Big Idea: Phoebe, Paul’s patron, will deliver Paul’s covenant letter and have it read to the Roman Christians. Phoebe’s authority as patron and deaconess will reinforce the reading’s solemnity. The Roman Christians should respond to Paul’s letter by providing hospitality for Phoebe and joining their resources with hers to launch Paul’s mission to Spain.
Understanding the Text
Romans 16:1–2 continues the document clause of Paul’s covenant letter to the Roman Christians (15:14–16:27). Romans 16:1–27 divides into five units:
- Phoebe and Paul’s mission to Spain (16:1–2)
- Paul’s greetings to some thirty-six Roman Christians (16:3–16)
- Paul’s warning about false teaching (16:17–20)
- Greetings to the Roman Christians from Paul’s coworkers (16:21–23)
- Paul’s concluding doxology (16:25–27)1…
Baker Publishing Group, Teaching the Text, by C. Marvin Pate