Section 16:1–24

Paul greeted the believers in Rome

In this section, Paul told the believers to welcome Phoebe when she arrived in Rome and to help her. It is likely that Phoebe carried this letter to Rome.

Then Paul greeted a number of believers whom he had already met. He often used an encouraging description of the person he was greeting.

Then he encouraged the believers in Rome to welcome one another. He warned them to watch out for people who cause divisions or create problems among the believers. He told them to avoid such people. He reminded them that such people only do things for their own selfish interests. He reminded the believers in Rome that people in many places know that the believers obey God well. He encouraged them by saying that God would soon defeat Satan. He blessed them with the grace of Jesus.

He relayed greetings to them from people who were there with him.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Final Instructions and Greetings (English Standard Version)
-or-
He greeted them and instructed them one last time
-or-
Paul greeted the believers there

Paragraph 16:1–2

16:1

commend: This word refers to introducing or recommending one person to another person or to a group. Someone known to the group encourages them to accept the new person. Here are other ways to translate this word:

recommend (Good News Translation)
-or-
With this letter I’m introducing Phoebe to you (God’s Word)

our sister Phoebe: Here the word sister indicates that Phoebe was a fellow believer who was a woman.

In some languages sister would be understood as a literal sister of Paul. If that is true in your language, use the normal word or phrase for a fellow believer. For example:

our sister ⌊who believes⌋ ⌊in Jesus/Christ⌋
-or-
our (incl.) fellow ⌊female⌋ believer
-or-
our friend

(New International Version (2011)🙂 deacon: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the New International Version (2011) translates as deacon :

(1) This word refers to the ministry in the church of helping others in need. For example:

deacon (New Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New International Version (2011), New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word)

(2) This word refers to any kind of servant role in the church. For example:

servant (English Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (1984), Good News Translation, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the L&N lexicon and many scholars support it.

the church: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as church refers to all the people in Cenchreae who believe in Jesus.

Cenchrea: This refers to a town near the Greek city of Corinth. This Greek name is spelled Cenchrea in English letters. (The Greek sound spelled ‘ch’ here is similar to a “k” but without making the air stop in the mouth.)

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