Greetings and Love Expressed

1Now I introduce and commend to you our sister [a]Phoebe, a deaconess (servant) of the church at [b]Cenchrea, 2that 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.

3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who 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. 5Also 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]. 6Greet Mary, who has worked so hard for you. 7Greet 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. 8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10Greet Apelles, the one tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of [f]Aristobulus. 11Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, an eminent and choice man in the Lord, also his mother [who has been] a mother to me as well. 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 [g]God’s people who are with them. 16Greet one another with a [h]holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

17I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and create obstacles or introduce temptations [for others] to commit sin, [acting in ways] contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Turn away from them. 18For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and base desires. By smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting [the innocent and the naive]. 19For the report of your obedience has reached everyone, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The [wonderful] grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

21Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

22I, [i]Tertius, the writer (scribe) of this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church here, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. 24[j][The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]

25Now to Him who is able to establish and strengthen you [in the faith] according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [of the plan of salvation] which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26but now has been disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God, leading them to obedience to the faith, 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forevermore! Amen.

[a] 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.
[b] 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.
[c] 2 Lit the saints.
[d] 7 Or Junia (feminine). There is a higher probability that the name is feminine; no masculine forms found in this or near time periods.
[e] 7 The Greek and larger context favor this understanding; Andronicus and Junia are not identified as apostles here.
[f] 10 Believed by some scholars to be the brother of Herod Agrippa I and grandson of Herod the Great.
[g] 15 Lit the saints.
[h] 16 A traditional act of salutation in the early church.
[i] 22 Paul’s helper, who wrote this letter as Paul dictated it, inserted a personal greeting, undoubtedly with Paul’s permission.
[j] 24 Early mss do not contain this verse; it was taken from the Latin Vulgate.