Paul’s Commendation of Phoebe
1I commend to youa our sister Phoebe, who is a servantb of the church in Cenchreae.c 2So you should welcome her in the Lordd in a manner worthy of the •saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many — and of me also.
Greeting to Roman Christians
3Give my greetings to Priscae and Aquila,f my coworkers ing Christ Jesus,h 4who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches.
5Greet also the church that meets in their home.i
Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convertj, k to Christ from •Asia.l, m
6Greet Mary,n who has worked very hard for you.o
7Greet Andronicus and Junia,p my fellow countrymenq and fellow prisoners.r They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles,s, t and they were also in Christ before me.
8Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.
9Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
10Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.u
11Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman.
Greet those who belong to the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
13Greet Rufus,v chosen in the Lord; also his mother — and mine.
14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the •brothers who are with them.
15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.w
16Greet one another with a holy kiss.x
All the churches of Christ send you greetings.
Warning against Divisive People
17Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause dissensions and obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have learned.y Avoid them,z 18for such people do not serve our Lord Christaa but their own appetites.ab, ac They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.ad
Paul’s Gracious Conclusion
19The report of your obedience has reached everyone.ae Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil.af 20The God of peaceag will soon crush Satanah under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.ai
21Timothy,aj my coworker, and Lucius,ak Jason,al and Sosipater,am my fellow countrymen, greet you.
22I Tertius, who wrote this letter,an greet you in the Lord.ao
23Gaius,ap who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus,aq the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.
24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.ar
Glory to God
25Now to Him who has power to strengthen youas according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ,at according to the revelation of the •mystery kept silentau for long agesav 26but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures,aw according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faithax, ay among all nations — 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ — to Him be the glory forever!az, ba •Amen.
Footnotes:
a. 16:1 2Co 3:1
b. 16:1 Others interpret this term in a technical sense: deacon, or deaconess, or minister, or courier
c. 16:1 Ac 18:18
d. 16:2 Php 2:29
e. 16:3 Traditionally, Priscilla, as in Ac 18:2,18,26
f. 16:3 Ac 18:2
g. 16:3 Rm 8:11; 2Co 5:17; 12:2; Gl 1:22
h. 16:3 Rm 8:1
i. 16:5 1Co 16:19; Col 4:15; Phm 2
j. 16:5 Lit the firstfruits
k. 16:5 1Co 16:15
l. 16:5 Other mss read Achaia
m. 16:5 Ac 16:6
n. 16:6 Or Maria
o. 16:6 Other mss read us
p. 16:7 Either a feminine name or “Junias,” a masculine name
q. 16:7 Rm 9:3; 16:21
r. 16:7 Col 4:10; Phm 23
s. 16:7 Or are outstanding among
t. 16:7 “The apostles” is not always a technical term referring to the 12; cp. 2Co 8:23; Php 2:25 where this word is translated as “messenger.”
u. 16:10 1Co 1:11
v. 16:13 Mk 15:21
w. 16:15 Rm 16:2
x. 16:16 1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12; 1Th 5:26; 1Pt 5:14
y. 16:17 1Tm 1:3; 6:3
z. 16:17 Mt 7:15; Gl 1:8-9; 2Th 3:6,14; Ti 3:10; 2Jn 10
aa. 16:18 Rm 14:18
ab. 16:18 Lit belly
ac. 16:18 Php 3:19
ad. 16:18 Col 2:4; 2Pt 2:3
ae. 16:19 Rm 1:8
af. 16:19 Jr 4:22; Mt 10:16; 1Co 14:20
ag. 16:20 Rm 15:33
ah. 16:20 Mt 4:10
ai. 16:20 1Co 16:23; 2Co 13:13; Gl 6:18; Php 4:23; 1Th 5:28; 2Th 3:18; Rv 22:21
aj. 16:21 Ac 16:1
ak. 16:21 Ac 13:1
al. 16:21 Ac 17:5
am. 16:21 Ac 20:4
an. 16:22 1Co 16:21; Gl 6:11; Col 4:18; 2Th 3:17; Phm 19
ao. 16:22 Or letter in the Lord, greet you
ap. 16:23 Ac 20:4; 1Co 1:14
aq. 16:23 Ac 19:22
ar. 16:24 Other mss omit bracketed text; cp. v. 20
as. 16:25 Eph 3:20; Jd 24
at. 16:25 Rm 2:16
au. 16:25 Mt 13:35; Rm 11:25; 1Co 2:1,7; 4:1; Eph 1:9; 3:3,9; 6:19; Col 1:26; 2:2; 4:3; 1Tm 3:16
av. 16:25 2Tm 1:9; Ti 1:2
aw. 16:26 Rm 1:2
ax. 16:26 Or the obedience that is faith, or the faithful obedience, or the obedience that comes from faith ; Rm 1:5
ay. 16:26 Rm 1:5
az. 16:25-27 Other mss have these vv. at the end of chap 14 or 15.
ba. 16:27 Rm 11:36