Romans 16:8-27

Summary
In today’s reading, Apostle Paul recognized individuals whom he enjoyed spiritual fellowship and labored in Christ with. Paul also encouraged the Roman church by relaying greetings from other churches. He acknowledged the Roman Christians and advised them to be careful concerning evil works. He warned them to flee from self-seeking, deceivers using false doctrine seeking to deceive the hearts of simple Christians. He also related it to other churches not to be exposed to similar doctrines and protect themselves as Christians.
He made them know that the God of peace is the final straw that would crush Satan under their feet.

LIFE APPLICATION
We are to be careful not to fall to the vices of the devil who always tries to disunite the church through false doctrine. Being rooted in God’s word and testing all spirits would not allow us as Christians to fall prey to the devil.

PERSONAL DECLARATION
I declare that l am rooted and grounded in God’s word.

Reading – Romans 16:8-27

⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

⁹ Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

¹⁰ Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

¹¹ Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.

Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

¹² Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

¹³ Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

¹⁵ Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.

¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ send greetings.

¹⁷ I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ¹⁹ Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

²¹ Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

²² I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

²³ Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. ^[24] [a]

²⁵ Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, ²⁶ but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from^[b] faith— ²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 16:24 Some manuscripts include here May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.
2. Romans 16:26 Or that is