Romans redux (chs. 15b-16)
14And I am convinced about you, my brothers (and sisters)—even I myself!—that you yourselves are also full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, and able also to instruct one another. 15 But I have written rather boldly to you in part to again remind you, according to the grace given to me by God 16 to be a servant of the Messiah Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the Gospel of God like a priest, so that the offering of the Gentiles [might be] acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore I have a [reason for] boasting in the Messiah Jesus [about] the things [pertaining] to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of anything that is not what the Messiah has produced through me [in order] to [bring about] the obedience of the Gentiles in word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fulfilled the Gospel of the Messiah. 20 And thus [I am] aspiring to proclaim the Gospel where the Messiah has not been named, so that I might not build on another’s foundation, 21 but as it is written:
“Those to whom it was not proclaimed about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” (Isa 52:15)
22 And so I was often hindered from coming to you.
23 But now that I no longer have a place in these regions, and for many years I have had a longing to come to you 24 as I proceed to Spain. For I hope, as I am traveling through, to visit with you and to be sent forth by you [after] I have first been refreshed by you for a while there.
25 But now I am proceeding to Jerusalem to serve the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased [to do so], and they are indebted to them. For if they shared in their spiritual gifts, they are also obligated to minister to them by fleshly gifts. 28 Therefore completing this and safely delivering to them this fruit, I will depart for Spain by way of you; 29 and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the Messiah’s blessing.
30 And I am urging you, brothers (and sisters), through our Lord Jesus the Messiah and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf. 3132 so that according to God’s will in coming to you with joy I might find rest with you. 33 And [may] the God of peace [be ]with all of you. Amen. So that I might be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem might be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that according to God’s will in coming to you with joy I might find rest with you. 33 And the God of peace [be ]with all of you. Amen.
16:1 Now I am commending to you our sister Phoebe, who is also a deacon of the church in Cenchrea, 2 so that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and stand by her with whatever thing she may need from you, for she also was a patron of many, even me myself.
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila—my co-workers in the Messiah Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, for whom not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles are giving thanks— 5 and the church in their house.
Greet my Epenetus, my beloved, who is the firstfruit of the Messiah in Asia Minor.
6 Greet Mary, who has toiled greatly for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners who are outstanding among the apostles, and who were also in the Messiah before me.
8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in the Messiah, and Stachys my beloved.
10 Greet Apelles, who is tested in the Messiah.
Greet the ones from [the household of] Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman.
Greet the ones from [the household of] Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord.
Greet the beloved Persis, who has toiled greatly in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother who was also [a mother to] me.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers (and sisters) with them.
15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of The Messiah greet you.
17 Now I urge you, brothers (and sisters), to watch out for the ones (causing) dissensions and putting obstacles alongside the teaching that you learned, and to turn away from them! 18 For such ones as these are the not serving our Lord the Messiah, but their own appetites, and by smooth speeches and flattery they are enticing the hearts of the naive.
19 Your obedience has been made known everywhere, therefore I rejoice on account of you and I want you to be wise to what is good and innocent to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet with swiftness. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
(22 I, Tertius, who am writing this letter, also greet you in the Lord.)
23 Gaius, my host and [host to] the whole church, greets you.
Erastus, the director of the city, greets you, along with our brother Quartus.
24 [Later manuscripts contain the phrase: “The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” at this point in the text. However, the earliest manuscripts do not. For a discussion of how this happens, click HERE.]
25 Now to the one who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus the Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery having been kept secret from time eternal, 26 but now being made known (and is made known through prophetic Scripture according to the command of the eternal God in order [to bring about] the obedience of faith in all Gentiles) 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus the Messiah, be the glory to the ages! Amen.
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