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CONCLUSION

 

ROMANS 15:14-16:27

    In the conclusion to his letter to the Romans

 

PAUL’S PERSONAL MATTERS

ROMANS 15:14-33

In this section (15:14-33) Paul writes about the following personal matters:

 

EXPLANATION OF HIS BOLDNESS

ROMANS 15:14-16

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.  15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, consecrated by the Holy Spirit.

 

REVIEW OF THE PAST

ROMANS 15:17-22

17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.  18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ, 20 thus making it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ had already been named, lest I build on another man’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “They shall see who have never been told of him, and they shall understand who have never heard of him.”  22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.

 

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

ROMANS 15:23-29

23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be sped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little.  25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints.  26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem;  27 they were pleased to do it, and indeed they are in debt to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.  28 When therefore I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain;  29 and I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

 

APPEAL FOR PRAYER

ROMANS 15:30-32

30 I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

 

BENEDICTION

ROMANS 15:33

33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

 

EPILOGUE

ROMANS 16:1-24

In this final section (16:1-24) Paul concludes his letter by

 

COMMENDATION OF PHOEBE

ROMANS 16:1-2

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well.

 

GREETINGS FROM PAUL

ROMANS 16:3-16

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,  4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I but also all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks;  5 greet also the church in their house.  Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ.  6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard among you.  7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners; they are men of note among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.  8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.  9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.  10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.  Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.  11 Greet my kinsman Herodion.  Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus.  12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa.  Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.  13 Greet Rufus, eminent in the Lord, also his mother and mine.  14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them.  15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.  16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.  All the churches of Christ greet you.

 

FINAL EXHORTATION

ROMANS 16:17-20

17 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught;  avoid them.  18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.  19 For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you wise as to what is good and guileless as to what is evil;  20 then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

GREETINGS FROM PAUL’S FRIENDS

ROMANS 16:21-23

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you;  so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.  22 I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.  23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you.  Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

 

FINAL BENEDICTION

ROMANS 16:24

24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

DOXOLOGY

ROMANS 16:25-27

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages 26 but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about obedience to the faith — 27 to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.