Romans Chapter 16

(Underlining marks a quotation/allusion. [Brackets] mark a textual variant.^fnWhen two (or more) different copies of an original manuscript disagree on any given word or phrase — addition, omission, word order, etc. — the disagreement is called a "textual variant". ~99% of existing textual variants are either minor (like spelling), obviously not original (often appearing only in a few late manuscripts), or don't affect meaning (like "Jesus Christ" vs. "Christ Jesus"). The ~1% that remain do not affect any central doctrine of Christianity. The BOS Bible only marks significant textual variants that affect the meaning; smaller variants that do not affect meaning won't be marked for readability.  "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.^fn"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love".  However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings — agapé centers on choice and behavior.  It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings.  (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".)  Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé".  Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing.  It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. An asterisk (*) indicates a verb in the Greek perfect tense.^fnThe Greek perfect tense signifies a completed action in the past with a result and/or an ongoing state that extends into the present. For example, Hebrews 12:2 says in part: "He *sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"; the verb for "sat" is in the perfect tense, indicating that He sat down once (completed action in the past), and also that He remains seated until the present moment (ongoing state).)

Glossary

Personal Greetings

• 1 Now, I commend our sister Phoebe to you (who’s also a servant^fn“servant” this Greek word is also translated “deacon” in 3 of the 29 occurrences in the New Testament (Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:8, and 1 Timothy 3:12). Typically, unless the context clearly indicates “deacon” as in those verses, it is translated “servant” or “minister”.  For example, Colossians 1:7, Colossians 4:7, and Ephesians 6:21 use this word to mention other male Christians similar to how Phoebe is mentioned here. The BOS Bible has used “servant” in all of these similar contexts for consistency. of the church assembly in Cenchrea),
• 2 so that you might receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy ones, and so you might stand by her in whatever matter she might need you, for she also became a sponsor^fn“sponsor” this Greek word indicates a woman who provided resources, hospitality, and/or protection to others. BDAG (the standard scholarly lexicon) notes that this relationship shouldn’t be confused with the formal Roman patron/client system; see footnote on 1 Corinthians 1:3 for details on that system. of many, even of me myself.
• 3 Greet Prisca^fn“Prisca” is the proper form of “Priscilla”. The “-illa” ending is of Latin origin, and makes a name more familiar, informal, and/or affectionate, like a nickname. A modern example would be “Patricia” into “Patty”. She is referred to as “Priscilla” by Luke in Acts 18:2,18,26, and as “Prisca” by Paul in Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:19, and 2 Timothy 4:19. and Aquila, my fellow workers in Jesus the Anointed –
• 4 who risked their necks^fn“necks” is literally “neck” for my soul,^fn“soul” this Greek word (ψυχή/psuché) is typically translated “life” here. It refers to the animating force of living things, and thus can also refer to its life, or to the whole of any person or creature, including animals (e.g. fish in Rev 8:9; see also Gen 1 and footnotes). It’s virtually identical in meaning to the Hebrew word “נֶפֶשׁ/nephesh”. It’s frequently used as an emphatic reference to a person’s whole self, including longings, deep emotions, and inner life. (e.g. Ps 42:11) Note: while “soul” has some overlap in meaning with “spirit”, the words have distinct meanings and usages throughout scripture. For example, lions tear apart a soul in Psalm 7:2, and a “dead soul” is mentioned in Leviticus 21:11; “spirit” has no analogous usages, and it returns to God at death (Ecc 12:7; Acts 7:59). See also: Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23. whom not only I thank, but all the church assemblies of the gentiles do also –
• 5 and also greet the church assembly at their house.  Greet Epenetus, my beloved, who is a firstfruit of Asia^fn“Asia” many later manuscripts have “Achaia” here. for the Anointed.
• 6 Greet Mary, who often laboriously toiled for you.
• 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,^fn“Junia” there is some debate whether this name is feminine or masculine.  The only way to tell is with the accents on the Greek letters, but manuscripts lacked accents until the late first millennium.   Most of the early church fathers thought she was female, while most of the (later) manuscripts with accents support the masculine reading.  Both the feminine and masculine forms are rare in Greek, but the masculine form is virtually without precedent.  Thus, the evidence leans very strongly toward feminine, but masculine isn’t impossible. my kinsmen and fellow prisoners with me, who are well-known by^fn“who are well-known by” there is a significant debate as to how this phrase should be translated. Some scholars say it should be translated: “who are notable among the apostles”, making Junia an apostle. (Note: “apostle” is a transliteration of the Greek word ἀπόστολος/apostolos; the BOS has opted to translate the word instead of transliterating it.)  Other scholars say it should be translated: “who are well-known by the apostles”, which excludes Junia from being an apostle.  Daniel Wallace (author of “Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics”) argues that “well-known by” has stronger supporting evidence from Greek grammar.  Notably, the “among” interpretation doesn’t necessarily make Junia an apostle.  For example, William Shakespeare could be called “notable among modern literary scholars” without being a modern literary scholar. the emissaries, and who *were in the Anointed earlier than me.
• 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
• 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in the Anointed, and my beloved Stachys.
• 10 Greet Apelles, who is proved as genuine in the Anointed.  Greet the men of Aristobulus’ household.
• 11 Greet Herodion my kinsman.  Greet the men of Narcissus’ household who are in the Lord.
• 12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women laboriously toiling in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who often laboriously toiled in the Lord.
• 13 Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, also his mother and mine.
• 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.
• 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the holy ones with them.
• 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.^CFParallel teachings: 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14  All the church assemblies of the Anointed greet you.

Beware divisive men

(Parallel teachings: Titus 3:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 2 John 1:9-11)
(Thematic parallels: Acts 20:28-31)

• 17 Now brothers, I urge you to watch out for men causing divisions and snares contrary to the teaching that you learned, and turn away from them.
• 18 For such men don’t serve our Lord the Anointed, but their own appetite, and they thoroughly deceive the hearts of the naïve through smooth speech and flattery or blessings.^fn“flattery or blessings” is one word in Greek.  It can mean either depending on the context, but since both seem applicable here, both were included.
• 19 For word of your obedience went forth to all.  Therefore, I rejoice over you, but I desire you to be wise in what’s good, yet innocent in what’s evil.^fnquotation/allusion to Matthew 10:16 (also quoted/alluded to by 1 Cor 14:20); contrast with Jeremiah 4:22.
• 20 And the God of peace will soon crush Satan^fnquotation/allusion to Genesis 3:15 (also quoted/alluded to by Rev 12:9, 17); see also Psalm 110:1.  “Satan” is of Hebrew origin, meaning “accuser” under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with you.  [Amen.]

Final greetings and closing

• 21 My fellow worker Timothy greets you, also Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
• 22 I, Tertius – the man who wrote down this letter – greet you in the Lord.
• 23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church assembly, greets you.  The steward of the city, Erastus, greets you, and the brother Quartus.
• 24 [The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with you all.  Amen.]
• 25 Now, to the One able to strengthen you in accordance with my good news and the proclamation of Jesus the Anointed, in accordance with the revelation of the now-revealed mystery^fn“now-revealed mystery” is one word in Greek. It originally referred to secret knowledge reserved for initiates of the ancient mystery religions; i.e. “members only” knowledge that was revealed to insiders, but concealed from everyone outside. Paul uses it for secrets that God kept hidden until the work of Jesus, after which they were revealed in the good news (aka, the gospel). *kept secret during the time of ages,
• 26 but now both having been made obvious through prophetic scriptures in accordance with the command of the God of ages, and having been made known to all the gentiles for the obedience of faith
• 27 to the only wise God through Jesus the Anointed, to whom be the glory through all the ages [of the ages^fn“through all the ages of the ages” is literal, often translated “forever and ever”. This Greek phrase is a recognized Hebraism that’s almost hyperbolic in its force, and it emphasizes the succession of ages into the future.].  Amen.

Next: 1 Corinthians chapter 1

Previous: Romans chapter 15

Up: The Book of Romans

Up: BOS Bible Index

Legal Use: Please feel free to quote the BOS Bible, but follow the guidelines on the Legal Use page when doing so. They are easy and mostly common sense.