Romans 16:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

NIV: I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

NASB: I, Tertius, who have written this letter, greet you in the Lord.

CSB: I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

NLT: I, Tertius, the one writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as one of the Lord’s followers.

KJV: I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

NKJV: I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

Paul is offering greetings to his readers in Rome from those who are with him in Corinth. In the previous verse, he sent greetings from Timothy, Lucius, and Jason. Paul apparently allowed his stenographer to add a greeting of his own. Nothing is known about Tertius outside of this verse. It was common in that era for letters to be dictated by the author, while a type of scribe—called an amanuensis—wrote them down. This was likely the role served by Tertius in this situation.

Paul regularly made use of an amanuensis. Some have speculated Paul had an issue with his eyes that made writing difficult. He ends his letter to the Galatians, for instance, by writing the words himself, pointing out what large letters he is using (Galatians 6:11).

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.

Accessed 5/6/2024 1:54:46 PM