Exposition of Romans 16:22 in Conclusion of Romans
Romans 16:22 states, "I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord" (ESV). This verse provides a unique personal interjection within Paul's Epistle to the Romans, identifying the amanuensis, or scribe, who physically penned the letter [1].
The book of Romans concludes with a series of greetings and a doxology. Chapter 16 is largely dedicated to Paul's personal greetings to numerous individuals in the Roman church, demonstrating the extensive network of relationships he maintained [3]. This section includes greetings to Phoebe, a deaconess from Cenchreae (Romans 16:1-2), and a long list of other believers, including Priscilla and Aquila, Mary, Andronicus, Junia, and many more [2]. The letter then shifts to warnings against divisive individuals (Romans 16:17-20) before returning to greetings from Paul's companions, including Timothy, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater (Romans 16:21). It is within this context of personal salutations that Tertius inserts his own greeting [3].
The name Tertius (Greek: Τέρτιος, G5060) is Latin in origin, meaning "third" [1]. While the New Testament does not provide extensive details about Tertius, his role as Paul's amanuensis is clear from this verse. It was common practice in the ancient world for authors to dictate their letters to scribes, who would then write them down [3]. This practice allowed for the efficient production of correspondence, especially for prolific writers like Paul. The inclusion of Tertius's personal greeting suggests a close working relationship with Paul and perhaps a degree of personal connection to the recipients in Rome, or at least a desire to express his own solidarity with the Christian community there.
The phrase "greet you in the Lord" (ἐν Κυρίῳ, G1722 G2962) emphasizes the spiritual bond shared among believers [1]. This is a common Pauline expression, highlighting that their fellowship and greetings are rooted in their shared faith and relationship with Christ. This phrase appears frequently in Paul's letters, underscoring the theological foundation of Christian community and interaction.
The presence of an amanuensis like Tertius raises questions about the extent of the scribe's involvement in the letter's composition. While Paul dictated the content, it is possible that the amanuensis had some stylistic influence or even contributed to the wording under Paul's supervision. However, the consistent theological themes and distinctive Pauline style throughout the letter affirm Paul's authorship [3]. The doxology that follows these greetings (Romans 16:25-27) is considered by many scholars to be an appropriate conclusion to Paul's letter, reprising themes from the beginning of Romans, such as the mission to the Gentiles [3, 4]. Although some manuscripts place this doxology in different locations or omit it, the majority include it at the end of the letter, and its vocabulary and themes align with Paul's writing [3].
Tertius's brief interjection serves as a reminder of the human element in the transmission of divine revelation. It grounds the inspired text in the historical reality of its production, showing that Paul's letters were not abstract theological treatises but actual correspondence penned by real individuals in specific historical contexts. This personal touch adds to the authenticity and relational aspect of Paul's communication with the Roman church.
Sources
- STEPBible ESV Translation Tags “[ESV Tags] Romans 16:22: word 01 -> G1473; word 02 -> G5060; word 04 -> G1125; word 06 -> G1992; word 07 -> G0782; word 08 -> G5209; word 09 -> G1722; word 11 -> G2962”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Romans 16:9 cross-references: Romans 16:2, Romans 16:21”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 16:25: 16:25-27 This doxology makes a very appropriate conclusion to Paul’s letter and its argument, reprising many of the themes found at the very beginning (1:1-15). • The doxology is missing in two late manuscripts and is in different places in other manuscripts (after 14:23 and after 15:33). Therefore, these verses might have been added to Paul’s letter at a later time. However, the majority of manuscripts do include the doxology at the end of the letter, and it uses vocabulary and themes common in the rest of the letter. Paul most likely wrote it himself as a concl”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 16:26: 16:26 so that they too might believe and obey him: Paul uses the same language about the mission to the Gentiles that he used in 1:5, creating a beautiful frame around the letter as a whole.”