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Romans 16 English Standard Version (ESV)

Personal Greetings

¹ I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, ² that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

³ Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.⁵ Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. ⁶ Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to 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, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers 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.

REFLECTION

• The list of names in this chapter reveals the warm and loving relationships which bound the early church together.  Paul was not just a theologian, he was a friend.  He did not just count up converts; he cared for people as individuals.
• Let this remind us that in the eyes of God and in the church of Jesus, each person is important enough to be known by name.
• How many people do you know by name at your church?  Bring out the church directory / photo album and read it through.  Upon the ones you don’t recognize, mark it up.  Begin to notice and get to know these brothers and sisters in the church.

PRAYER

Lord, as I see this long list that Paul has written, I see Your life and great love manifested in him. Each name on this list represents someone who was in his heart, and they were in Your heart as well. This list reminds me that every person who appears in my life is a precious, unique, and beautiful creation of God. You love each and every one of us, regardless of our appearance, background, experiences, or character. You accept and embrace us all. You gave Your life for each and every one of us, and like a shepherd, You gather us together, unwilling for any of us to be lost. Lord, in the church and in many other circumstances, I have come to know many people. Some I am familiar with, some I only know by name, and there are even some whose names I have forgotten. Today, I want to place all these people in my heart once again. I lift them up into Your hands. May they become Your little lambs, and may their names have a place in Your book of life. Amen!

HYMN

He Knows My Name – youtu.be/hXsiWoyjw60