Romans 16:1-10 - Commendation and Greetings

Romans 16:1-10 (KJV)
¹ I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
² That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
³ Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
⁴ Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
⁵ Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
⁶ Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
⁷ Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
⁸ Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
⁹ Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
¹⁰ Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.

Paul had now come to the end of his letter to the Romans. The last chapter consists of some follow-up details. In verse 1 he commended Phebe to the Roman assembly. It is believed that Phebe was the one who carried Paul's letter to the Roman believers. She was a servant of the church in Cenchrea, which was the eastern seaport of Corinth. Although the term "servant" can mean any number of roles in the church, the Greek term is "diakonos," from which the term deacon comes from. It is interesting to note that "diakonos" is the masculine form of the word (Stern, David H. Jewish New Testament Commentary, Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc., Clarksville, MD. p. 439). This seems to indicate that Phebe had a very important role in the Cenchrea church. The Hebrew parallel would have been "shammash," the person who handled the practical tasks of keeping a synagogue going (Stern 439). Paul exhorted the Roman believers to receive her and to assist her in whatever business she had need of (verse 2). She had succoured many, including Paul.

In verse 3 Paul began his greetings, first to Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's helpers in Messiah Yeshua. According to Paul, they had laid down their own necks for him at some point, although, Biblically there is no record of any specific such incident (verse 4). For this, Paul and all the churches of the Gentiles were grateful. Likewise, Paul greeted the assembly or congregation that met in their home (verse 5). Some have believed that the mention of Priscilla before Aquila may have indicated her greater prominence.

Paul then greeted his well-beloved Epaenetus, who was the first fruits of those in Achaia (Greece) who came to Messiah. He greeted Mary, who had done much labor for Paul and his co-workers (verse 6). Next, he greeted Andronicus and Junia, his kinsmen and fellow prisoners (verse 7). They were important among the apostles and they had come to Messiah before Paul. Junia is a feminine name and may be Andronicus' wife. In any case she is counted among the apostles. In verse 8 Paul greeted Amplias, his beloved in the Lord. He greeted Urbane, his helper in Messiah, and Stachys, his beloved (verse 9). Paul greeted Apelles who was approved in Messiah, and those who were of the house of Aristobulus (verse 10).

Paul's greeting will continue in the next post.