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Closing remarks
16
Phoebe
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the congregation in Cenchrea, 2 so that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever matter she may need from you; for indeed she herself has been a helper of many, including my own self.
Greetings
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life;*So far as I know, we do not have a record of just how, when or where this happened. to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the congregations of the Gentiles. 5 And greet the congregation that is in their house.†In the beginning, congregations met in people's homes. This avoids the expense of erecting buildings. I believe the days are upon us when all serious followers of Jesus Christ will be increasingly persecuted, including in North America and Europe. An underground Church will have little use for ‘buildings’.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Achaia.‡4% of the Greek manuscripts read “Asia” instead of “Achaia” (these are very different places), to be followed by NIV, NASB, TEV, LB, etc.—an inferior proceeding. 6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.§Although scarcely a fourth of the Greek manuscripts read “you” (instead of “us”), that fourth includes the best line of transmission. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, and who were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodian, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.*The three in this verse are women. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, also his mother, and mine.†If Rufus were his physical brother, presumably Paul would have expressed himself differently, so the ‘mother’ here is not literally Paul's. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, also Olympus and all the saints who are with them.‡Since Paul had never been to Rome, so far, I wonder how he knew so many believers who were there (he knew them well enough to give details about them). I suppose most of them had migrated there from places Paul had been, and he would have to know about that migration. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The congregations of Christ greet you.
Warning
17 Now I exhort you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine you have learned, and avoid them. 18 Because such people do not serve our Lord Jesus§Some 13% of the Greek manuscripts omit “Jesus”, as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc. Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.*Guileless people are often not prepared to recognize guile in others. So those who are responsible for the spiritual welfare of the flock need to warn the people about who should be avoided. 19 I rejoice over you because your obedience has become known to all, but I want you to be wise as to what is good, yet innocent as to what is evil.†When the first pair ate of the forbidden tree, this was not the result. 20 The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet!‡The sooner, the better!
Sign-off
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ§1% of the Greek manuscripts (of objectively inferior quality) omit “Christ”, to be followed by NIV and NASB—an inferior proceeding. be with you. 21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my countrymen.
22 I, Tertius, who penned this letter in the Lord, greet you. 23 Gaius, host to me and the whole congregation, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, as does brother Quartus.*One gains the clear impression that the people mentioned in verse 23 knew that Tertius was penning this letter. Not only that, they asked to be included! I wonder who Quartus may have been.
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us†I have followed perhaps 20% of the Greek manuscripts, including the best line of transmission, in putting ‘us’ rather than the familiar ‘you’. If verses 22-24 were not dictated by Paul, then the first person is especially appropriate, coming from Tertius. all! Amen.‡3.2% of the Greek manuscripts omit verse 24, while 7.2% supply 14:24-26 at this point.

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*16:4 So far as I know, we do not have a record of just how, when or where this happened.

†16:5 In the beginning, congregations met in people's homes. This avoids the expense of erecting buildings. I believe the days are upon us when all serious followers of Jesus Christ will be increasingly persecuted, including in North America and Europe. An underground Church will have little use for ‘buildings’.

‡16:5 4% of the Greek manuscripts read “Asia” instead of “Achaia” (these are very different places), to be followed by NIV, NASB, TEV, LB, etc.—an inferior proceeding.

§16:6 Although scarcely a fourth of the Greek manuscripts read “you” (instead of “us”), that fourth includes the best line of transmission.

*16:12 The three in this verse are women.

†16:13 If Rufus were his physical brother, presumably Paul would have expressed himself differently, so the ‘mother’ here is not literally Paul's.

‡16:15 Since Paul had never been to Rome, so far, I wonder how he knew so many believers who were there (he knew them well enough to give details about them). I suppose most of them had migrated there from places Paul had been, and he would have to know about that migration.

§16:18 Some 13% of the Greek manuscripts omit “Jesus”, as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.

*16:18 Guileless people are often not prepared to recognize guile in others. So those who are responsible for the spiritual welfare of the flock need to warn the people about who should be avoided.

†16:19 When the first pair ate of the forbidden tree, this was not the result.

‡16:20 The sooner, the better!

§16:20 1% of the Greek manuscripts (of objectively inferior quality) omit “Christ”, to be followed by NIV and NASB—an inferior proceeding.

*16:23 One gains the clear impression that the people mentioned in verse 23 knew that Tertius was penning this letter. Not only that, they asked to be included! I wonder who Quartus may have been.

†16:24 I have followed perhaps 20% of the Greek manuscripts, including the best line of transmission, in putting ‘us’ rather than the familiar ‘you’. If verses 22-24 were not dictated by Paul, then the first person is especially appropriate, coming from Tertius.

‡16:24 3.2% of the Greek manuscripts omit verse 24, while 7.2% supply 14:24-26 at this point.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD