Paul commends Phoebe – deacon of the church at Cenchreae – and encourages to welcome her in the Lord and help her in whatever she needs.
Greet…
Prisca and Aquila – fellow workers in Christ who risked their lives for Paul’s and all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks for them.
The church in their house.
Epaenetus – the 1st convert to Christ in Asia.
Mary – who worked hard for them.
Andronicus and Junia – fellow prisoners who were Christians before Paul.
Ampliatus – beloved.
Urbanus – fellow worker in Christ.
Stachys – beloved.
Apelles – who is approved in Christ.
Aristobulus’ family
Herodion – Paul’s kinsman.
Narcissus’ family – who are in the Lord.
Tryphaena and Tryphosa – workers in the Lord.
Persis – who has worked hard in the Lord.
Rufus – chosen in the Lord, and his mother who was also as a mother to Paul.
Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.
Philologus, Julia, Nereus, and his sister.
Olympas, and all the saints with them.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Paul appealed to them to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that they were taught – avoid them. Such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. The church in Rome’s obedience is known to all, and Paul rejoices over them, but wants them to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Timothy, Paul’s fellow worker, greets them, and so does Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater – Paul’s kinsmen. Tertius, wrote this letter and greets them in the Lord. Gaius, host to Paul and Tertius, greets them. Erastus the city treasurer and their brother Quartus, greets them. Now to God who is able to strengthen them according to Paul’s gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but was disclosed and through the prophetic writings was made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith – to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
This chapter is a beautiful picture of the relationship between and cooperation between churches for the sake of the gospel. Paul wasn’t out working by himself for the sake of the gospel. He had partners, whole families, individuals. He warns against false teachers again too. Verse 20 is such an encouragement, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Christ has conquered Satan through His death and resurrection, but Satan’s destruction is still coming, but notice it’s not merely beneath Jesus’ feet that Satan is crushed, but under the feet of His people in the local church. Satan will lay crushed beneath our feet. Praise God. No wonder Satan hates us so much. It’s no wonder he is constantly wandering to and fro on the earth (Job 1-2) and prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). It’s no wonder he’s trying to lead astray even the elect (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22), because as Paul put it earlier in Romans 8:37 we are more than conquerors through Christ. Satan will lay dead and powerless under our feet as Christ reigns in our hearts. Fight for faith, trust in Christ, labor together for the glory of God.