In Romans 15, Paul shows that Messiah is not only for Yisrael but also for the Nations, fulfilling the prophets as those who had not heard or seen Him, coming to understand and place their hope in Him; his mission reflects that purpose of bringing the nations into obedient faith, while also demonstrating unity through shared life. Moving into the final chapter of Romans 16, this teaching becomes visible: a real, diverse community-men and women, Jew and Gentile- laboring together in Messiah, showing that the unity, edification, and one mind he’s been calling for is not just instruction, but something meant to be lived out in relationship and service.
1 I commend now to you Phoiben, our sister- being also a servant of the assembly in Kenchreais
2 that her you might receive in Adonay in a manner worthy of the holy-ones, and you might assist her in whatever matter of you she may need. Also indeed she has been a helper of many and of me, myself.
3 Welcome Priska and Akulas, my fellow workers in Messiah Yeshua.
4 who for my life their necks have lain down; whom not only I thank but also all the assemblies of the Nations.
5 and the- according to their house- assembly, welcome Epainetos the beloved of me, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Messiah.
kai tēn kat’ oikon autōn ekklēsian
- “according to the household”
- “in a house-based setting”
So this isn’t a formal building or institution- It’s a gathering defined by household space and relational structure.
Greek often:
- stacks descriptors tightly
- omits verbs (like “greet,” which is implied from earlier)
So Paul is basically saying “Greet Prikca and Akulas… and [greet] the assembly in their house…”
6 Welcome Miryam, who much toiled for you.
7 Welcome Andronikos and Iounias, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners with me who are of note among the apostles who also before me were in Messiah.
8 Welcome Ampliatos the beloved of me in Adonay.
9 Welcome Ourbanos our fellow worker in Messiah, and Stachus the beloved of me.
10 Welcome Apelles the tried (and accepted) in Messiah. Welcome those of the [household of] Aristoboulos.
11 Welcome Herodion, my kinsmen. Welcome those of the [household of] Narkissos, those being in Adonay.
12 Welcome Truphaina and Truphosa, those toiling in Adonay. Welcome Persis the beloved who much toiled in Adonay.
13 Welcome Rhouphos the elect in Adonay, and his mother and [who was also one] to me.
Side note: Many scholars connect this Rhouphos with Mark 15:21
- If it’s the same person, then this would be the son of Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried the stake of Messiah
- Paul is using covenant-family language- his mother functioned as a spiritual mother figure to Paul, offering care and support
14 Welcome Asugkritos, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them.
15 Welcome Philologos and Ioulia, Nereus and his sister, and Olumpas and those together with them, all [the] holy-ones.
16 Welcome one another with a kiss holy. Welcome you the assemblies all those [of] Messiah.
17 I exhort you now brothers to watch out for those divisions and obstacles contrary [to the] teachings that you have learned, causing even [to] turn away from them.
18 These indeed such kind the Adonay of us Messiah not serve, but of their own inner man. And by their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
These verses are used often to shut down any type of argument in the church, or weaponized to call someone who stands apart a deceiver- so let’s ask ourselves, what is Paul really warning about?
“Take heed of those divisions and obstacles”-
Divisions in Greek- dichostasia:
- from dicha; in two, apart, split & stasis; standing, state, position;
- describing a split condition
Obstacles: skandala– a trap, snare or stumbling block
“contrary to the teachings you have learned, causing even to turn from them.”
The preposition para + didachēn means movement beyond or outside the accepted standard. So Paul is warning about people who teach in a way that goes outside or beyond the instruction already received.
“by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
Smooth talk- chréstologia:
- from chrēstos; kind, pleasant, good-sounding & logia; speech, talk;
- this is speech that sounds good, agreeable and harmless, but is used to mislead
Flattery: eulogia
- from eu (good) and logos (speech)
- adulation, praise & good speech; blessing
This is speech that sounds positive, affirming, and respectable- but is used to manipulate and deceive
But, Paul says this deception will only fool the naive-
- akakos; the guileless, the simple, the unsuspecting; the unlearned
19 The indeed of you obedience to all has reached. On the basis of you therefore I rejoice- however [I wish] you wise truly to be to the good; blameless, however, to the evil.
- hypakoē– obedience / responsive hearing; submission; compliance; literally: “listening under”
This is not just action, but a response of submission to teachings.
- sophous– wise, learned, cultivated, skilled
- akeraioi– unmixed, pure, blameless; uncorrupted; literally “not mixed together”
This is not ‘be wise to evil that you might defeat it’
It’s “be skillfully discerning in what is good and completely unmixed with evil.”
20 The now God of shalom will crush the Adversary under your feet hastily. The grace of Adonay Yeshua Messiah [be] with you.
21 Welcomes you Timotheos, the fellow worker of me; also Loukios and Iason and Sosipatros my kinsmen.
22 Welcome you I, Tertios, the [one] having engraved this letter, in Adonay
23 Welcomes you Gaios the host of me and all the assemblies. Welcomes you Erastos the steward of the city and Kouartos the brother.
24 The grace of Adonay Yeshua Messiah with all you, amen. [later manuscript addition]
25 To [the one] now being able you to support you according to my good-news and the preaching of Yeshua Messiah, according to revelation of [the] mystery in the times of the ages having been kept secret
26 having been made known however now through also [the] writings of [the] prophets, according to [the] instructions of the Eternal god, towards [the] obedience of faith unto all the Nations having been declared
27 [to the] Only wise God through Yeshua Messiah, the glory [be] to the ages of the ages, amen.
Romans is Paul’s explanation of how Messiah brings both Yisrael and the nations into one unified people through obedient faith, not based on ethnicity or law-keeping alone, but through transformation by living in Messiah. The letter closes by showing this unity lived out in real communities, while warning against anything that causes division, and ending with grace as the foundation that holds it all together.
Seeking for more?
Check out this re-cap of Acts 21-28 for the events that follow Romans
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