Romans 16

 

 1 I (1) Commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a servant of the Church of Cenchrea;

 

(1) Having made an end of the whole disputation, he cometh now to familiar commendations and salutations, and that to good consideration and purpose, to wit, that the Romans might know, who are most to be honored and made account of amongst them, and also whom they ought to set before them to follow; and therefore he attributeth unto every of them peculiar and singular testimonies.

 

 2 That ye receive her in the (a) Lord, as it becometh Saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she needeth of your aid; for she hath given hospitality unto many, and to me also.

 

(a) For Christ's sake which is proper to the Christians, for the heathen Philosophers have resemblances of the same virtues.

 

 3 Greet (*) Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow helpers in Christ Jesus,

 

(*) Acts 18:3 .

 

 4 (Which have for my life laid down their own neck. Unto whom not I only give thanks, but also all the Churches of the Gentiles.)

 

 5 Likewise greet the (b) Church that is in their house. Salute my beloved Epenetus, which is the (c) firstfruits of Achaia in Christ.

 

(b) The company of the faithful, for in so great a city as that was, there were divers companies.
(c) For he was the first of Achaia that believed in Christ; and this kind of speech is an allusion to the ceremonies of the Law.

 

 6 Greet Mary which bestowed much labor on us.

 

 7 Salute Andronicus and Junia my cousins and fellow prisoners, which are notable among the Apostles, and were in (d) Christ before me.

 

(d) Engrafted by faith.

 

 8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.

 

 9 Salute Urbanus our fellow helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

 

 10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ friends.

 

 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them which are of the friends of Narcissus which are in the Lord.

 

 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, which women labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which woman hath labored much in the Lord.

 

 13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

 

 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Mercurius, and the brethren which are with them.

 

 15 Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the Saints which are with them.

 

 16 Salute one another with an (*) holy (e) kiss. The Churches of Christ salute you.

 

(*) 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14 .

(e) He calleth that an holy kiss, which proceedeth from a heart that is full of that holy love; now this is to be referred to the manner used in those days.

 

 17  ¶ (2) Now I beseech you brethren, (f) mark them diligently which cause division and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and (*) avoid them.

 

(2) As by namely describing them, which were worthy of commendation, he sufficiently declared when they ought to hear and follow, so doeth he now point out unto them whom they ought to take heed of, yet he nameth them not, for that it was not needful.
(f) Warily and diligently, as though you should scout out your enemies in a watch tower.

(*) 2 John 1:10 .

 

 18 For they that are such, serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, and with (g) fair speech and flattering deceive the hearts of the simple.

 

(g) The word which he useth, signifieth a promising which performeth nothing, and if thou hearest any such, you mayest assure thyself that he that promiseth thee is more careful of thy matters, than of his own.

 

 19  (3) For your obedience is come abroad among all; I am glad therefore of you, but yet I would have you (h) wise unto that which is good, and (i) simple concerning evil.

 

(3) Simplicity must be joined with wisdom.
(h) Furnished with the knowledge of the truth, and wisdom, that you may embrace good things, and eschew evil, beware of the deceits and snares of false prophets, and resist them openly; and this place doeth plainly destroy the Papist’s faith of credit, whereas they maintain it to be sufficient for one man to believe as another man believeth, without further knowledge, or examination what the matter is, or what ground it hath; using these daily speeches, We believe as our fathers believed, and we believe as the Church believeth.
(i) As men that know no way to deceive, much less deceive indeed.

 

 20  (4) The God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

(4) We must fight, with a certain hope of victory.

 

 21  (*) (5) Timothy my helper, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater my kinsmen, salute you.

 

(*) Acts 16:1; Philippians 2:19 .

(5) He annexeth salutations, partly to renew mutual friendship, and partly to the end that this Epistle might be of some weight with the Romans, having the confirmation of so many that subscribed unto it.

 

 22 I Tertius, which (k) wrote out this Epistle, salute you in the Lord.

 

(k) Wrote it as Paul uttered it.

 

 23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole Church saluteth you. Erastus the steward of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

 

 24  (6) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

(6) Now taking his leave of them this third time, he wisheth that unto them, whereupon dependeth all the force of the former doctrine.

 

 25  (*) (7) To him now that is of power to establish you according to my Gospel, and preaching of Jesus Christ, (♣) by the revelation of the (l) mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

 

(*) Ephesians 3:19 .

(7) He setteth forth the power and wisdom of God with great thanksgiving, which especially appear in the Gospel; and maketh mention also of the calling of the Gentiles, to confirm the Romans in the hope of this salvation.

(♣) Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:10 .
(l) That secret and hidden thing, that is to say, the calling of the Gentiles.

 

 26 (But now is opened, and (m) published among all nations by the Scriptures of the Prophets, at the commandment of the everlasting God for the obedience of faith.)

 

(m) Offered and exhibited to all nations to be known.  

 

 27 To God, I say, only wise, be praise through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

 

 

 

Written to the Romans from Corinth, and sent by Phoebe, servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea.