Romans Chapter 16 in Simple English

Read Romans Chapter 16

1I commend to you Phebe our sister. She is a servant of the church at Cenchrea.

2Receive her in the Lord, in a way that is fitting for saints. Help her with anything she needs from you. For she has been a helper of many, and of me too.

3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus.

4They risked their own necks to save my life. I am not the only one who thanks them; all the churches of the Gentiles thank them too.

5Greet also the church that meets in their house. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.

6Greet Mary, who worked hard for us.

7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives, who were in prison with me. They are well known among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

8Greet Amplias, my dear friend in the Lord.

9Greet Urbane, our helper in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

10Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

11Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who work hard in the Lord. Greet the dear Persis, who worked hard in the Lord.

13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me too.

14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers and sisters who are with them.

15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

16Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

17Now I beg you, brothers and sisters, watch out for those who cause divisions and make people stumble, against the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

18People like that do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own stomachs. With smooth words and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of those who are easily led.

19Everyone has heard how you obey, and so I am glad about you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

20And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

21Timotheus, who works with me, greets you, and so do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.

22I, Tertius, who wrote this letter down, greet you in the Lord.

23Gaius greets you. He is host to me and to the whole church. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and so does Quartus, a brother.

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

25Now to him who has power to make you stand firm, according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revealing of the mystery that was kept secret since the world began,

26but is now brought out into the open. Through the writings of the prophets, by the command of the everlasting God, it is made known to all nations, so that they may obey by faith.

27To God, who alone is wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. «Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe, servant of the church at Cenchrea.»

Explanation

Romans 16

In short

Paul ends his letter to Rome with personal greetings to many believers there, a warning against false teachers, and a final blessing. The passage shows the network of Christians scattered across the empire and Paul's deep concern for their faithfulness.

Context

Paul has finished his main teaching in the letter to the Romans. Now he moves to closing remarks. He speaks as someone who knows many people in a church he has never visited (verses 1-16), then warns the church about dangers they may face (verses 17-20), and finally includes greetings from his companions who are with him as he writes (verses 21-27). The letter was written from Corinth, as noted at the very end.

What the text says

Paul first introduces Phoebe, a servant at the church in Cenchrea, asking the Romans to receive her and help her (verses 1-2). He then sends greetings to about 30 named individuals and several households, repeatedly noting their work "in the Lord" or "in Christ Jesus" (verses 3-15). He calls Priscilla and Aquila his "helpers" who risked their lives for him (verse 3-4), names Epaenetus as the "firstfruits of Achaia" (verse 5), and mentions Andronicus and Junia as "of note among the apostles" and believers before he was (verse 7).

Verses 17-20 shift tone sharply. Paul urges the Romans to watch for and avoid people who cause "divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned," warning that such people serve their own interests through deceptive speech, not Christ. He expresses confidence in Rome's obedience and prays that God will crush Satan under their feet soon.

In verses 21-24, Timothy and others with Paul send greetings. Tertius, who wrote down the letter, adds his own greeting (verse 22). Verses 25-27 close with a doxology praising God for the gospel's revelation to all nations, giving glory through Jesus Christ.

Takeaways

Paul's letters connected real people across distant churches, showing early Christianity as a lived network of named believers.
Warning against false teachers served a practical purpose: protecting the church's faith from those who twisted doctrine for selfish gain.
The final blessing emphasizes God's power to establish believers and make the gospel known to all nations.

Romans 16 - Simple English