This letter from Paul went first to the church at Rome, and then out to all the world.
Romans 16 (NRSV)
Personal Greetings
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, 2so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.
What a compliment! And the Lord has many Phoebes in his church!
3Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, 4and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5Greet also the church in their house.
To read about Paul’s work with Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18 — click HERE.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia (the region where Corinth was) for Christ. 6Greet Mary, who has worked very hard among you. 7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11Greet my relative Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother—a mother to me also. 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. 15Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
Paul writes something uplifting about each person, encouraging them in their service to Christ. I also find it interesting that of the twenty-seven names listed, nine are women, with evidently a wide sphere of usefulness and leadership in the church.
16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Final Instructions
17I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. 18For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. 19For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil.
J. B. Philips has it: “I want to see you experts in good, and not even beginners in evil.”
20The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
21Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.
22I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Paul’s secretary — the proper term is amanuensis: a person employed to take dictation.
23Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
Final Doxology
If there is anything that the Book of Romans explains from beginning to end, it is the greatness and glory of this plan of God that Paul preached as a gospel -– as good news. It’s entirely fitting that Paul concludes this letter praising the God of such a gospel.
–David Guzik
25Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
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Having read through Romans, define these words:
sin
grace
faith
righteousness
justification
atonement
sanctification
flesh
spirit
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Music:
I think St. Paul would like this song! The Concordia Choir of Moorhead, Minnesota, singing Moses Hogan’s beautiful setting of “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord.”
Click HERE to listen!
In the Lord.
My soul’s been anchored, Hallelujah,
my soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
Before I’d stay in hell one day
I’d sing and pray my self away.
In the Lord. My soul’s been anchored,
Hallelujah, in the Lord.
Gonna shout and pray and never stop
until I reach the mountain top.
In the Lord. My soul’s been anchored, Hallelujah, in the Lord.
Do you love him? God Almighty?
Are you anchored? My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
Will you serve him? God Almighty?
Are you anchored? My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
Hallelujah, will you praise him? God almighty?
Are you anchored? My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
Lord I’m anchored, Lord I love you,
yes I’ll serve you, Lord I praise you.
Hallelujah! My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DWELLING in the Word 
