Romans 16 15

Romans 16:15 kjv

Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.

Romans 16:15 nkjv

Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Romans 16:15 niv

Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord's people who are with them.

Romans 16:15 esv

Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Romans 16:15 nlt

Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the believers who meet with them.

Romans 16 verses

Romans 16 15 Meaning

Romans 16:15 is a specific and personal greeting from Paul, urging the recipients of the letter to convey his warm regards to five individuals—Philologus, Julia, Nereus, his sister, and Olympas—along with "all the saints" who gather with them. This verse highlights Paul's meticulous care for individual believers and emphasizes the communal nature of early Christianity, particularly within house churches, underscoring the fellowship and unity among those set apart by God.

Romans 16 15 Context

Romans chapter 16 serves as the concluding section of Paul's letter to the church in Rome, primarily dedicated to personal greetings, commendations, warnings, and doxologies. Despite not having personally visited Rome before writing this epistle, Paul knows a remarkable number of believers there, reflecting the widespread and interconnected nature of the early Christian movement. Verse 15 falls within a long list of specific individuals (Romans 16:3-16) to whom Paul sends greetings, showcasing his deep concern for personal relationships within the broader Christian community. These individuals likely represent various house churches or prominent figures within the scattered Roman congregations, forming networks of fellowship. Historically, these greetings illuminate the diverse social fabric of the early Roman church, including men and women, Jews and Gentiles, and individuals of varying social statuses (some names potentially indicating slaves or freedmen), all united in Christ.

Romans 16 15 Word analysis

• Salute (ἀσπάσασθε - aspasasthe): This Greek word is an aorist imperative, meaning "greet," "welcome," or "embrace." It conveys a personal, warm, and intentional act of recognition and fellowship, characteristic of Christian love and unity. Paul uses this command frequently in Romans 16 to emphasize heartfelt connection among believers.

• Philologus (Φιλόλογον - Philologon): A male proper name meaning "lover of words" or "learned." It may suggest he was an educated individual or enjoyed conversation, implying a certain social or intellectual standing within the community.

• and Julia (Ἰουλίαν - Ioulian): A common female Roman name, possibly indicating a freedwoman or a woman from a prominent Roman family. Her inclusion right after Philologus suggests they might be a couple, or she was a significant leader in her own right, similar to other women Paul names.

• Nereus (Νηρέα - Nērea): A male proper name, possibly indicating a freedman or an individual with connections to the Greek mythological sea god. The diversity of names points to the varied social and ethnic composition of the Roman Christian community.

• and his sister (καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ - kai tēn adelphēn autou): The sister is unnamed, yet included in this personal greeting. This highlights two points: first, the familial connections (biological or spiritual) within the early church were significant. Second, she was likely known to the Roman believers receiving the letter, underscoring the deep interpersonal knowledge Paul possessed through others. Her inclusion further illustrates the active participation and recognition of women in early Christianity.

• and Olympas (Ὀλυμπᾶν - Olympān): Another male proper name, likely indicating a connection to Mount Olympus or an individual of Greek background. His specific mention signifies his importance among the "saints" with whom he gathers.

• and all the saints (καὶ τοὺς πάντας ἁγίους - kai tous pantas hagious):

  • all (πάντας - pantas): An inclusive term emphasizing that the greeting extends to every single individual in this particular group, not just an select few.
  • the saints (ἁγίους - hagious): The plural of hagios, meaning "holy ones." In Pauline theology, this term is applied to all justified believers in Christ, not a specially selected elite. It denotes their consecrated status, having been set apart by God for His purposes through faith in Jesus. It's a foundational identity for all Christians.

• which are with them (τοὺς σὺν αὐτοῖς - tous syn autois): This crucial phrase suggests that Philologus, Julia, Nereus, his sister, and Olympas were part of a specific house church or smaller gathering of believers. The greeting extends not just to these five individuals but also to the entire Christian community associated with them, implying they either hosted or were prominent members of a distinct gathering within the broader Roman church network.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas": This sequence of specific names reveals Paul's intricate knowledge of the Roman Christian community, even one he had not personally visited. It demonstrates his attentiveness to individual relationships and the diverse composition of believers, including women who held notable positions in the faith community.
  • "and all the saints which are with them": This phrase is pivotal for understanding the structure of the early church in Rome. It strongly indicates the presence of multiple, localized house churches or informal gatherings. Paul acknowledges both the named leaders/hosts and the entire fellowship connected with them, underscoring the communal and relational essence of Christian identity and worship.

Romans 16 15 Bonus section

• The multitude of personal greetings in Romans 16, including this verse, testifies to the highly networked nature of the early Christian mission. Believers traveled, formed new communities, and maintained connections across the Roman Empire.
• The unnamed "sister" highlights the fact that while some individuals might have been widely known, the recognition extended beyond formal leadership roles to all members of a Christian household or community. It also implicitly elevates the importance of women within these early church settings.
• These personalized greetings served not only to encourage individual believers but also to reinforce unity across diverse groups in a large, cosmopolitan city like Rome, where Christians might have otherwise felt isolated. Paul intentionally built bridges and fostered a sense of belonging to a larger spiritual family.

Romans 16 15 Commentary

Romans 16:15 exemplifies the profoundly personal and communal nature of early Christianity. Paul's detailed greetings underscore his genuine affection and pastoral care for believers, even those he had not yet met in person. The specific naming of individuals like Philologus, Julia, Nereus, his sister, and Olympas, coupled with the inclusive greeting to "all the saints which are with them," strongly indicates the existence of multiple house churches in Rome. These were not grand institutional buildings, but intimate gatherings in homes, serving as the nucleus for Christian fellowship, teaching, and worship. The phrase "all the saints" defines all believers as those consecrated and set apart by God, united in a shared identity in Christ. This verse reminds us that the church is not merely a collection of individuals but a body where each member, known or unnamed, is valued and connected, and where community and fellowship are paramount for the spiritual life and growth of believers. The early church thrived on these relational networks, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual care within specific local groups.