Romans 16 14

Romans 16:14 kjv

Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.

Romans 16:14 nkjv

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.

Romans 16:14 niv

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

Romans 16:14 esv

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.

Romans 16:14 nlt

Give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who meet with them.

Romans 16 verses

Romans 16 14 Meaning

Romans 16:14 conveys the Apostle Paul's personal greetings to five specific individuals: Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, and Hermes, along with a group of fellow believers associated with them. This collective salutation suggests that these five men likely hosted or were prominent members of a particular house church or a gathering of Christians in Rome, to which Paul extends his fellowship and acknowledgment. It underscores the importance of communal bonds and individual recognition within the early Christian community.

Romans 16 14 Context

Romans 16:14 is situated within the closing section of Paul's letter to the Romans, specifically in a long list of personal greetings and commendations (Romans 16:3-16). This chapter largely shifts from the dense theological argumentation of the preceding chapters to practical expressions of Christian fellowship and personal connections. Historically and culturally, such detailed salutations were customary in ancient letters, signifying personal relationships, networking, and a deep sense of community. The Roman church itself was not a single, monolithic entity but rather a collection of interconnected house churches, where believers met in homes. The names mentioned—Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes—are common Greek or Latin names, indicating the diverse, likely Hellenized, and possibly freedmen population of the Roman Christian community. Paul's detailed knowledge of these individuals and groups, despite not yet having visited Rome himself, highlights the extensive network of early Christian missions and how believers carried news and built connections across the vast Roman Empire.

Romans 16 14 Word analysis

• Greet (Ἀσπάσασθε - _Aspasasathe_): This is a command, an imperative verb, emphasizing the active nature of fellowship. It implies a warm, intentional acknowledgment and expression of welcome and affection, far more than a casual hello. Paul frequently uses this word in his letter conclusions, highlighting its significance in Christian communication.
• Asyncritus (Ἀσύγκριτον - _Asygkriton_): A Greek name meaning "incomparable" or "matchless." Beyond its literal meaning as a common name in the Roman world, there is no specific biblical record or further information about this individual.
• Phlegon (Φλέγοντα - _Phlegonta_): A Greek name meaning "burning" or "flaming." Like Asyncritus, it was a common name, and the Bible provides no further details on this particular person.
• Hermas (Ἑρμᾶν - _Herman_): A common Greek name, possibly a shortened form of Hermodorus, meaning "of Hermes" (the Greek god). The presence of such a name, even with pagan roots, indicates a break from that past identity and the embrace of Christ, while the name itself persisted. While speculative, some have considered a connection to the author of the early Christian writing "The Shepherd of Hermas," but most scholarship regards this as a different person.
• Patrobas (Πατρόβαν - _Patroban_): A common Greek/Latin name, possibly meaning "father's life" or "paternal lineage." No specific biblical data is available beyond this mention.
• Hermes (Ἑρμῆν - _Herman_): Another common Greek name directly linked to the god Hermes. The inclusion of this name underscores the diverse backgrounds of early converts who brought their existing identities into their new faith, redeemed and re-centered in Christ. This is distinct from Hermas in the listing.
• and (καὶ - _kai_): A simple conjunction connecting the named individuals to the broader group. Its role is to clearly indicate that the greetings extend beyond the specific individuals listed to those associated with them.
• the brothers (τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς - _tous adelphous_): Refers to fellow Christians, spiritual siblings in the faith. The term "adelphos" (singular) signifies a shared parentage, here referring to a common spiritual origin in Christ, transcending ethnic, social, or familial ties. It emphasizes their unity and familial bond within the Christian community.
• who are with them (τοὺς σὺν αὐτοῖς - _tous syn autois_): This phrase is crucial. "Syn" (σὺν) means "with," implying association, presence, or belonging to a group. It explicitly indicates that Paul is greeting not just the five men by name, but also a specific group of believers that gather "with" these men, strongly suggesting a house church or a local fellowship unit in Rome.

• "Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes": By naming these five specific individuals, Paul demonstrates his knowledge of and concern for particular members of the Roman Christian community. These names, largely Greek in origin, reflect the cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic composition of the early church in Rome, comprising people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This personal approach strengthens the bonds of Christian fellowship.
• "and the brothers who are with them": This phrase highlights the organizational structure of the early church. It indicates that the greetings extend beyond the named individuals to the collective of believers associated with them. This is a clear allusion to the presence of multiple house churches in Rome, each potentially gathered around prominent members like those named. It underscores the communal aspect of early Christian life, where faith was lived out within intimate, localized fellowships that formed the wider Body of Christ.

Romans 16 14 Bonus section

• The grouping of names in Romans 16 often provides subtle clues about relationships, whether familial, associational, or related to specific house churches. The "who are with them" phrasing in Rom 16:14 and Rom 16:15 distinctly marks these greetings as extending to an identified, albeit unnamed, group or assembly, emphasizing that the spiritual unit often centered around certain individuals.
• Scholars frequently note that the existence of such detailed personal lists from Paul, even for a church he had not visited, reveals the sophisticated communication and mobility within the first-century Christian world. Believers, missionaries, and messengers constantly traversed the empire, maintaining vibrant connections between distant communities and allowing Paul to know people he hadn't personally encountered.
• The absence of specific titles or roles for Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, and Hermes (unlike, say, Priscilla and Aquila who are "fellow workers") might suggest they were prominent householders or established members whose homes facilitated gatherings, rather than formal leaders or apostles. This showcases the grassroots, lay-led nature of many early Christian fellowships.
• While these particular names might seem insignificant on their own, their very inclusion by Paul elevates them from anonymity to remembered individuals in the grand narrative of faith. It serves as a reminder that every believer, known by God and acknowledged by His servants, plays a vital role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Romans 16 14 Commentary

Romans 16:14, though seemingly a simple line in a list, offers profound insight into the fabric of early Christianity. Paul's act of naming individuals like Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, and Hermes, even without having visited Rome, highlights the extensive personal networks and profound relational ethos that characterized the nascent church. These predominantly Greek names reflect the multi-ethnic and diverse composition of the Roman Christian community, a testament to the gospel's universal reach beyond ethnic or social boundaries. Critically, the inclusion of "the brothers who are with them" underscores the early church's organic growth and organization through house churches. This implies that these five men likely hosted or led a distinct congregation or cell group within the larger Roman Christian movement. Paul's greeting therefore acknowledges not just prominent individuals, but the entire, interconnected, and communal body of believers they represent, emphasizing fellowship, recognition, and pastoral care as foundational elements of the Christian life.

• A local church leader taking time to personally acknowledge new attendees, recognizing them and the unique groups they might belong to.
• A Bible study group intentionally including prayer for not just specific members, but also their families or those they lead in other capacities.
• A global ministry maintaining communication with individual ministry partners and also the wider teams and communities they serve.