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Romans 16 Commentary

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Romans 16:1-2

Phoebe was a servant of the church in Cenchrea, a seaport of Corinth. Paul admonishes the believers in Rome to receive her in the Lord. She may have been the original bearer of this letter.

Prisca and Aquila are prevalent Christians in the New Testament. Paul greets and thanks them for their ministry. It is possible that took a leading role in contending for Paul’s gospel of grace in Rome.

Romans 16:6-8

Paul continues listing believers who have served Christ well, he wants the Roman believers to greet them. Likely these believers would be primary allies to contend for Paul’s gospel of grace against the competing Jewish “authorities.”

Romans 16:9-12

Paul continues listing believers that he wants the believers in Rome to greet.

Romans 16:13-16

Paul finishes listing the believers that he wishes to greet in Rome, and likely also his allies in contending against the competing Jewish “authorities” who have slandered Paul’s gospel of grace.

Romans 16:17-18

Paul gives a final warning to the believers in Rome to be on guard against people who teach something different than the gospel. These people can be very convincing.

Romans 16:19-20

Paul assures the believers in Rome that the report throughout the world is about their obedience and faith, but he still wants them to be wise. Paul gives them encouragement by saying that soon God will crush Satan.

Romans 16:21-24

Paul now sends greetings from those that are with him to the believers in Rome.

Romans 16:25-27

Paul ends his letter with a blessing. His entire letter was about faith in the gospel and the resurrection power of the gospel to live a righteous life through faith, and here he closes by summarizing.

Additional Resources

Book Theme

The Apostle Paul writes to the world-renowned believers in Rome, the center of the world at that time, in order to answer a slanderous charge made to them against Paul and his message. Paul’s detractors claim his emphasis on faith overturns the law. Paul says that ” just living by the law” does not achieve personal justice before God, while “just living by faith” does. Paul then demonstrates what a just life looks like: harmonious living with Jesus as the leader. Paul also makes clear the choice a believer has: to walk in faith and the power of the resurrection and experience resurrection life, or walk in sin and unnecessarily experience the negative consequences.

Chapter Context

Paul ends his letter to the believers in Rome with greetings and blessings. He mentions 26 believers that he either sends his greetings to or that he sends greetings from. Paul reminds the believers in Rome that although they are being obedient to God, they should not stop watching out for false teachers like the competing Jewish “authorities.”