I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a diakonos (G1249) 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 prostatis (G4368) 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 Iounia (G2458), my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are episēmos (G1978) 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 adelphoi (G80) 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, adelphoi (G80), 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.
*Tertius is an enslaved or formerly enslaved trained scribe is now a brother in Christ. He most likely recorded Paul’s dictated word using shorthand and then went back and filled in the text and edited the letter. Tertius is the writer of this letter and Pheobe is most likely the messenger in charge of delivering and reading the letter to the gathering since most of the audience would not have been literate.
Romans 16 Resources #
Lost in Translation Phoebe: Servant or Minister by Bob Edwards on the Junia Project blog
Who “Killed” Junia by Patrick Mead on the Junia Project blog
A List of the 29 People in Romans 16:1-16 by Marg Mowczko