Keraia
Romans 16

Romans 16:2

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

Translations

Modern
Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.
Traditional
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
…so that you might receive her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and you might assist her in whatever matter she may need of you. For she also has been a patroness of many, and of myself.
Latin
…ut eam suscipiatis in Domino digne sanctis: et assistatis ei in quocumque negotio vestri indiguerit: etenim ipsa quoque astitit multis, et mihi ipsi.

Original

Greek
English
Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.

Notes

Romans 16:2

she has been a great help to many people: This phrase refers to the ancient role of a patron. A patron was a wealthy person who used influence and money to support people and important work. Phoebe appears to have been a woman of wealth and influence who used her resources to support missionaries, including Paul.

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).

Glossary

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

Topics

All Christians should be As Missionaries: Various Individuals Female Ministers Hospitality: General Scriptures Concerning Hospitality: Phoebe to Paul Love: Exemplification of the Love of Man for Man Missionary Work by Ministers: Aid Those Engaged In Phoebe Religious Zeal: Phoebe Thankfulness: To Phoebe Women: Phoebe