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Greetings and Love Expressed

16 Now I introduce and commend to you our sister [a]Phoebe, a deaconess (servant) of the church at [b]Cenchrea, 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.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 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. 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]. Greet Mary, who has worked so hard for you. 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. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 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. 12 Greet 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. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 16:1 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.
  2. Romans 16:1 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.
  3. Romans 16:2 Lit the saints.
  4. Romans 16:7 Or Junia (feminine). There is a higher probability that the name is feminine; no masculine forms found in this or near time periods.
  5. Romans 16:7 The Greek and larger context favor this understanding; Andronicus and Junia are not identified as apostles here.
  6. Romans 16:10 Believed by some scholars to be the brother of Herod Agrippa I and grandson of Herod the Great.
  7. Romans 16:15 Lit the saints.
  8. Romans 16:16 A traditional act of salutation in the early church.

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