I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: Ver. 1. _Servant of the Church_] A deaconess to minister to the sick, as 1 Timothy 5:9, not a _praedicantisse, _ to preach or have Peter's keys on their belt. (Dr Bastwick against Independency.)... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Ver. 2. _As becometh saints_] Who are great princes, states, in all lands, Psalms 45:1,17, and to be observed according... [ Continue Reading ]
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Ver. 3. _Salute Priscilla_] She is first mentioned, haply as more forward than her husband in the best things. So was Manoah's wife and Nazianzen's mother.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Ver. 4. _Who have for my life_] A rare example. Fast friends are in this age for the most part gone on pilgrimage (said one once), and their return is uncertain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise _greet_ the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Ver. 5. _The church that is in their house_] The house of George Prince of Anhalt, for the good orders therein observed, is said to have been _Ecclesia, Academia, Curia... [ Continue Reading ]
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. Ver. 6. _Greet Mary, &c._] It is profitable that men of great parts and place should preserve their memory with others, though it be but in a salutation; for it may be a means to fire up affection to godliness in such whom they so remember.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Ver. 7. _Who are of note_] Επισημοι, noble, notable Christians, old, experienced, gray-headed disciples. Christianity finds or makes us honourable.... [ Continue Reading ]
Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. Ver. 8. _Greet Amplias_] Piety is no enemy to courtesy: it doth not remove, but rectify it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Ver. 9. _Our helper in Christ_] A sweet sign to him, that his name was written in the book of life, Philippians 4:3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' _household_. Ver. 10. _Approved in Christ_] A high style, far beyond that of the Great Turk, with all his big swollen titles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the _household_ of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. Ver. 11. _My kinsman_] In the flesh, but more in the faith, that surest tie.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. Ver. 12. _Who labour in the Lord_] Though not so much as Persis did, yet doth he not defraud them of their due commendation; _Prima sequentem honestum est in secundis tertiisque consist... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Ver. 13. _His mother and mine_] His by nature, mine by affection. The apostles parted with parents and friends at home, found them abroad.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. Ver. 14. _Salute Asyncritus, &c._] Nothing is said of these; for haste perhaps, or else because they were (as one saith of Jesse, the father of David) _Viri, probi et honesti, minus tamen clari, _ Good hones... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. Ver. 15. _And Olympas_] _Viri, nomen, non mulieris._ The name not of a woman, but of a man, saith Beza.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. Ver. 16. _With a holy kiss_] The Independents at Arnheim in Holland propounded this kiss of love to be practised among them. So for anointing the sick with oil, singing of hymns by one man, all the rest being silent, σκοπειτε... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Ver. 17. _Mark them which_] Set a watchful and a jealous eye upon them, as upon pests and enemies. And here, let not our _episcopi_ (whose office it is chiefly)... [ Continue Reading ]
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Ver. 18. _But their own bellies_] They pretend the service of Christ to their worldly and wicked respects, by a dissembled sanctity, which is double ini... [ Continue Reading ]
For your obedience is come abroad unto all _men_. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. Ver. 19. _For your obedience, &c._] Whereas the Romans might object, Are we also of those simple ones? Your obedience, saith he, i... [ Continue Reading ]
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ _be_ with you. Amen. Ver. 20. _Shall bruise Satan_] Sincerity of a little grace shall be rewarded with abundance of greater graces. Christ our champion hath already won the field, and will shortly se... [ Continue Reading ]
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. Ver. 21. _Timotheus my workfellow_] Of Timothy, read Acts 16:1,2. Of Lucius, Acts 13:1. Of Jason, Acts 17:5. Of Sopater, Acts 20:4 .... [ Continue Reading ]
I Tertius, who wrote _this_ epistle, salute you in the Lord. Ver. 22. _I Tertius who wrote, &c._] Either from the apostle's mouth, or rather out of his foul papers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. Ver. 23. _Gaius mine host_] Baptized by Paul, for whom therefore, and for other good men, he thought he could never do enough, 1 Corinthians 1:14. Such another was Phoebe... [ Continue Reading ]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ _be_ with you all. Amen. Ver. 24. _The grace of our Lord_] This is the seal of all St Paul's Epistles,2 Thessalonians 3:17 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Ver. 25. _Which was kept secret_] Even from the very angels, 1 Peter 1:12, who do daily profit in the knowl... [ Continue Reading ]
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Ver. 26. _According to the commandment_] The writings of the prophets concerning the mystery of Christ were not made known to t... [ Continue Reading ]
To God only wise, _be_ glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. _Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent_ by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea. Ver. 27. _To God only wise, &c._] So say I for these few notes thus finished. All that I shall now add is this distich, - " _Pars superat c... [ Continue Reading ]