Romans 16

I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae,

that you receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles.

Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ.

Greet Mary, who labored much for us.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me.

Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.

Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.

Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.

Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.

Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.

Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.

Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.

For those who are such don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.

And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.

I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord.

Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This final chapter of Romans combines personal commendations, greetings, and pastoral warnings, serving as both a practical conclusion and a final exhortation to unity and vigilance. Paul commends Phoebe as a servant of the church and provides a list of personal greetings to individuals and households in Rome, many of whom were vital to the early Christian movement. The chapter closes with a strong warning against those who cause division, a benediction of peace, and a doxology that magnifies the wisdom of God now revealed in the gospel.

Flow.

Paul begins by commending Phoebe and urging the Roman believers to welcome her, followed by a series of specific greetings to individuals and house churches, highlighting their service, sacrifice, and spiritual significance.
He emphasizes the shared labor and affection within the body of Christ, naming coworkers, relatives, and faithful servants across diverse backgrounds.
After these personal remarks, Paul issues a solemn appeal to watch for and avoid those who sow doctrinal discord and false teaching, warning of their self-serving motives.
The chapter concludes with final greetings from Paul’s companions, a declaration of grace, and a doxological assurance of God’s victory over Satan through Christ.

Connections.
Following chapter 15, which focused on unity, mutual acceptance, and Paul’s apostolic mission to the Gentiles, this chapter enacts that vision by illustrating the concrete bonds of fellowship within the Roman church. The personal greetings exemplify the unity in diversity that Paul has been urging throughout the letter, while the warning against division directly applies the doctrinal clarity he has established from chapter 1 onward. This emphasis on orthodoxy and fellowship prepares the reader for the close of Paul’s epistles, where similar themes of faithfulness, vigilance, and grace appear, particularly in the pastoral letters, though no immediate sequel follows Romans in the canon.

What it teaches.
The church is built on mutual recognition, shared labor, and doctrinal fidelity. Believers are to uphold one another in practical love (WCF 26.1), honor those who serve (1 Thess. 5:12–13), and guard against teachings that disrupt unity in the faith once delivered (). The final benediction underscores God’s sovereign power to establish His people and defeat evil (WCF 17.3; HC LD 52), affirming that the grace of Christ is both the beginning and end of the believer’s walk (WCF 16.6). The mention of apostles and prophets in the context of the church’s foundation recalls the doctrine of the church as built on the teachings of Christ and His messengers (Eph. 2:20; WCF 25.2).

Apply.
Maintain fellowship with faithful believers and reject those who undermine the gospel’s truth, relying on God’s strength to discern and endure.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.