The Epistle of ROMANS

Chapter Sixteen

1. I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Literal: I commend (represent as worthy) to you Phebe, our sister, who is a servant (doulos of the Lord Jesus Christ) of the church which is at Cenchrea.

Cenchrea is the Eastern harbor of Corinth, situated about 8 miles from Corinth itself. Paul once sailed from this port. [See Acts 18: 18]

2. That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

Literal: That you may receive her in the fellowship of the Lord, a welcome worthy of God's people, and stand by her and assist her in any business in which she may need your help, for she has herself been a good friend and helper to many, including myself.

This exhortation regarding the women in the ministry is also mentioned in Philippians Chapter four (4). The saints assisted the leadership in whatever way they could.

Philippians 4: 3 -- And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

3. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus:

Literal: Salute or greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers (fellow-workers) in Christ Jesus.

These are the believers mentioned in Acts who taught Apollos the Word of God more perfectly. [See Acts 18: 26]

4. Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Literal: They risked their necks to save my life: if whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

5. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

Literal: Likewise, greet the church that is in their house. Give my greetings to my dear friend Epaenetus, the first convert to Christ in Greece.

6. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

Literal: Greet Mary who worked hard for you.

7. Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Literal: Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives (kinsmen) and fellowprisoners who are distinguished and eminent among the apostles, who were also Christians before me.

8. Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.

Literal: Greetings to Amplias (Ampliatus), my beloved in the Lord.

9. Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

Literal: Salute Urbanus, our helper (fellow-worker) in Christ and Stachys, my beloved.

10. Salute Apelles [who is] approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus household.

Literal: My greetings to Apelles who is approved in Christ. Salute those of the household of Aristobulus.

Apelles was approved of Christ which is what's important. He may have been approved in the community or by society or in the denomination but this is secondary.

11. Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.

Literal: Salute Herodian my kinsman (relative). Salute them that are of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord's fellowship.

12. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.

Literal: Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord's service. Salute the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

13. Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Literal: Give my greetings to Rufus, an outstanding follower of the Lord and to his mother, whom I call mother also.

14. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.

Literal: Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and all the brethren that are with them.

15. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.

Literal: Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.

16. Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Literal: Greet or salute one another with an holy kiss. The assemblies or churches of Christ salute or greet you.

17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Literal: But I exhort you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissension and discord and stumbling blocks, contrary to the teachings which you have learned; and avoid them, turn away and shun them.

Stand approved before God and not before men. Don't condemn yourself for anything and don't let what others do make you bitter and cause you to stumble. Focus on keeping your peace and working the Word even if no one ever listens. Focus on God and go to Him and He will meet all of your needs and many of your desires. A person who walks in darkness will shun you because the light you manifest will bring out the darkness in their lives. Then they have to face that darkness. And remember, don't cast your pearls before swine. The goats will never hear! They will only get you to waste your time. You must work on staying peaceful – that is when you are able to make the correct decisions based on God's Word.

II Thessalonians 3: 6 -- Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Remember, the adversary knows the Word of God and he will wrongly divide it to confuse a person if he can. So you must keep studying the Word and avoiding or countering all of his devices -- most of them being operated through people. This is always true when you make an honest effort to walk with God Almighty. God protects you from the enemy and he will crush him before your very eyes when you continue to stand and stay in fellowship.

18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Literal: For such people do not serve the Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly or appetites, but with good-natured or kind words and adulation (excessive praise or flattery), they deceive wholly and thoroughly (seduce) the hearts of the simple -- innocent people.

19. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

Literal: For the fame of your obedience has spread everywhere. I rejoice therefore concerning you. But I would wish you to be wise (clever, skilled) concerning that which is righteous according to the Word and simple or harmless (void of evil) concerning evil.

This word 'evil' embraces every form of evil whether moral or physical. We should be wise or experts concerning the things of God, but without malice concerning evil. You should not harbor evil in your mind. Think good thoughts from the Word and teach yourself never to think evil. That's how you paralyze the enemy by allowing God to do what is stated in the next verse.

20. And the God of peace shall bruise [crush] Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Literal: And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly (QUICKLY, WITH SWIFTNESS, AND SPEED). The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen

In this verse, the word 'bruise' should be studied. The center reference says 'to tread' which means to trample beneath the foot. The Lexicon says it means 'to shatter, or shiver; to be in perplexity, affliction, or anguish.'

When you stand on God's Word and continually renew your mind, God Almighty will crush Satan under your feet quickly. What a great revelation from God's Word. What a comfort! What a great truth. When God knows you will stand, He then can act to accomplish this. God honors commitment and respects conditions. God honors the fact that you study because it is ACTION -- it is a condition and not just mental ascent. It is genuine because you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. You can't fool God -- He knows your heart and every man's thoughts.

21. Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

Literal: Timothy my fellow worker, and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsman, salute and greet you.

'Kinsman' in the Lexicon means 'relative'.

22. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

Literal: I, Tertius who took down this epistle salute, embrace, and greet you in the Lord.

Tertius, who was probably a Roman, was the scribe for Paul in the writing of the epistle to the Romans. Nothing else is known of him.

23. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

Literal: Greetings from Gaius, my host and host of the whole congregation/church. Erastus the steward or treasurer of the city salute/greet you, and our brother Quartus.

Gaius was an inhabitant of Corinth, the host of Paul, and in whose house the Christians were accustomed to assemble. Gaius was baptized by Paul [see I Corinthians 1: 14]. Erastus was a Corinthian and one of Paul's disciples whose salutations he sends from Corinth to the church at Rome and he is known as the city treasurer. The word so rendered in Greek is oikonomos and denotes an officer or steward of great dignity in ancient times. The conversion of such a man to the faith of the gospel was proof of the wonderful success of the apostles' labors in that city. Erastus was also with Paul at Ephesus as one of his attendants or deacons, and he was sent alone with Timothy into Macedonia while the apostle himself remained in Asia [see Acts 19: 22]. Both were with Paul at Corinth when he wrote to the Romans. At a subsequent period, Erastus was still at Corinth [see II Timothy 4: 20] which would seem to have been his usual place of abode.

24. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Literal: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (Truly).

25. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.

Literal: Now to Him (God) who has the power (dunamis) to establish you (fix firmly, make stedfast) according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery (musterion) which was kept secret since the world began.

This mystery regarding the Church, the Body of Christ had never before been made known until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul. This mystery "in other ages was not made known", "hid from ages and from generations"; "kept secret since the world began"; "hid in God" from the beginning. So it could not have been revealed in the Old Testament or in the gospels or it would not have been a mystery.

The prophets of old searched diligently for this time between the sufferings of Christ and his second return but couldn't find anything in the Word as to what would take place because God kept it a secret.

That mystery is Christ in you, the hope of Glory, the Body, the Church. Jesus Christ did not know the mystery. It was kept a secret from all ages and from all generations. God revealed this mystery to the Apostle Paul.

26. But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Literal: But now is made manifest (disclosed, made apparent, shown openly) by prophetic Scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God, having been made known to all nations, to bring them to faith and obedience.

God made this mystery manifest or known to us.

Ephesians 1: 9 -- Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

27. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Literal: To God who alone is all wise, glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

I Timothy 1: 17 -- Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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This concludes the great epistle of Romans. Study these notes and use them for reference and for teachings. And most importantly, use them to RENEW YOUR MIND to this basic doctrine in God's Word.

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