Keraia
Romans 16

Romans 16:13

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

Modern
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.
Traditional
Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Literal
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Latin
Salutate Rufum electum in Domino, et matrem ejus, et meam.

Original

Greek
English
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.

Notes

Romans 16:13

This Rufus might be the son of Simon of Cyrene, who carried the cross of Christ (see Mark 15:21).

Romans 16:3–16

Although Paul had not yet visited the Christian community in Rome, he built a relationship with these believers by greeting many of them by name. The names show that the Roman church was very diverse. Jews and Gentiles, enslaved people and free people, men and women all formed a new community in the church (see Galatians 3:26–29).

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).

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) The Roman Church

People

Rufus: Believer in Rome, son of Paul's "mother"

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Caesar’s Household Church Meetings Elect, Election Hebrews, Letter to the Latin Letter to the Romans Nero Paul the Apostle Rome (City) Rufus Saints Simon

Topics

All Christians should be As Missionaries: Various Individuals Election: Rufus Love: Exemplification of the Love of Man for Man Predestination: Rufus Rome: Christians In Rufus: Probably Identical with the Rufus In