Romans 16
16
Phoebe Commended. 1#Some authorities regard these verses as a later addition to the letter, but in general the evidence favors the view that they were included in the original. Paul endeavors through the long list of greetings (Rom 16:3–16, 21–23) to establish strong personal contact with congregations that he has not personally encountered before. The combination of Jewish and Gentile names dramatically attests the unity in the gospel that transcends previous barriers of nationality, religious ceremony, or racial status. I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is [also] a minister#Minister: in Greek, diakonos; see note on Phil 1:1. of the church at Cenchreae,#Acts 18:18. 2that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy ones, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a benefactor to many and to me as well.
Paul’s Greetings. 3Greet Prisca and Aquila,#Prisca and Aquila: presumably the couple mentioned at Acts 18:2; 1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tm 4:19. my co-workers in Christ Jesus,#Acts 18:2, 18–26; 1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tm 4:19. 4who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5greet also the church at their house.#The church at their house: i.e., that meets there. Such local assemblies (cf. 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phlm 2) might consist of only one or two dozen Christians each. It is understandable, therefore, that such smaller groups might experience difficulty in relating to one another on certain issues. Firstfruits: cf. Rom 8:23; 11:16; 1 Cor 16:15. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the firstfruits in Asia for Christ.#1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phlm 2 / 1 Cor 16:15. 6Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7Greet Andronicus and Junia,#The name Junia is a woman’s name. One ancient Greek manuscript and a number of ancient versions read the name “Julia.” Most editors have interpreted it as a man’s name, Junias. my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles and they were in Christ before me. 8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11Greet my relative Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus,#This Rufus cannot be identified to any degree of certainty with the Rufus of Mk 15:21. chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.#Mk 15:21. 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the holy ones who are with them. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.#1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Thes 5:26; 1 Pt 5:14.
Against Factions. 17#Paul displays genuine concern for the congregations in Rome by warning them against self-seeking teachers. It would be a great loss, he intimates, if their obedience, which is known to all (cf. Rom 1:8), would be diluted. I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles, in opposition to the teaching that you learned; avoid them.#Mt 7:15; Ti 3:10. 18For such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.#Phil 3:18–19; Col 2:4; 2 Pt 2:3. 19For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise as to what is good, and simple as to what is evil;#1:8; Mt 10:16; 1 Cor 14:20. 20then the God of peace will quickly crush Satan#This verse contains the only mention of Satan in Romans. under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.#15:33; Gn 3:15; Lk 10:19 / 1 Cor 16:23; 1 Thes 5:28; 2 Thes 3:18.
Greetings from Corinth. 21Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.#Acts 16:1–2; 19:22; 20:4; 1 Cor 4:17; 16:10; Phil 2:19–22; Heb 13:23. 22I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23#Acts 19:29; 1 Cor 1:14 / 2 Tm 4:20. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus,#This Erastus is not necessarily to be identified with the Erastus of Acts 19:22 or of 2 Tm 4:20. the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you. [24]#Some manuscripts add, similarly to Rom 16:20, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Doxology.#This doxology is assigned variously to the end of Rom 14; 15; 16 in the manuscript tradition. Some manuscripts omit it entirely. Whether written by Paul or not, it forms an admirable conclusion to the letter at this point. [25Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,#1 Cor 2:7; Eph 1:9; 3:3–9; Col 1:26. according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages#Paul’s gospel reveals the mystery kept secret for long ages: justification and salvation through faith, with all the implications for Jews and Gentiles that Paul has developed in the letter. 26but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,#2 Tm 1:10 / Rom 1:5; Eph 3:4–5, 9; 1 Pt 1:20. 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.]#11:36; Gal 1:5; Eph 3:20–21; Phil 4:20; 1 Tm 1:17; 2 Tm 4:18; Heb 13:21; 1 Pt 4:11; 2 Pt 3:18; Jude 25; Rev 1:6.
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Romans 16: NABRE
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Romans 16
16
Introduction to Phoebe
1I’m introducing our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant#16.1 Or deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2Welcome 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
3Say hello to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, 4who 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. 5Also say hello to the church that meets in their house. Say hello to Epaenetus, my dear friend, who was the first convert#16.5 Or is the firstfruits in Asia for Christ. 6Say hello to Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 7Say hello to Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners. They are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8Say hello to Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9Say hello to Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10Say hello to Apelles, who is tried and true in Christ. Say hello to the members of the household of Aristobulus. 11Say hello to my relative Herodion. Say hello to the members of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12Say 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. 13Say hello to Rufus, who is an outstanding believer, along with his mother and mine. 14Say hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. 15Say hello to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16Say hello to each other with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ say hello to you.
Warning against divisions
17Brothers 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. 18People 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. 19The 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. 20The God of peace will soon crush Satan#16.20 Or the Adversary under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Greetings from Paul’s coworkers
21Timothy my coworker says hello to you, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. 22I’m Tertius, and I’m writing this letter to you in the Lord—hello! 23Gaius, 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.#16.23 Critical editions of the Gk New Testament do not include 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Final prayer
25May 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#16.25 Or mystery that was kept quiet for a long time. 26Now that secret is revealed through what the prophets wrote. It is made known to the Gentiles#16.26 Or all the Gentiles in order to lead to their faithful obedience based on the command of the eternal God. 27May the glory be to God, who alone is wise! May the glory be to him through Jesus Christ forever! Amen.
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