Romans 16
New American Standard Bible
Greetings and Love Expressed
16 I (A)recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a [a]servant of the church which is at (B)Cenchrea, 2 that you (C)receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the [b](D)saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, [c]and of myself as well.
3 Greet (E)Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers (F)in (G)Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet (H)the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the (I)first convert to Christ from [d](J)Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and [e]Junia, my (K)kinsfolk and my (L)fellow prisoners, who are outstanding in the view of the apostles, who also [f]were (M)in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker (N)in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, the approved (O)in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my (P)kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet (Q)Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all (R)the [g]saints who are with them. 16 (S)Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and [h]hindrances (T)contrary to the teaching which you learned, and (U)turn away from them. 18 For such people are (V)slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of (W)their own [i]appetites; and by their (X)smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience (Y)has reached everyone; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but (Z)I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. 20 (AA)The God of peace will soon crush (AB)Satan under your feet.
(AC)The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 (AD)Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, and so do (AE)Lucius, (AF)Jason, and (AG)Sosipater, my (AH)kinsmen.
22 I, Tertius, who have (AI)written this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 (AJ)Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. (AK)Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and Quartus, the brother.[j]
25 (AL)Now to Him who is able to establish you (AM)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of (AN)the mystery which has been kept secret for (AO)long ages past, 26 but now has been disclosed, and through (AP)the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to (AQ)obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, (AR)be the glory forever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 16:1 Or deaconess
- Romans 16:2 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Romans 16:2 Lit and of me, myself
- Romans 16:5 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
- Romans 16:7 Or possibly Junias (masc)
- Romans 16:7 Lit have become
- Romans 16:15 See note 1 v 2
- Romans 16:17 Lit occasions of stumbling
- Romans 16:18 Lit belly
- Romans 16:23 Late mss add as v 24: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Romans 16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Personal Greetings
16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a] of the church at Cenchreae,(A) 2 so that you may welcome her in the Lord, as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus,(B) 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the gentiles. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert[b] in Asia for Christ.(C) 6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,[c] my fellow Israelites who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.(D) 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my fellow Israelite Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and greet his mother—a mother to me also. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.(E) 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.(F)
Final Instructions
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who create dissensions and hindrances, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them.(G) 18 For such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites,[d] and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.(H) 19 For your obedience is known to all; therefore, I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil.(I) 20 The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.[e](J)
21 Timothy, my coworker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Israelites.(K)
22 I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.[f]
23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.[g](L)
Final Doxology
25 Now to God[h] who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages(M) 26 but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith(N)— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.[i]
Footnotes
- 16.1 Or minister
- 16.5 Gk first fruits
- 16.7 Or Junias; other ancient authorities read Julia
- 16.18 Gk their own belly
- 16.20 Other ancient authorities lack this sentence
- 16.22 Or I Tertius, writing this letter in the Lord, greet you
- 16.23 Other ancient authorities add verse 24, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.
- 16.25 Gk the one
- 16.27 Other ancient authorities lack 16.25–27 or include it after 14.23 or 15.33; others put 16.24 after 16.27
Romans 16
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
16 And I commend to you Phebe, our sister, who is in the ministry of the church, that is in Cenchrae:
2 That you receive her in the Lord as becometh saints; and that you assist her in whatsoever business she shall have need of you. For she also hath assisted many, and myself also.
3 Salute Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus,
4 (Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not I only give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles,)
5 And the church which is in their house. Salute Epenetus, my beloved: who is the firstfruits of Asia in Christ.
6 Salute Mary, who hath laboured much among you.
7 Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners: who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Salute Ampliatus, most beloved to me in the Lord.
9 Salute Urbanus, our helper in Christ Jesus, and Stachys, my beloved.
10 Salute Apelles, approved in Christ.
11 Salute them that are of Aristobulus' household. Salute Herodian, my kinsman. Salute them that are of Narcissus' household, who are in the Lord.
12 Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute Persis, the dearly beloved, who hath much laboured in the Lord.
13 Salute Rufus, elect in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren that are with them.
15 Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympias; and all the saints that are with them.
16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, to mark them who make dissensions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them.
18 For they that are such, serve not Christ our Lord, but their own belly; and by pleasing speeches and good words, seduce the hearts of the innocent.
19 For your obedience is published in every place. I rejoice therefore in you. But I would have you to be wise in good, and simple in evil.
20 And the God of peace crush Satan under your feet speedily. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
21 Timothy, my fellow labourer, saluteth you, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23 Caius, my host, and the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, saluteth you, and Quartus, a brother.
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from eternity,
26 (Which now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the precept of the eternal God, for the obedience of faith,) known among all nations;
27 To God the only wise, through Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Romans 16
The Message
16 1-2 Be sure to welcome our friend Phoebe in the way of the Master, with all the generous hospitality we Christians are famous for. I heartily endorse both her and her work. She’s a key representative of the church at Cenchrea. Help her out in whatever she asks. She deserves anything you can do for her. She’s helped many a person, including me.
3-5 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila, who have worked hand in hand with me in serving Jesus. They once put their lives on the line for me. And I’m not the only one grateful to them. All the non-Jewish gatherings of believers also owe them plenty, to say nothing of the church that meets in their house.
Hello to my dear friend Epenetus. He was the very first follower of Jesus in the province of Asia.
6 Hello to Mary. What a worker she has turned out to be!
7 Hello to my cousins Andronicus and Junias. We once shared a jail cell. They were believers in Christ before I was. Both of them are outstanding leaders.
8 Hello to Ampliatus, my good friend in the family of God.
9 Hello to Urbanus, our companion in Christ’s work, and my good friend Stachys.
10 Hello to Apelles, a tried-and-true veteran in following Christ.
Hello to the family of Aristobulus.
11 Hello to my cousin Herodion.
Hello to those who belong to the Lord from the family of Narcissus.
12 Hello to Tryphena and Tryphosa—such diligent women in serving the Master.
Hello to Persis, a dear friend and hard worker in Christ.
13 Hello to Rufus—a good choice by the Master!—and his mother. She has also been a dear mother to me.
14 Hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and also to all of their families.
15 Hello to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas—and all the followers of Jesus who live with them.
16 Holy hugs all around! All the churches of Christ send their warmest greetings!
17-18 One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.
19-20 And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters—I couldn’t be more proud of you!—I want you also to be smart, making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!
21 And here are some more greetings from our end. Timothy, my partner in this work, Lucius, and my cousins Jason and Sosipater all said to tell you hello.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter at Paul’s dictation, send you my personal greetings.
23 Gaius, who is host here to both me and the whole church, wants to be remembered to you.
Erastus, the city treasurer, and our good friend Quartus send their greetings.
25-26 All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the final detail.
27 All our praise is focused through Jesus on this incomparably wise God! Yes!
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