Romans 16 – Final Greetings and Commendations to the Saints

Romans 16

Chapter with Audio

16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman 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; 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, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Final Instructions and Greetings

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

Doxology

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Chapter Analysis

Romans 16: Faithful Servants, Final Warnings, And Glory To God

Receive And Help Faithful Servants

📖 Romans 16:1–2

¹ Paul commends Phoebe to the believers, a sister and servant of the church in Cenchrea. ² He asks them to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and to help her in whatever matter she may need, because she has been a helper of many, including Paul himself.

🔹 The Truth

Faithful servants should be received and helped by the people of God.

Phoebe was recognized as a sister and servant in the church.

Believers are called to treat one another in a manner worthy of the saints.

Those who help others in the work of the Lord should also be helped.

🔹 The Promise

God honors faithful service and uses His people to strengthen one another.

✅ Conclusion

Romans 16 begins with a personal commendation. Paul valued faithful servants and wanted the believers in Rome to receive Phoebe with honor, kindness, and practical support.

Greet The Fellow Workers In Christ

📖 Romans 16:3–16

³ Paul sends greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, his fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their own lives for him. Paul gives thanks for them, and so do all the churches of the Gentiles. ⁵ He also greets the church that meets in their house. He greets Epaenetus, beloved to him, who was among the first converts to Christ in Achaia. ⁶ He greets Mary, who labored much for them. ⁷ He greets Andronicus and Junia, his relatives and fellow prisoners, who were well known among the apostles and were in Christ before him. ⁸ He greets Amplias, beloved in the Lord. ⁹ He greets Urbanus, their fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, beloved to him. ¹⁰ He greets Apelles, who was approved in Christ. He greets those of the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ He greets Herodion, his relative, and those of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. ¹² He greets Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labored in the Lord, and Persis, beloved, who also labored much in the Lord. ¹³ He greets Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who had also been like a mother to Paul. ¹⁴ He greets Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers with them. ¹⁵ He greets Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and all the saints with them. ¹⁶ He tells them to greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet them.

🔹 The Truth

The work of the gospel involves many faithful servants, not one person alone.

Paul remembered people by name and valued their labor in the Lord.

Some risked their lives, some labored much, some opened their homes, and some encouraged Paul personally.

The New Testament Church included men and women serving faithfully in different ways.

Believers are called to honor one another in Christ.

🔹 The Promise

God sees and remembers the faithful labor of His people in Christ.

✅ Conclusion

Paul’s greetings show the beauty of the body of Christ. The ministry of the gospel is carried forward through many believers serving, helping, risking, laboring, and loving one another in the Lord.

Avoid Those Who Cause Divisions

📖 Romans 16:17–20

¹⁷ Paul urges the believers to watch out for those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the teaching they had learned, and to turn away from them. ¹⁸ Such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth words and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. ¹⁹ Paul rejoices because their obedience has become known to all, but he wants them to be wise about what is good and innocent concerning evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under their feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with them.

🔹 The Truth

Believers must watch out for those who cause divisions contrary to sound teaching.

False teachers often use smooth words and flattering speech.

Those who deceive others are serving themselves, not the Lord Jesus Christ.

Believers should be wise about what is good and innocent concerning evil.

God Himself will crush Satan under the feet of His people.

🔹 The Promise

The God of peace will crush Satan, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is with His people.

✅ Conclusion

Love does not mean ignoring false teaching. Believers must guard the truth, avoid divisive deceivers, and trust the God of peace who will finally defeat Satan.

Fellow Workers Send Greetings

📖 Romans 16:21–24

²¹ Timothy, Paul’s fellow worker, sends greetings, along with Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, Paul’s relatives. ²² Tertius, who wrote down the letter, greets them in the Lord. ²³ Gaius, who hosted Paul and the whole church, greets them. Erastus, the city treasurer, and Quartus, a brother, also send greetings. ²⁴ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with them all. Amen.

🔹 The Truth

Paul was surrounded by fellow workers in the Lord.

The letter to the Romans was written down by Tertius as Paul dictated it.

Hospitality played an important role in the life of the New Testament Church.

Believers from different backgrounds served together in Christ.

Grace remains central from beginning to end.

🔹 The Promise

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is with His people.

✅ Conclusion

These greetings remind us that gospel ministry is shared work. God uses fellow workers, writers, hosts, leaders, and ordinary brothers and sisters to strengthen His church.

Glory To God Through Jesus Christ

📖 Romans 16:25–27

²⁵ God is able to establish believers according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages. ²⁶ This mystery has now been made known through the prophetic Scriptures by the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations. ²⁷ To the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

🔹 The Truth

God is able to establish believers according to the gospel.

The gospel centers on the preaching of Jesus Christ.

The mystery once hidden has now been revealed.

God’s purpose is the obedience of faith among all nations.

God alone is wise, and glory belongs to Him through Jesus Christ forever.

🔹 The Promise

God is able to establish His people through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

✅ Conclusion

Romans ends where it began: with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the obedience of faith among all nations. The final praise belongs to the only wise God through Jesus Christ forever.

Overall Conclusion

Romans 16 closes the letter with greetings, warnings, grace, and worship.

Paul honors faithful servants who labored in the Lord, opened their homes, risked their lives, and helped the work of the gospel. The chapter shows that the body of Christ is made up of many servants, each known and useful to God.

Paul also warns believers to avoid those who cause divisions contrary to sound teaching. The people of God must be loving, but also watchful and faithful to the truth.

The chapter ends with praise to God, who is able to establish believers through the gospel of Jesus Christ and bring about the obedience of faith among all nations.

Final Questions For You

  1. What does Romans 16 teach you about the importance of faithful servants in the body of Christ?
  2. Why must believers avoid those who cause divisions contrary to sound teaching?
  3. How does the final praise in Romans 16 help you see that the whole book is centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ?