Romans 16:1–7
Bible Verses. Also called Romans 16:1-7, Rom 16:1–7, Rom. 16:1–7.
1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
In this passage near the close of Romans, Paul commends Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, and sends greetings to Prisca and Aquila, Junia, and others. It is frequently cited as evidence of women's roles in the early church. Interpretations of Phoebe's office and of Junia are points of contention in the debate over the ordination of women.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
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Context
This passage opens the final chapter of Romans. Having finished the main body of the letter, Paul commends individuals to the believers in Rome and sends them greetings. Cenchreae was the eastern port of Corinth, and Paul is generally understood to have written the letter from the area around Corinth. Phoebe is traditionally regarded as the person who carried the letter to Rome. Paul then greets, in turn, his coworkers Priscilla and Aquila (Prisca is another form of the name Priscilla), the church that meets in their house, Epaenetus, Mary, and Andronicus and Junia. Some scholars have proposed that chapter 16 was originally a letter sent to Ephesus, but the view that it belongs to the letter sent to Rome is widely accepted.
Interpretation
- Phoebe as "servant": The Greek word is diakonos (one who serves). Some read it as referring to the official church office of deacon, as in Philippians 1:1; others take it in the broader sense of one who serves. The word rendered "succourer" in verse 2 (prostatis) is often interpreted as referring to a patron who provided for others financially and personally, though some read it as denoting a position of leadership.
- Prisca and Aquila: Because the name of the wife, Prisca, appears first, some interpreters take this as an indication of her prominence in ministry. The phrase "the church that is in their house" reflects the house gatherings of the early church.
- Andronicus and Junia: "Kinsmen" may be understood either as blood relatives or as fellow Jews. The church father John Chrysostom is known to have regarded Junia as a woman and to have praised her as an apostle.
Debates and Issues
Junia's gender: The Greek form of the name alone makes it difficult to distinguish between the feminine name Junia and the masculine name Junias. A tradition of reading the name as masculine arose in the medieval period, but in light of the observation that no masculine name Junias is attested in ancient literature, modern critical editions and most translations render it as the feminine Junia.
"Of note among the apostles": This expression is read in two ways. One reading takes it to mean outstanding among the apostles, that is, that Junia was herself called an apostle. The other takes it to mean well known to the apostles. Even among those who adopt the first reading, some hold that "apostle" is used here in the broad sense of an itinerant missionary.
These issues are connected to the debate over the ordination of women. Denominations that permit the ordination of women cite this passage as evidence that women held leadership roles in the early church; in Korea, these include the Korean Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, and the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap). Denominations that do not permit it, such as the Korean Presbyterian bodies known as the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong) and the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Kosin), maintain that the passage does not directly address ordination to the offices of pastor and elder, and argue that it must be read together with 1 Timothy 2 and related passages.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, Phoebe is frequently mentioned when explaining the biblical basis for women's offices, such as women deacons and exhorters (kwonsa), and when discussing the devotion of women who serve the church.
Related Passages
See also 8
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