Keraia
Romans 16

Romans 16:1

Personal Greetings and Love · Romans 16:1–16
Read Romans 16

Translations

Modern
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
Traditional
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Literal
Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, being also a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Latin
Commendo autem vobis Phœben sororem nostram, quæ est in ministerio ecclesiæ, quæ est in Cenchris:

Original

Greek
English
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.

Notes

Romans 16:1

  • a servant: The Greek word diakonos means “servant.” It can refer in a general way to a believer who serves Christ. It can also refer more specifically to someone who holds the recognized role of deacon in a local church (see Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8–12; compare Acts 6:1–6).

  • Cenchrea was about eight kilometers (five miles) from Corinth and served as its port. Paul may have written this letter to the Romans while staying in Corinth during the winter, near the end of his third missionary journey (see Acts 20:2–3).

Romans 16:1–16

Paul greeted twenty-seven Christians in Rome, ten of whom were women. This shows that women played important roles in the early church.

Paul had not yet visited Rome. This has led some people to wonder how he knew so many Christians there. One idea is that chapter 16 was part of a different letter that Paul sent to Ephesus. However, there is no strong manuscript evidence for a separate letter (see study note on 15:33). A more likely explanation is that Paul met these Christians while they were traveling outside Rome (see Romans Book Introduction, “Setting”).

Romans 15:14–16:27

This final section includes elements often found at the end of New Testament letters:

Only the warning about false teachers is a non-standard feature in this conclusion (16:17–19).

People

Phoebe: Deacon of the church in Cenchreae

Places

Cenchreae: Port of Corinth; home of Phoebe

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Caesar’s Household Cenchrea, Cenchreae Church Meetings Deacon, Deaconess Latin Letter to the Romans Nero Paul the Apostle Phebe Phoebe Rome (City)

Topics

All Christians should be As Missionaries: Various Individuals Cenchrea: A City of Corinth Church: List of Congregations of Christians: Cenchrea Deaconess: (Rv , Margin) Female Ministers Hospitality: General Scriptures Concerning Love: Exemplification of the Love of Man for Man Missionary Work by Ministers: Aid Those Engaged In Phoebe Phoebe (Phebe): A Servant of the Congregation at Cenchrea Religious Zeal: Phoebe Rome: Requested to Greet Various Brethren Thankfulness: To Phoebe Women in Ministry Women Teachers Women: Phoebe