Romans 16

The Explanation

Romans 16 is the very last chapter of a long letter that Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome. If you read the whole letter, you hear big and difficult things about sin, grace, and faith. But this last chapter is different. It looks almost like the end of a WhatsApp message: "Say hi to everyone!"

Paul lists more than twenty-five names. First he mentions Phoebe. She is probably the one carrying this letter to Rome. Paul asks the church to receive her well, because she has helped many people, including Paul himself. Then come Prisca and Aquila, a married couple who once risked their lives for Paul. And Mary, who worked hard. And Andronicus and Junia, who had even sat in prison with Paul. And Rufus, whose mother had been like a mother to Paul too.

He also greets people we know nothing else about: Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis, Apelles, Herodion. Just names. But God knows them all.

At the end Paul warns: watch out for people who cause divisions and who speak sweet, flattering words but really only serve themselves. Stay wise and pure, he says. And then comes this beautiful promise: "The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet."

The very last verses are greetings from Paul's helpers. Tertius even sneaks in his own name, because he is the one actually writing down what Paul dictates. And Erastus, the city treasurer, an important man in the city, sends his greetings too.

What Does This Mean?

At first you might think: why is this whole list of names in the Bible? It looks like a phonebook. But look closer. In one small church you find slaves and rich people, men and women, Jews and Gentiles, people from prison and people who work in city hall. Normally these people would never sit at the same table. In the church of Jesus, they do.

Paul knows them all. He remembers who helped him, who suffered, who worked hard. Nothing they did got lost. And if Paul remembers, then God remembers even more.

The warning in the middle is important too. Not everyone who talks nicely is nice. Some people use sweet words to pull others away from the truth. Paul says: stay awake. Be wise about good things, and stay innocent about evil.

The Common Thread

The whole letter to the Romans is about one thing: Jesus died and rose again, and through Him people who were enemies of God become friends of God. Chapter 16 shows what that actually looks like. It is not just a nice idea. It is a real group of real people, from all corners of society, who now belong together because they belong to Jesus.

And do you see how Paul ends? "The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet." That points back to a very old promise in Genesis, where God said that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent's head. Jesus has already begun that. And one day it will be finished. The church in Rome, with all those simple names, is part of that great victory.

For You

Your name is not in Romans 16. But God knows your name too. He sees what you do that no one else notices. When you help someone at school and no one thanks you, He sees it. When you keep believing while friends laugh, He sees it.

Something else: church is not only for people just like you. In your church there are probably old people, small children, people who talk differently, people whose lives look nothing like yours. Paul would greet them all by name. Can you do that too? Do you actually know who sits three rows behind you?

And that warning about smooth talkers is for you as well. On your phone, on YouTube, at school, people say things that sound really nice but pull you away from Jesus. Ask yourself: is this true, or does it only sound good?

Talk About It

Why do you think God had Paul write down all those names, even names we know nothing else about?

Have you ever heard someone say something that sounded nice but you sensed was not quite right? What do you do then?

Praying Together

Lord God, thank You that You know every name, also mine. Thank You for all the people in Your church, even the ones I do not know yet. Help me to be wise, to see through sweet lies, and to keep trusting You. Crush the evil in this world, and let Your peace win. Through Jesus, amen.