1. Romans 16:21 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does Paul expressly mention the greetings of Timothy to the church in Rome?

Romans 16:21 (ESV)

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

Timothy is the first person named in the concluding greeting of the book of Romans, yet did not come from Rome at all, nor had not yet been able to labour there (Romans 16:21). However, he has been the closest fellow worker of the apostle and therefore his name was probably known in Rome, possibly via the stories of Prisca and Aquila. Just like Paul, his heart goes out to the church in the capital city of the empire.1