Romans 16:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

NIV: Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

NASB: Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, and so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

CSB: Timothy, my coworker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen, greet you.

NLT: Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

KJV: Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

NKJV: Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

Paul has previously sent his greetings to specific people in Rome. Now he sends greetings from specific people with him in Corinth.

He first sends greetings from his fellow worker Timothy. Timothy worked as one of Paul's closest partners in ministry, serving alongside and supporting the apostle for many years, beginning with the second missionary journey (Acts 16:2–3). He was present for the writing of many of Paul's letters, including 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Timothy was with Paul during his time in prison in Rome and afterwards.

Paul wrote two pivotal letters of the New Testament to Timothy, as well: 1 and 2 Timothy. Among other things, these explain how Timothy was to serve the church in Ephesus as a young pastor.

Paul also sends greetings from three other men with him at the time, identified as kinsmen—Jews along with Paul. It's unclear who Lucius was, but Jason may very well have been the man who took so much abuse for receiving Paul when he was in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5–9). Sosipater may be Sopater the Berean, mentioned in Acts 20:4, who went with Paul during his third missionary journey. It's possible that all three men served as representatives of the churches sending money to the poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.

Romans 16:17–23 includes last-minute instruction from Paul and greetings to those in Rome from the men with him in Corinth. Before closing the letter, Paul urgently warns his readers to be on the watch for false teachers; to avoid them. These people do not serve Christ and will deceive the naive with their distorted version of Christian truth, thus dividing the church. Paul sends greetings from Timothy, his longtime partner and student in ministry. Paul also sends greetings from his host in Corinth and several other friends and co-workers.

The final chapter of Romans contains four sections intended to wrap up the letter. Paul commends the woman who will deliver the letter and then sends greetings to many people he knows in Rome. After last-minute, urgent instruction about false teachers, Paul sends greetings to the Roman Christians from those who are with him in Corinth, including Timothy. Paul closes out the letter with a hymn of praise to the God who has revealed to all the nations of the earth the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

Prior verses detailed Paul's plans to visit Rome and asked for prayer. This text concludes his letter to the Christians in Rome with four quick sections. He sends his greetings to a list of people he knows, or at least knows of, in Rome. Paul offers last-minute instruction about false teachers. He sends greetings from those who are with him in Corinth. And he closes out the letter with a beautiful praise hymn to the God who has revealed the mystery of the gospel of Jesus to all nations so that all might obey faith in Jesus.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.