Romans 16:14,15

“ Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren which are with them. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. ”

The personages whose names follow are not designated by any epithet of distinction; but it was honor enough to be marked out, were it only by name, to the respectful attention of the whole church of Rome.

The last words of both of the Romans 16:14-15: and the brethren who are with them, prove that the persons just named are so, not simply as believers, but as directors of a whole assembly which is accustomed to meet around them. They lived, no doubt, in different quarters, and formed, besides the group which met in the house of Aquilas, two distinct assemblies.

Hermas was regarded by Origen as the author of the work famous in the primitive church, entitled the Pastor of Hermas. But it seems now established by the Fragment of Muratori that this writing dates only from the second half of the second century, and that Hermas is a wholly different person from the man who is here saluted by the apostle.

Olympas (perhaps an abbreviation of Olympiodorus) is certainly here a man's name.