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Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.
Paul closes Romans with something that feels very personal: gospel relationships. He commends Phoebe, a trusted servant (and likely courier of the letter) from the church at Cenchreae, and urges the Romans to welcome her in the Lord and help her in whatever she needs, since she has been a generous supporter of many believers (vv. 1–2). Then Paul pours out a long list of greetings—Priscilla and Aquila who risked their lives for him, the house church that meets in their home, early converts like Epaenetus, hard workers like Mary, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and Persis, and dear saints like Rufus and his mother who had cared for Paul (vv. 3–15). The sheer variety of names highlights something beautiful: the church in Rome was made up of men and women, Jews and Gentiles, and people from many social backgrounds, all united in Christ and honored for faithful service rather than status (vv. 6–13). Paul ends this section by calling the church to express genuine family affection—“greet one another with a holy kiss”—and reminds them they are connected to the wider family of churches (v. 16).
But Paul doesn’t only end with warmth—he also ends with vigilance. He warns them to watch out for people who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine they have been taught, and he tells them to avoid such voices (v. 17). These teachers sound appealing, but they are driven by self-interest and use smooth talk to deceive the unsuspecting (v. 18). Paul rejoices that the Romans are known for obedience, and he urges them to be wise about good and innocent about evil (v. 19). Then he gives a striking promise: the God of peace will soon crush Satan under their feet—echoing God’s ancient promise of victory over the serpent (v. 20; cf. Gen. 3:15). After greetings from Paul’s ministry companions (including Timothy) and from Tertius, the scribe who wrote as Paul dictated, Paul ends with a doxology praising God who strengthens His people through the gospel—once hidden but now revealed through Scripture to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith—so that glory belongs forever to the only wise God through Jesus Christ (vv. 21–23, 25–27; cf. 1:5).
🌀 Reflection:
Romans ends by reminding us that doctrine is meant to produce devotion and durable relationships. Who has “worked hard in the Lord” around you that you’ve overlooked or taken for granted (vv. 6, 12)? And are you just as intentional to guard unity and truth as you are to enjoy community (vv. 17–19)?
💬 Mission Challenge:
Encourage one faithful servant in your church this week—someone who labors quietly like so many in Romans 16 (vv. 6, 12). Then protect unity by refusing to platform gossip, flattery, or divisive voices, and instead point someone back to the gospel that strengthens God’s people (vv. 17–18, 25–27).
Click here to return to the contents page for Phase 2.3 — The Savior, His Church, and the Mission.
Just Keith Harris 