Paul brings his epistle to a close with personal greetings, commends faithful servants, warns about false teachers and ends on a note of God's glory. First then Paul commends the deaconess Phoebe and then greets Priscilla and Aquila including the church which meets at their house. Paul then greets the first Asian convert Epenetus, plus Mary, and the apostles Adronicus and Junias who had become Christians before Paul. Then he greets Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodian, Narcissus, Tryphena and Tryphosa who were hard workers, Persis, Rufus and his mother, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas and all the saints. "Greet one another with a holy kiss". Paul then alerts to those causing divisions... by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the naive... the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet... my fellow worker Timothy sends greetings... Gaius and Erastus send greetings... so to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen".
Friday, 11 September 2026
Romans 15 (résumé): Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
Romans 15 teaches that Christians should live for the good of others, welcome one another as Christ welcomed us, and take part in God's mission to the world. Paul starts saying that we as Christians "should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up... may God give you a spirit of unity as you follow Christ... so that with one heart and mouth you glorify God... accept one another as Christ accepted you... and rejoice O Gentiles with God's people... and as Isaiah said the Gentiles will hope in him... and may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him... and Christ called me to be a minister to the Gentiles so that they might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit... therefore I glory in Christ... by the power of signs and miracles through the power of the Spirit.... and I plan to go to Spain... but first I am going to Jerusalem... but then I will go to Spain and visit you (in Rome) on the way... and I will come to you in the full measure of the blessing of Christ... the God of peace be with you".
Romans 14 (résumé): The Weak & the Strong
In Romans 14 Paul shows that love is more important than winning petty arguments and that the mature Christian distinguishes between essential tenets of the faith and secondary personal convictions. So Paul starts saying: "Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgement on disputable matters... some eat everything whilst others are vegetarians but neither should condemn the other... everything we do or eat we do unto the Lord... if we live we live to the Lord... if we die we die to the Lord... dead or alive we belong to the Lord... so don't judge your brother, because one day we will all stand before God's judgement seat... so cut out judging your brother... for I personally am convinced that no food in itself is unclean but I can cope with him who thinks otherwise... because the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit... so let's make every effort for peace and mutual edification... so keep controversial topics between you and God... and everything which does not come from faith is sin".
Romans 13 (résumé): Living the Christian Faith
Romans 13 shows Christians how their faith should affect their relationship with government, with other people, and with their day to day life. Paul emphasizes submission to authorities, love for others, and living in the light of Christ’s return. So Paul starts: "Submit yourself to the government... for authorities have been established by God... so rebellion against the government is rebellion against God... do what is right and the authority will commend you... but will rightly punish the wrong doer... you pay taxes because the authorities are God's servants... and leave no debt outstanding other than the debt to love one another... for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law... don't commit adultery... don't murder... don't steal... love your neighbour as yourself... understand the time and awake from your slumber... the night is nearly over and the day almost here... behave decently with no orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality or debauchery... clothe yourselves with Christ!"
Romans 12 (résumé): Living Sacrifices
Romans 12 marks a clear transition in Paul’s letter. After explaining God’s mercy and salvation in Romans 1–11, Paul now describes how Christians should live in response to that mercy through transformed lives and service. Paul starts urging Christians to live as living sacrifices to God resisting the world's negative influences. "And as a body has many members so we all have different gifts and we should prophesy, teach, serve, encourage and lead with commitment and dedication... and love must be sincere... be devoted to one another in brotherly love and honour one another... be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer... bless those who persecute you... don't be proud or conceited... always try to live in peace with everyone... don't take revenge... but if your enemy is hungry feed him... and overcome evil with good".
Romans 11 (résumé): The remnant of Israel
Romans 11 shows God’s continuing purpose for Israel, the salvation of Gentiles, and the enormity of God’s mercy. Paul emphasizes that God has not rejected His people and warns Gentile believers against pride in the light of their acceptance by God. So Paul commences emphasizing that God had not rejected Israel because "he did not reject his people whom he foreknow... so today, as in the days of Elijah, there is a remnant chosen by grace... and those who disobeyed God had their eyes darkened... and their backs bent forever... nor did Israel fall beyond recovery but their transgression to the Gentiles as too their fulness themselves will be... yet as the apostle to the gentiles I hope that my enthusiasm about their salvation might stir up the Israelites in envy... but Gentiles don't get arrogant... so consider the kindness and sternness of God... and Jews be grafted in again to God... for Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in... oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God... who has known the mind of God?... for from him and through him and to him are all things".
Romans 10 (résumé): I pray for all Israelites to be saved
Romans 10 shows that salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by trying to establish our own righteousness. The Gospel must be proclaimed because people need to hear it in order to believe and call upon the Lord. So Paul starts expressing his desire that all Jews would be saved... and though they are zealous they need to understand that righteousness comes from God and not from ourselves. "We therefore proclaim the word of faith that if you confess Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved... and there is no difference between Jew and Gentile because the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him... so everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved... so send people to preach so that they can hear the Gospel... because faith comes by hearing the word of God... but the Israelites heard and understood... but were a disobedient and obstinate people".