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Tertius Wrote Romans, the Most Famous Bible Letter, not Paul

Tertius Wrote Romans, the Most Famous Bible Letter, not Paul

Last updated on: February 2, 2026 at 9:11 am by B. J. Oropeza

Tertius Wrote Romans, the Most Famous Bible Letter, not Paul 2026-02-02T09:11:36-07:00 B. J. Oropeza

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Who wrote Romans, the most famous letter in the Bible? Paul? This is what Romans itself claims: “I, Tertius, greet you, the one who wrote this letter in the Lord” (Romans 16:22). Most people are surprised to read this!

Romans 16:22

Tertius, Paul’s amanuensis, wrote the apostle’s letter to the Romans (A.I. image created by Dalle/ChatGPT)

Actually, Paul is indeed the author of Romans—notice Romans 1:1. But authoring a letter and actually writing it are not exactly the same thing in the ancient world. Tertius is Paul’s amanuensis, a secretary who wrote down what Paul told him to write down throughout the letter.*

Authors commonly used secretaries to write their letters for them, even if the authors could write for themselves. Paul shows evidence of being able to write—sometimes towards the end of his letters, he would take the stylus from his amanuensis and write himself (Gal 6:11; 1 Cor 16:21; 2 Thess 3:17; Col 4:18).

There is also evidence that other ancient writers used secretaries who added their greetings (e.g., Cicero Atticus 5.20; Papyri Oxyrhyncus 49.3505; see E. R. Richards, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, 59–93).

What can we know about this virtually unknown person who wrote the most famous letter in the Bible?

About Tertius

The name Tertius—Latin for “third”—is a name often used for slaves. Slaves and freed persons could very well be amanuenses. Most famously, the Roman statesman and orator Cicero used a slave secretary named Tiro to write his letters (Cicero, Atticus 13.25.3; cf. Papyri Oxyrhynchus 44.3197).

Tertius may have been a servant or freedman of Gaius or Phoebe, both mentioned or implied as home-owners and thus wealthy (Rom 16:1–2, 23).

The speed of being able to dictate what Paul said is a quite a skill. Secretaries could write long-hand or shorthand ( cf. Cicero, Atticus 13.25.3; Seneca, Lucilius 90.25; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 6.32.2).

Even so, the importance of this letter probably meant that Tertius was not given much liberty when it came to the wording of this letter.

Why permit Tertius to give a personal greeting?

In Paul’s letters, it is only here in Romans 16:22 that he permits his amanuensis to reveal himself to the readers by name and write his own greeting. Elsewhere in early Christian literature, another rare example of this is in the Martyrdom of Polycarp 20.2. This writing states: “Evarestus, who wrote the letter, with his whole house, greet you” (Kirsopp Lake, The Apostolic Fathers, LOEB, 1912–13: 341; James Dunn Romans, 2:909–10).

It is possible that, due to expediency, Paul encouraged Tertius to do this as a way for the apostle to bolster his own reputation before the Romans. Only people of clout used secretaries to write their letter when they knew how to write for themselves.

It is also possible, and more likely in my view, that Tertius requested to do this. This is either because he knows the Romans personally or because all those present with Paul who heard the letter before it was sealed may have requested to send greetings.

Tertius as a Christian

Tertius claims to write this letter “in the Lord” (Romans 16:22). This was probably not to communicate that Tertius is the one the Lord used to inspire the writing of this letter. Rather, it seems that Tertius is confirming himself to be a Christ-follower “in the Lord.” In other words, he is a fellow believer and not simply a pagan secretary who is writing the letter for pay or because he was forced to do so as a slave. By claiming “in the Lord,” Tertius shares a common fellowship and solidarity with those to whom he writes.

In addition, Tertius may be expressing that his writing of this letter is in service to the Lord. God has blessed him with this skill, and he is making use of his gift for the Lord’s honor and glory.

So there you have it! Tertius wrote the most famous letter of the Bible … under Paul’s dictation and direction, of course.

Note

* On the epistolary aorist participle γράψας, “[the one] who wrote,” see also John 21:24; Acts 23:25.

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About B. J. Oropeza

B. J. Oropeza, Ph.D., Durham University (England), is Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Azusa Pacific University and Seminary. Among his many publications include Perspectives on Paul: Five Views (Baker Academic), Practicing Intertextuality (Cascade), and editor and contributor to the Scripture, Texts, and Tracings series (Fortress Academic): 1 Corinthians (vol. 1), Romans (vol. 2), 2 Corinthians & Philippians (vol. 3); and Galatians & 1 Thessalonians (vol. 4). He participated on Bible translation teams for the NRSV (updated edition), Common English Bible (CEB), and Lexham English Septuagint (LES). He also has commentaries on 1 Corinthians (New Covenant commentary series: Cascade) and 2 Corinthians (longer work—Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity: SBL Press; shorter work—Wesley One-Volume Commentary). His current specialties include Romans, intertextuality, and Perspectives on Paul. He can be followed on X-Twitter (@bjoropeza1) and Instagram (@bjoropeza1). You can read more about the author here.

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