This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2That 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.
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
11Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Rufus is stated to be chosen here. Some may say this was to salvation but that doesn’t make sense for several reasons:
In the surrounding verses (8–11), no one else is stated to be “chosen,” yet they are clearly referred to as brethren and fellow believers. If Paul were identifying who was saved, it would be to the exclusion of all the others.
Paul is not giving a list of people who are saved. Salvation is not the subject of this passage. Instead, Paul is describing these individuals and what they have done after becoming believers, their service, labor, faithfulness, and relationship to other believers.
Paul says he was chosen“in” the Lord. If this was referring to salvation it would have read ‘chosen in the flesh’. The choosing could not have been prior to him being in Christ. As Paul explains elswhere, before salvation a person is not “in the Lord” or “in Christ” but instead we are without and “in the flesh”:
We were once “in the flesh” and “at that time ye were without Christ,” but afterward “now in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:11–13).
Paul even acknowledges a transition in the lives of believers when he says that others “were in Christ before me” (Romans 16:7).
Instead, Rufus may simply have been particularly distinguished or esteemed as a Christian for reasons we are not told. Some early Christian tradition has connected the Rufus of Romans 16:13 with Simon’s son mentioned in Mark 15:21. Since Romans was written to Christians in Rome, if this is the same Rufus, Paul may have known him as someone with a particularly notable Christian history.
Paul's wording can simply mean something like: Greet Rufus, one who is especially chosen/esteemed in the Lord. In fact, some lexicons recognize eklektos as being used in this sense:
“choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians”
14Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
15Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18For 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.
19For 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.
20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
21Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
22I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25Now 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,
26But 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:
27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
16
Romans 16 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2That 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.
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
11Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Rufus is stated to be chosen here. Some may say this was to salvation but that doesn’t make sense for several reasons:
In the surrounding verses (8–11), no one else is stated to be “chosen,” yet they are clearly referred to as brethren and fellow believers. If Paul were identifying who was saved, it would be to the exclusion of all the others.
Paul is not giving a list of people who are saved. Salvation is not the subject of this passage. Instead, Paul is describing these individuals and what they have done after becoming believers, their service, labor, faithfulness, and relationship to other believers.
Paul says he was chosen “in” the Lord. If this was referring to salvation it would have read ‘chosen in the flesh’. The choosing could not have been prior to him being in Christ. As Paul explains elswhere, before salvation a person is not “in the Lord” or “in Christ” but instead we are without and “in the flesh”:
We were once “in the flesh” and “at that time ye were without Christ,” but afterward “now in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:11–13).
Paul even acknowledges a transition in the lives of believers when he says that others “were in Christ before me” (Romans 16:7).
Instead, Rufus may simply have been particularly distinguished or esteemed as a Christian for reasons we are not told. Some early Christian tradition has connected the Rufus of Romans 16:13 with Simon’s son mentioned in Mark 15:21. Since Romans was written to Christians in Rome, if this is the same Rufus, Paul may have known him as someone with a particularly notable Christian history.
Paul's wording can simply mean something like: Greet Rufus, one who is especially chosen/esteemed in the Lord. In fact, some lexicons recognize eklektos as being used in this sense:
“choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians”
14Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
15Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18For 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.
19For 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.
20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
21Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
22I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25Now 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,
26But 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:
27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.