Romans 16
16
1-2Be 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.
3-5Say 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.
6Hello to Mary. What a worker she has turned out to be!
7Hello 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.
8Hello to Ampliatus, my good friend in the family of God.
9Hello to Urbanus, our companion in Christ’s work, and my good friend Stachys.
10Hello to Apelles, a tried-and-true veteran in following Christ.
Hello to the family of Aristobulus.
11Hello to my cousin Herodion.
Hello to those who belong to the Lord from the family of Narcissus.
12Hello to Tryphena and Tryphosa—such diligent women in serving the Master.
Hello to Persis, a dear friend and hard worker in Christ.
13Hello to Rufus—a good choice by the Master!—and his mother. She has also been a dear mother to me.
14Hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and also to all of their families.
15Hello to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas—and all the followers of Jesus who live with them.
16Holy hugs all around! All the churches of Christ send their warmest greetings!
17-18One 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.
19-20And 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!
21And 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.
22I, Tertius, who wrote this letter at Paul’s dictation, send you my personal greetings.
23Gaius, 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.
25-26All 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.
27All our praise is focused through Jesus on this incomparably wise God! Yes!
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
Romans 16
16
Paul’s Commendation of Phoebe
1I commend to you # 2Co 3:1 our sister Phoebe, who is a servant # Others interpret this term in a technical sense: deacon, or deaconess, or minister, or courier of the church in Cenchreae. # Ac 18:18 2So you should welcome her in the Lord # Php 2:29 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 Prisca # Traditionally, Priscilla, as in Ac 18:2,18,26 and Aquila, # Ac 18:2 my coworkers in # Rm 8:11; 2Co 5:17; 12:2; Gl 1:22 Christ Jesus, # Rm 8:1 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. # 1Co 16:19; Col 4:15; Phm 2
Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert # Lit the firstfruits # 1Co 16:15 to Christ from Asia. # Other mss read Achaia # Ac 16:6
6Greet Mary, # Or Maria who has worked very hard for you. # Other mss read us
7Greet Andronicus and Junia, # Either a feminine name or “Junias,” a masculine name my fellow countrymen # Rm 9:3; 16:21 and fellow prisoners. # Col 4:10; Phm 23 They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, # Or are outstanding among # “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.” 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. # 1Co 1:11
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, # Mk 15:21 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. # Rm 16:2
16Greet one another with a holy kiss. # 1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12; 1Th 5:26; 1Pt 5:14
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. # 1Tm 1:3; 6:3 Avoid them, # Mt 7:15; Gl 1:8-9; 2Th 3:6,14; Ti 3:10; 2Jn 10 18for such people do not serve our Lord Christ # Rm 14:18 but their own appetites. # Lit belly # Php 3:19 They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words. # Col 2:4; 2Pt 2:3
Paul’s Gracious Conclusion
19The report of your obedience has reached everyone. # Rm 1:8 Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil. # Jr 4:22; Mt 10:16; 1Co 14:20 20The God of peace # Rm 15:33 will soon crush Satan # Mt 4:10 under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. # 1Co 16:23; 2Co 13:13; Gl 6:18; Php 4:23; 1Th 5:28; 2Th 3:18; Rv 22:21
21Timothy, # Ac 16:1 my coworker, and Lucius, # Ac 13:1 Jason, # Ac 17:5 and Sosipater, # Ac 20:4 my fellow countrymen, greet you.
22I Tertius, who wrote this letter, # 1Co 16:21; Gl 6:11; Col 4:18; 2Th 3:17; Phm 19 greet you in the Lord. # Or letter in the Lord, greet you
23Gaius, # Ac 20:4; 1Co 1:14 who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, # Ac 19:22 the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.
24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. # Other mss omit bracketed text; cp. v. 20
Glory to God
25Now to Him who has power to strengthen you # Eph 3:20; Jd 24 according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, # Rm 2:16 according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent # 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 for long ages # 2Tm 1:9; Ti 1:2 26but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, # Rm 1:2 according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith # Or the obedience that is faith, or the faithful obedience, or the obedience that comes from faith ; Rm 1:5 # Rm 1:5 among all nations — 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ — to Him be the glory forever! # Other mss have these vv. at the end of chap 14 or 15. # Rm 11:36 Amen.
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