Bible Glide

Romans 16 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Romans 16 brings Pauls letter to a warm close with many personal greetings, practical counsel, and a final word of praise. It shows the life of the church in ordinary relationships, faithful service, and alertness to false teaching, while ending with confidence in Gods power to strengthen believers.

What happens in Romans 16?

Paul begins by commending Phoebe and greeting many believers by name, including coworkers, household churches, and people who served the gospel in different ways. He asks the church to welcome one another warmly. He then warns them to watch for people who cause divisions and lead others away from true teaching, urging wisdom about what is good and innocence toward evil. After sending greetings from his companions and the letter writer Tertius, Paul ends with a doxology that praises God for strengthening his people through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This chapter closes Romans after Paul has explained the gospel, faith, life in the Spirit, and Gods mercy to Jews and Gentiles. The personal greetings show the real network of churches and workers behind the letter. The warning against division fits the letters concern for unity in the gospel, and the doxology brings the whole argument to worship.

  • Christian fellowshipPaul names many believers to show the value of welcome, service, and shared life in the church.
  • Guarding truthThe church is told to avoid people who divide others and oppose the teaching already received.
  • Praise to GodThe chapter ends by giving glory to God, who strengthens believers through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • What do the many personal greetings in this chapter show about life in the early church?
  • How does Paul describe the kind of people the church should avoid?
  • What does the closing doxology say about Gods role in strengthening believers?

Read the full text of Romans 16 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Romans 16

Personal Greetings and Love

1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.2Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.

3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,4who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.5Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.6Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.10Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.11Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman. Greet those from the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings.

Avoid Divisions

17Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Greetings from Paul’s Fellow Workers

21Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen.22I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.23Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.

Doxology

25Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past26but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith —27to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

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