Romans 16:5

Romans 16:5, in plain English

Also greet the church that meets in Priscilla and Aquila's home.

Why it's here

House churches were the normal way believers gathered in this era—there were no church buildings yet. The fact that Priscilla and Aquila's home was one of these gathering places tells you something about their commitment and their resources. They're opening their home, which was a big deal.

Who's speaking

Paul, extending his greetings

Where it sits in the story

Christianity spread through homes, through hospitality, through people deciding their private space belonged to the community of faith.

The scholarly reading

Paul extends greetings to the church that meets in Priscilla and Aquila's home.

Language and setting

House churches formed the foundational unit of early Christian assembly before the fourth-century building of basilicas. Priscilla and Aquila's wealth permitted them to host a congregation—what scholars identify as a 'domus ecclesia,' a domestic assembly with a patron household at its center. The greeting to the 'church' (ἐκκλησία) in their house acknowledges both the group's legitimacy as a congregation and the couple's role as its sponsors and likely leaders.

Voice

Paul, extending his salutation to the corporate body.

Significance

This glimpse into house-church topology illuminates early Christianity's social organization—not yet clerical or hierarchical, but organized around wealthy patrons whose homes provided sacred space and material resources. The practice would transform dramatically as persecution ceased and the movement institutionalized.

3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

4who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

5Greet also the church that meets at their house.

6Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.

7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Read all of Romans 16 — Paul names over two dozen co-workers — men and women, Jews and Gentiles — revealing a movement built on real relationships and shared sacrifice.