Romans 16 Commentary

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 they took a leading role in contending for Paul’s gospel of grace in Rome.

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.”

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

Paul finishes listing the believers whom 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.

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.

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.

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

Paul ends his letter with a blessing. His entire letter was about the gospel of grace and living by faith, living righteously through the resurrection power of Jesus, and here he closes with a summary.