Romans 16:1-16
1: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;
2: that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.
3: Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
4: who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;
5: also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
6: Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
7: Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8: Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
9: Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10: Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
11: Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.
12: Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.
13: Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.
14: Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them.
15: Greet Philologus and 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.
Paul began to end the letter with greetings, mentioning several people by name. He introduced them to Phoebe, a sister in the Lord, who was most likely the one who brought the letter to the Romans, or at least accompanied those who brought it. She served the church at Cenchrea which was a port near Corinth. Paul asked that they receive her and assist her in whatever she needed. He also mentioned Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila as fellow workers with him who risked their lives for him. Paul worked with Aquila as a tentmaker, and he preached the gospel and travelled with both of them (Acts 18).
Paul mentioned many others and used such words to describe them as servant, helper, fellow workers, beloved, worked hard, fellow prisoners, outstanding, in Christ, approved in Christ, kinsman, a choice man, and brethren. He then said to greet one another with a holy kiss and sent greetings to them from all the churches of Christ. The holy kiss was a sign of friendship, indicating that believers in Christ should be friends with one another.
Jesus gave the commandment before He died to love one another as He has loved us, and then said that the greatest love is to lay down your life for your friends (John 15:12-13). To follow Jesus and be His disciple means we are a part of His body—friends and co-workers with those who also follow Him. Our closest friends ought to be those with whom we share time, bread, and purpose.
2: that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.
3: Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
4: who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;
5: also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
6: Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
7: Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8: Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
9: Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10: Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
11: Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.
12: Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.
13: Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.
14: Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them.
15: Greet Philologus and 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.
***
Paul began to end the letter with greetings, mentioning several people by name. He introduced them to Phoebe, a sister in the Lord, who was most likely the one who brought the letter to the Romans, or at least accompanied those who brought it. She served the church at Cenchrea which was a port near Corinth. Paul asked that they receive her and assist her in whatever she needed. He also mentioned Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila as fellow workers with him who risked their lives for him. Paul worked with Aquila as a tentmaker, and he preached the gospel and travelled with both of them (Acts 18).
Paul mentioned many others and used such words to describe them as servant, helper, fellow workers, beloved, worked hard, fellow prisoners, outstanding, in Christ, approved in Christ, kinsman, a choice man, and brethren. He then said to greet one another with a holy kiss and sent greetings to them from all the churches of Christ. The holy kiss was a sign of friendship, indicating that believers in Christ should be friends with one another.
Jesus gave the commandment before He died to love one another as He has loved us, and then said that the greatest love is to lay down your life for your friends (John 15:12-13). To follow Jesus and be His disciple means we are a part of His body—friends and co-workers with those who also follow Him. Our closest friends ought to be those with whom we share time, bread, and purpose.
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