God bless you and thank you for hanging in through my work on all 16 chapter of Romans. For me has been an exciting adventure in learning and unlearning. All of these verses have been nothing more than my notes in a verse form. I have learned a lot while going through this study. I hope that those of you who have read through the entire study and have put up with what I am sure are my many typos have also learned something, or at least been challenge to think about what they have read here. So I will close this intro with my thanks to God for allowing me to have His Word and the study materials to attempt to learn in better. Ultimately, however, it is God, via His Spirit in us that opens our eyes to the greatness of His wonderful word and I praise Him for His guidance and patience. But with that said, here is Chapter 16 of Romans.
Romans 16:1-2 — But [while you wait for me] I want to introduce to you Phebe who is our sister [in Christ, a fellow believer], who is a servant to the church which is located in Cenchrea, in order that you may do that which is right and proper; for all those who are saints [set apart by God] and that is to receive her into the midst of you and that you, in doing so, also assist her in the business [within the church] that she has been called to do as a deacon, for it is the case that she has protected, and helped and aided many people and she has quite definitely been and done so to me also.
Romans 16:3-4 — Salute and welcome into your group Priscilla and Aquila. These two worked together with me in the things of Christ Jesus [Our lord, intercessor and head of the church.] These two have placed their own lives in jeopardy by risking their lives for me and offering me their help and aid. It is not I alone that give thanks for what they have done, but indeed all of the Gentiles who have come into our assemblies give thanks for them as well.
Rom 16:5 — Just as you bid welcome and stand with Priscilla and Aquila you should do the same with those who assemble to worship in their house. You should greet and bid welcome also to my very close friend Epaenetus who is among the first in Asia to offer themselves to our Lord Christ’s service.
Rom 16:6 — Greet and stand with Mary who worked very hard in your behalf, often to the point of exhaustion.
Rom 16:7 — Greet, welcome and stand with Andronicus and Junia who are part of my family and who are also prisoners together with me at this time. They are well known and thought highly of by the apostles in our church and they came to the new birth in Christ before I did.
Rom 16:8 — Welcome and stand with Amplias, one who is close to me in those things pertaining to the our lord.
Rom 16:9 — Welcome and stand with Urbane who is our fellow worker in that which pertains to Christ and do likewise to Stachus who is esteemed and loved by me.
Rom 16:10 — Welcome with joy and stand with Apelles for he has been tried and found worthy, approved in the resting of his life in the anointed one, [Jesus Christ, the head of the church] welcome with joy and stand with those who have come out Aristobulus’ house [or church in his house]
Rom 16:11 — Welcome with joy and stand with Herodion who is my fellow countryman. Welcome with joy and stand with those who have come from the household of Narcissus which are resting their lives in the Lord.
Rom 16:12 — Welcome joyfully and stand with Tryphena and Tryphosa who have worked hard in the things of the Lord [Jesus]. Wecome joyfully and stand with Persis who is loved by all of you who has worked very had in the things of the Lord [Jesus].
Rom 16:13 — Welcome with joy and stand with Rufus who has been specifically pick by the Lord [Jesus] for his service and likewise welcome with joy and stand with his mother, who has also been like a mother to me.
Rom 16:14 — Joyfully welcome and stand with Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, and Hermes as well as those who are born from above that are with them.
Rom 16:15 — Joyfully welcome and stand with Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister. Also Olympas and all of those who are separated by God and born from above that are together with them.
Rom 16:16 — Welcome joyfully and stand with one another, demonstrating your care for one another in your greeting which shows the depth of your feeling. All of the churches of the Anointed one, our Lord Jesus joyfully welcome and stand with you.
Rom 16:17 — But at this point I admonish and exhort you my brethren, born of the spirit of God, to observe and take note of those people who are the authors of dissension and division among you, and even setting traps to divide you further and encouraging you to do differently than the teaching which you have studied, learned and live by. Avoid these people and turn away from them.
Rom 16:18 — For it is the case that those seek to cause divisions and set traps contrary to the instruction you have received do not really serve as a slave of our Lord Christ (the anointed one in charge of the church), but instead serve their own belly, their own selfish desires and by means of words that sound fair and plausible and by empty praise deceive and lead astray the hearts, the thoughts and understanding of those without evil [who seeking to do right] and are deceived because of the actions and teachings of those who are seeking their own above Christ’s and others.
Rom 16:19 — For it is the case that your submission of your life [to Christ as head of the church] has been heard about by all. As a result I have been very happy to know this about you, and I am happy to know this is the case, but I still desire [more for you] that you are skilled and apply your knowledge to that which is right and proper, and benefits others and that your actions and thoughts are not mixed with thoughts and actions that are evil and destructive in nature.
Rom 16:20 — But for now let me leave you with this, our God, who is the source of peace, shall crush the accuser, our adversary, under your feet in a short time in a show of victory. The grace shown to us by our master, or lord Jesus the anointed one, who is head of the church, will be among you all.
Rom 16:21 — Timothy [Timotheus] who works closely in ministry with me, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater who are united in ministry with me as kinsmen would be, send joyful greetings to you and stand with you.
Rom 16:22 — I am Tertius the person to whom Paul has dictated this letter, and I also send my personal joyful greetings and stand with you in the things of the Lord [Jesus as head of the church].
Rom 16:23 — Gaius, who is my host while staying here, and also hosts the whole church in this area joyfully greets you and stands with you. Erastus who is the city steward and his brother Quartus also joyfully greets you and stands with you.
Rom 16:24 — The favor, joy and delight of our Lord and master Jesus, the anointed one, [to redeem us, and who is head of the church] is with all of you. [who have accepted him as Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead and so have the new birth spirit.]
Rom 16:25-26 — But let me add that God has the ability and willingness to make you stand firm and strong according to the good news that was given to me and that I have made my own and shared with you and which has been proclaimed regarding Jesus who was anointed to redeem us and has now been anointed to be head of the church and has been revealed to us, even though it was kept as mystery, secret from us for the beginning.
But now this mystery which was kept secret is revealed to us so that we can know and apply it in our lives. You can see it now in both the scriptures and the prophetic words of the prophtets. Just as God commanded and according to his commandments, this has been revealed to people of all naitons that they may believe hear, obey and act on what they have heard.
Rom 16:27 — To our God, who is the only truly wise and knowledgeable one, be glory, splendor and brightness by means of Jesus Christ, [who redeemed us and is now head of the church] and let this glory be into all the ages.
Keith Carter Ministries 