Romans 16:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

NIV: Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

NASB: Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

CSB: Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.

NLT: Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit.

KJV: Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

NKJV: Greet Mary, who labored much for us.

Paul continues the list of people he would like his readers in Rome to greet for him, mentioning most by name and at least one commendable quality. Next, he asks that they greet a woman named Mary, or possibly "Mariam." As seen in other passages in the New Testament, the name "Mary" was so common that it was not unusual to see several women in the same group bearing it (Luke 24:10; Matthew 28:1) Her very common name indicates she may have been a Jewish woman, though "Mary" was occasionally used by Gentiles, as well.

Paul praises Mary for working very hard for the church in Rome. In fact, she "toiled greatly." We don't know what this work consisted of or how Paul would have known her, but she is praised for her diligence in serving the Christians there.

Romans 16:1–16 includes a list of two dozen or so people or groups that Paul wants his readers to greet for him in Rome. He begins by introducing them to Phoebe, the lady who will deliver this letter from him in Corinth. He asks them to greet his good friends and longtime partners in work and ministry Prisca—or Priscilla—and Aquila, who have returned to Rome from their time in Asia. Also on the list are close friends, slaves, royal families, and members of the various house churches that meet in Rome.

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 5/3/2024 6:51:29 AM