1 N ow I introduce and commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae,

I want to let you know about our Christian sister Phoebe. She is a helper in the church in the city of Cenchrea.

2 T hat you may receive her in the Lord, as saints (God’s people) ought to receive one another. And help her in whatever matter she may require assistance from you, for she has been a helper of many including myself.

The Christians should receive her as a sister who belongs to the Lord. Help her any way you can. She has helped many people and has helped me also.

3 G ive my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

Greet Priscilla and Aquila. They worked with me for Christ.

4 W ho risked their lives for my life. To them not only I but also all the churches among the Gentiles give thanks.

They almost died for me. I am thankful for them. All the churches that were started among the people who are not Jews are thankful for them also.

5 a lso to the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was a firstfruit (first convert) to Christ in Asia.

Greet the church that worships in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my much-loved friend. He was the first Christian in the countries of Asia.

6 G reet Mary, who has worked so hard among you.

Greet Mary. She worked hard for you.

7 R emember me to Andronicus and Junias, my tribal kinsmen and once my fellow prisoners. They are men held in high esteem among the apostles, who also were in Christ before I was.

Greet Andronicus and Junias. They are from my family and were in prison with me. They put their trust in Christ before I did. They have been respected missionaries.

8 R emember me to Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

Greet Ampliatus. He is a much-loved Christian brother.

9 S alute Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear Stachys.

Greet Urbanus. He worked with us for Christ. Greet Stachys, my much-loved friend.

10 G reet Apelles, that one tried and approved in Christ (the Messiah). Remember me to those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

Greet Apelles. He proved he was faithful to Christ. Greet all the family of Aristobulus.

11 G reet my tribal kinsman Herodion, and those in the Lord who belong to the household of Narcissus.

Greet Herodian. He is one of my family. Greet the Christians in the family of Narcissus.

12 S alute those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet my dear Persis, who has worked so hard in the Lord.

Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa and Persis. They are all much-loved workmen for the Lord.

13 R emember me to Rufus, eminent in the Lord, also to his mother a mother to me as well.

Greet Rufus and his mother. She was like a mother to me. Rufus is a good Christian.

14 G reet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them.

Greet Asyncritus and Phlegon and Hermes and Patrobas and Hermas and all the Christians with them.

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

Greet Philologus and Julia and Nereus and his sister and Olympas and all the Christians with them.

16 G reet one another with a holy (consecrated) kiss. All the churches of Christ (the Messiah) wish to be remembered to you.

Greet each other with a kiss of holy love. All the churches here greet you.

17 I appeal to you, brethren, to be on your guard concerning those who create dissensions and difficulties and cause divisions, in opposition to the doctrine (the teaching) which you have been taught. avoid them.

I ask you, Christian brothers, watch out for those who make trouble and start fights. Keep your eye on those who work against the teaching you received. Keep away from them.

18 F or such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites and base desires, and by ingratiating and flattering speech, they beguile the hearts of the unsuspecting and simpleminded.

Men like that are not working for our Lord Jesus Christ. They are chained to their own desires. With soft words they say things people want to hear. People are fooled by them.

19 F or while your loyalty and obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you well versed and wise as to what is good and innocent and guileless as to what is evil.

Everyone knows you have obeyed the teaching you received. I am happy with you because of this. But I want you to be wise about good things and pure about sinful things.

20 A nd the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you.

God, Who is our peace, will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the loving-favor of our Lord Jesus be yours.

21 T imothy, my fellow worker, wishes to be remembered to you, as do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my tribal kinsmen.

Timothy, my helper, greets you. Lucius and Jason and Sosipater from my family say hello also.

22 I , Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.

I, Tertius, who am writing this letter for Paul, greet you as a Christian brother.

23 G aius, who is host to me and to the whole church here, greets you. So do Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus.

Gaius is the man taking care of me. The church meets here in his house. He greets you. Erastus, the man who takes care of the money for the city, says hello and Quartus does also. He is a Christian brother.

24 T he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you all. Amen (so be it).

May you have loving-favor from our Lord Jesus Christ. Let it be so.

25 N ow to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages,

We give honor to God. He is able to make you strong as I preach from the Holy Writings about Jesus Christ. It was a secret hidden from the beginning of the world.

26 B ut is now disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to obedience to the faith,

But now it is for us to know. The early preachers wrote about it. God says it is to be preached to all the people of the world so men can put their trust in God and obey Him.

27 T o only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)! Amen (so be it).

May God, Who only is wise, be honored forever through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let it be so.