Romans 16
International Children’s Bible
Greetings to the Christians
16 I recommend to you our sister Phoebe. She is a helper[a] in the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to accept her in the Lord in the way God’s people should. Help her with anything she needs because she has helped me and many other people too.
3 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, who work together with me in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their own lives to save my life. I am thankful to them, and all the non-Jewish churches are thankful to them as well. 5 Also, greet for me the church that meets at their house.
Greetings to my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person in Asia to follow Christ. 6 Greetings to Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7 Greetings to Andronicus and Junias, my relatives, who were in prison with me. The apostles feel they are very important. They were believers in Christ before I was. 8 Greetings to Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9 Greetings to Urbanus. He is a worker together with me for Christ. And greetings to my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greetings to Apelles. He was tested and proved that he truly loves Christ. Greetings to all those who are in the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greetings to Herodion, my relative. Greetings to all those in the family of Narcissus who belong to the Lord. 12 Greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa. Those women work very hard for the Lord. Greetings to my dear friend Persis. She also has worked very hard for the Lord. 13 Greetings to Rufus who is a special person in the Lord. Greetings to his mother, who has been a mother to me also. 14 Greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and all the brothers who are with them. 15 Greetings to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas. And greetings to all God’s people with them. 16 Greet each other with a holy kiss. All of Christ’s churches send greetings to you.
17 Brothers, I ask you to look out for those who cause people to be against each other and who upset other people’s faith. They are against the true teaching you learned. Stay away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ. They are only doing what pleases themselves. They use fancy talk and fine words to fool the minds of those who do not know about evil. 19 All the believers have heard that you obey. So I am very happy because of you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.
20 The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 Timothy, a worker together with me, sends greetings, as well as Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.
22 I am Tertius, and I am writing this letter from Paul. I send greetings to you in the Lord.
23 Gaius is letting me and the whole church here use his home. He also sends greetings to you, as do Erastus and our brother Quartus. Erastus is the city treasurer here. 24 [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.][b]
25 Glory to God! God is the One who can make you strong in faith by the Good News that I tell people and by the message about Jesus Christ. The message about Christ is the secret truth that was hidden for long ages past, but is now made known. 26 It has been made clear through the writings of the prophets. And by the command of the eternal God it is made known to all nations, that they might believe and obey.
27 To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Footnotes
- 16:1 helper Literally, “deaconess.” This might mean the same as one of the special women helpers in 1 Timothy 3:11.
- 16:24 The . . . Amen. Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.
Romans 16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Personal Greetings
16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a] of the church at Cenchreae,(A) 2 so that you may welcome her in the Lord, as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus,(B) 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the gentiles. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert[b] in Asia for Christ.(C) 6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,[c] my fellow Israelites who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.(D) 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my fellow Israelite Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and greet his mother—a mother to me also. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.(E) 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.(F)
Final Instructions
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who create dissensions and hindrances, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them.(G) 18 For such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites,[d] and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.(H) 19 For your obedience is known to all; therefore, I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil.(I) 20 The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.[e](J)
21 Timothy, my coworker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Israelites.(K)
22 I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.[f]
23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.[g](L)
Final Doxology
25 Now to God[h] who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages(M) 26 but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith(N)— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.[i]
Footnotes
- 16.1 Or minister
- 16.5 Gk first fruits
- 16.7 Or Junias; other ancient authorities read Julia
- 16.18 Gk their own belly
- 16.20 Other ancient authorities lack this sentence
- 16.22 Or I Tertius, writing this letter in the Lord, greet you
- 16.23 Other ancient authorities add verse 24, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.
- 16.25 Gk the one
- 16.27 Other ancient authorities lack 16.25–27 or include it after 14.23 or 15.33; others put 16.24 after 16.27
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.