. ¹² Say hello to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who are workers for the Lord. Say hello to my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. ¹³ Say hello to Rufus, who is an outstanding believer, along with his mother and mine. ¹⁴ Say hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. ¹⁵ Say hello to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. ¹⁶ Say hello to each other with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ say hello to you.

Warning against divisions

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, I urge you to watch out for people who create divisions and problems against the teaching that you learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸ People like that aren’t serving the Lord. They are serving their own feelings. They deceive the hearts of innocent people with smooth talk and flattery. ¹⁹ The news of your obedience has reached everybody, so I’m happy for you. But I want you to be wise about what’s good, and innocent about what’s evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan^[c] under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Greetings from Paul’s coworkers

²¹ Timothy my coworker says hello to you, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. ²² I’m Tertius, and I’m writing this letter to you in the Lord—hello! ²³ Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, says hello to you. Erastus the city treasurer says hello to you, along with our brother Quartus.^[d]

Final prayer

²⁵ May the glory be to God who can strengthen you with my good news and the message that I preach about Jesus Christ. He can strengthen you with the announcement of the secret^[e] that was kept quiet for a long time. ²⁶ Now that secret is revealed through what the prophets wrote. It is made known to the Gentiles^[f] in order to lead to their faithful obedience based on the command of the eternal God. ²⁷ May the glory be to God, who alone is wise! May the glory be to him through Jesus Christ forever! Amen.