Romans 16:22 – Tertius (2024)

FAQs

Is Paul also called Tertius? ›

“Tertius” is the Apostle Paul's Roman citizenship name, notice that Paul does not “salute” the saints but Tertius and everyone else with Paul does? Paul uses his Roman name here when saluting the saints in Rome.

Paul is offering greetings to his readers in Rome from those who are with him in Corinth. In the previous verse, he sent greetings from Timothy, Lucius, and Jason. Paul apparently allowed his stenographer to add a greeting of his own.

Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

The two verses that begin Romans 16 give important information about Phoebe, an early Christian leader. Paul's commendation of Phoebe to the Roman Christians (Romans 16:1) and request that they welcome her (16:2) imply that Paul is sending her to deliver this letter to them.

Tertius, I would later find out, was an editor employed to write Romans as Paul dictated the words. People like Tertius, in those days, were called amanuenses or scribes (γραφέας in Greek). Amanuenses could be likened to modern day copy editors.

Tertius is the Latin word for "third", or "concerning the third". The term is used in contract law to refer to an interested third party not privy to a contract.

In Romans 16:22, Tertius, “who wrote this letter,” greets the readers. Paul is the author of the letter, but Tertius is the scribe or amanuensis who did the actual writing. The name means “third” in Latin and was a common name for slaves (Jewett, 978).

Some scholars have proposed that Paul may have used an amanuensis, or secretary, in writing the disputed letters, although such a solution would not explain the fact that the disputed letters appear to have been written at least a decade after Paul's death.

Paul has concluded the list of people to whom he would like his Roman readers to pass on his greetings. He wraps up this section with an encouragement for them all to greet each other with a holy kiss.

Paul reveals that Phoebe has been a "patron." This is from the Greek word prostatis, a feminine noun specifically meaning a woman in some supervisory or guardian's role, or one who aids through providing resources. It's possible that Phoebe helped support Paul's work financially or in other ways.

Who wrote Romans? ›

The Apostle Paul is the author of the Epistle to the Romans (see Romans 1:1). In writing this epistle, Paul used the assistance of a scribe, Tertius, who wrote his own greeting to the Roman Saints near the conclusion of the epistle (see Romans 16:22).

Romans 16:25–27 is a one-sentence doxology or hymn of praise to God. Paul praises the One who has revealed the long-hidden mystery of the gospel, or good news, of salvation through faith in Jesus, making it available to all nations.

“May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”

Paul urges the Romans to live not “according to the flesh” but rather by the Spirit ( 8:4 ). Through the Spirit, all believers become spiritual children of God, called by God to glory. This potential is a source of strength for the Christian: “If God is for us, who is against us?” ( 8:31 ).

Most scholars have understood Paul to be referring to Junia as an apostle in this passage, although some have dissented.

In Acts 13:9, Saul is called "Paul" for the first time on the island of Cyprus, much later than the time of his conversion. The author of Luke–Acts indicates that the names were interchangeable: "Saul, who also is called Paul."

Tertius Origin and Meaning

The name Tertius is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "third". Never as well known as that other Roman numeral name, Octavius, Tertius just might hold some appeal for the parent seeking a really obscure name with the patina of antiquity for her third son.

The Hebrew name given him by his parents was Saul, but, because his father was a Roman citizen (and therefore Saul inherited Roman citizenship), Saul also had the Latin name Paul (Acts 16:37, 22:25-28), the custom of dual names being common in those days.