Personal greetings from the apostle Paul to various members of the church in Rome. Paul commends Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchreae, and asks the Romans to welcome her and help her. He also greets Priscilla, Aquila, Epenetus, Mary, Andronicus, Junia, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, the household of Aristobulus, Herodion, the household of Narcissus, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus, Olympas, and others. He instructs them to greet one another with a holy. Romans 16 emphasizes the power of personal connections and unity in the body of Christ. It is a testament to the many unsung heroes who worked with Paul in the spreading of the gospel. It also serves as a warning to maintain unity and stay alert to divisive influences.
Romans 16:1-16 EASY
I want you to know that our Christian friend Phoebe is a good person. She is a servant of the church at Cenchrea. Please be kind to her when she comes to you, because you belong to the Lord. Help her in the way that God’s people ought to help one another. Give to her the things that she needs. She has worked to help me as well as many other people. Say ‘hello’ on my behalf to Priscilla and Aquila. They have worked together with me as servants of Christ Jesus. They were even ready to die so that they could help me. So I have a good reason to thank them. All the groups of Gentile believers also have a good reason to thank them. Also say ‘hello’ for me to the group of believers who meet in Priscilla and Aquila’s house. Say ‘hello’ to my very good friend Epenetus. He was the first person in the region of Asia who believed in Christ. Say ‘hello’ to Mary, who has worked very much on your behalf. Say ‘hello’ to my relatives Andronicus and Junia, who were in prison with me. The apostles know them well and respect them. They became believers in Christ before I did. Say ‘hello’ to Ampliatus on my behalf. He is my very good friend in the Lord’s family. Say ‘hello’ to Urbanus, who works with us to serve Christ. Also say ‘hello’ to my good friend Stachys. Say ‘hello’ to Apelles. He has shown that he trusts Christ very well. Say ‘hello’ to those people who belong to Aristobulus’s family. Say ‘hello’ to my relative Herodion. Say ‘hello’ to those people in Narcissus’s family who belong to the Lord. Say ‘hello’ to Tryphena and Tryphosa. They work hard to serve the Lord. Say ‘hello’ to my good friend Persis. She has worked very hard to serve the Lord. Say ‘hello’ to Rufus. He is a special servant of the Lord. Say ‘hello’ also to his mother, who has been kind to me, like a mother. Say ‘hello’ to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas and Hermas. Say ‘hello’ also to all our Christian friends who are there with them. Say ‘hello’ to Philologus and Julia, to Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas. Say ‘hello’ also to all God’s people who are there with them. When you meet, kiss each other as Christian brothers and sisters. The people of all the Christian churches here say ‘hello’ to you.