Authorship of Romans: Tertius' Role in Writing Romans
Romans 16:22 contains an unusual interjection: "I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord" [3]. This brief greeting identifies the scribe who physically penned the letter as Paul dictated, offering a rare glimpse into the mechanics of apostolic letter-writing in the first century.
The Role of an Amanuensis
Tertius served as Paul's amanuensis—a professional scribe employed to transcribe dictation [1, 2]. This practice was standard in the ancient world, where most letter writers used scribes rather than writing themselves [4]. The apostle's use of an amanuensis was not exceptional but typical of educated correspondence in the Roman period. Paul normally dictated his epistles, which explains why he specifically calls attention in Galatians 6:11 to the fact that he wrote that letter with his own hand [5]. The employment of Tertius indicates that Romans, like most of Paul's correspondence, was composed through dictation rather than direct authorship in the modern sense.
The name Tertius is Latin, meaning "third," and was common among Romans—part of a naming pattern that included Secundus, Quartus, and Quintus [6]. This suggests Tertius was likely of Roman or Italian origin [1], though some traditions have speculated he might be identified with Silas, noting that the Hebrew equivalent could correspond to Tertius [6]. The latter identification remains conjectural and lacks strong textual support.
Tertius' Personal Greeting
What distinguishes this passage is not merely the identification of the scribe but his personal interjection. Tertius breaks from his scribal role to send his own greeting "in the Lord" to the Roman church [3]. This addition reveals that he was far from a mere mechanical copyist. As one commentary observes, Tertius wanted the Romans to know "that, far from being a mere scribe, his heart went out to them in Christian affection" [5]. Paul's willingness to include this greeting demonstrates the kind of assistants he employed—fellow believers who shared his pastoral concern for the churches, not simply hired professionals performing a technical service.
The placement of Tertius' greeting within the closing salutations (Romans 16:21-23) situates him among Paul's companions and co-workers. He appears alongside Timothy, described as Paul's "work-fellow," and others who send greetings to Rome [7]. This context reinforces that Tertius was part of Paul's ministry circle, not an outsider brought in solely for transcription.
Historical Context and Date
Both Smith's and Easton's dictionaries date Tertius' work on Romans to approximately AD 55 [1, 2]. This places the composition during Paul's third missionary journey, likely in Corinth, where the apostle spent three months before traveling to Jerusalem (Acts 20:2-3). The letter itself was written to prepare the Roman church for Paul's planned visit and to introduce his gospel message to a congregation he had not yet personally encountered.
The use of an amanuensis raises questions about the degree of scribal freedom in composition. While Tertius physically wrote the words, the theological content and argumentative structure clearly reflect Paul's thought. Ancient scribes could range from those who took verbatim dictation to those who composed based on general instructions, but the consistent voice and theological coherence of Romans suggest close Pauline control over the text. Tertius' brief self-identification, permitted by Paul, shows the apostle's confidence in his scribe and the collaborative nature of early Christian letter-writing, where even the mechanics of composition involved members of the believing community.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Tertius — (third), probably a Roman, was the amanuensis of Paul in writing the Epistle to the Romans. (Romans 16:22) (A.D. 55.)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Tertius — The third, a Roman Christian whom Paul employed as his amanuensis in writing his epistle to the Romans (16:22).”
- Romans “Saluto vos ego Tertius, qui scripsi epistolam, in Domino. -- Romans 16:22”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 16:22: 16:22 Tertius was the scribe (or amanuensis) who wrote the letter as Paul dictated. Most ancient letter writers employed such a scribe.”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 16:22: I, Tertius, who wrote this--"the" epistle--as the apostle's amanuensis, or penman. salute you in the Lord--So usually did the apostle dictate his epistles, that he calls the attention of the Galatians to the fact that to them he wrote with his own hand (Gal 6:11). But this Tertius would have the Romans to know that, far from being a mere scribe, his heart went out to them in Christian affection; and the apostle, by giving his salutation a place here, would show what sort of assistants he employed.”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 16:21: I Tertius, who wrote this epistle,.... This name is a Latin one, and perhaps the person might be a Roman, for the names Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, &c. were common with the Romans; unless it may be thought, as it is by some, that this man was the same with Silas, who was a constant companion of the apostle; and the Hebrew word is the same as Tertius; he also is numbered among the seventy disciples, and said to be bishop of Iconium; See Gill on Luk 10:1. Whosoever he was, it is certain he was an amanuensis of the apostle, who wrote this letter, either from th”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 16:21: As the Apostle had before sent his own salutations to many of this church, and that of the churches round him to them all, he here adds an affectionate remembrance of them from some particular persons who were now with him, the better to promote acquaintance and fellowship among distant saints, and that the subscribing of these worthy names, known to them, might the more recommend this epistle. He mentions, 1. Some that were his particular friends, and probably known to the Roman Christians: Timotheus my work-fellow. Paul sometimes calls Timothy his son, as an in”