I send greetings to is literally “greet.” In some languages a translation of I send greetings to may be “I send these special words to” or even “I want to mention.”

Priscilla and Aquila are no doubt the two persons mentioned in Acts (see in particular Acts 18; cf. 1 Corinthians 16.19).

“In Christ Jesus” is taken by the Good News Translation in the sense of in the service of Christ Jesus (so also New American Bible) and by An American Translation* with the meaning of “in the cause of Christ Jesus”; most other translations render literally.

My fellow workers in the service of Christ Jesus may be rendered as “they worked together with me in serving Christ Jesus” or “they joined with me in working for Christ Jesus.”

Verse 4 begins “who in behalf of my soul laid down their own necks.” The phrase “in behalf of my soul” means for me (Revised Standard Version “for my life”; New English Bible and Jerusalem Bible “to save my life”); while Paul’s remaining words are easily understood in the sense of risked their lives (many translations “risked their necks”). Risked their lives may be expressed in a variety of ways in different languages: “they were in danger of being killed,” “they dared to be killed,” “they were willing to be killed,” or “they were willing to die.”

I am grateful to them may be translated as “I owe them much thanks” or “I thank them very much.” In some instances, however, a more figurative expression may be used: “my heart is warmed because of them” or “my bowels groan because of them.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .