_I commend_ Rather, _recommend; unto you_ That is, To your love and assistance; _Phebe our sister_ The bearer of this letter; _a servant_ Or _deaconess_, as the Greek word signifies; _of the church at Cenchrea_ Which seems to have been a church distant from that at Corinth. Indeed, this place, being... [ Continue Reading ]
_Greet_ Or, _salute_, as ασπασασθε is generally rendered; _Priscilla and Aquila_ That is, declare to them my Christian love, and desires of their welfare. The apostle first became acquainted with this excellent couple at Corinth, to which city they had come from Rome in consequence of a decree of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us_ Performed many good offices for the faithful, especially for the preachers of the gospel. The apostle is very affectionate in these salutations, giving almost every one some signal epithet, that he might both recommend them for their piety and virtue, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salute Andronicus and Junia_ Or, _Junias_ rather, it being evidently the name of a man, as appears from the apostle's terming them both his _kinsmen_ And saying, that they were _of note among the apostles. My fellow-prisoners_ That is, imprisoned for the gospel as I was. At the time when this epist... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salute Urbane_, or _Urbanus_ rather, _our helper_ Συνεργον, _our fellow-labourer_ Mine and Timothy's, Romans 16:21. _Salute Apelles_, τον δοκιμον, _the approved in Christ_ One who hath showed himself a sincere Christian and faithful servant of Christ, when tried by affliction and persecution for th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa_ Probably two sisters; _who labour in the Lord_ In the service of the Lord, according to their stations: as did also Persis, who seems to be here termed _beloved_, because she was distinguished among many for her fidelity and diligence. _Salute Rufus_ Perhaps the same t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salute one another with a holy kiss_ “The Jews considered the _kiss_ as an expression of friendship. Thus Joab, pretending great friendship to Amasa, took him by the beard to kiss him, when he slew him, 2 Samuel 20:9. Our Lord says to Simon, Luke 7:45, _Thou gavest me no kiss;_ meaning, that he had... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now I beseech_ Παρακαλω, _I exhort you, brethren, mark them_ Observe and point them out for the caution of others. The word σκοπειν, rendered _to mark_, signifies, to observe attentively and diligently, as those do who are placed on a watch-tower to observe the motions of their enemies. _Who cause... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_, &c. As if he had said, This exhortation I give you, to preserve you in the way in which hitherto you have walked, to the credit of the gospel: _for your_ ready _obedience_ and conformity to it, _is come abroad unto all men_ Is generally taken notice of by all who observe such things: see 1 Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Timotheus my work-fellow_ Or _fellow labourer, and Lucius,_ &c _., salute you_ Desire that their sincere love and Christian friendship may be testified to you. As Timothy had never been at Rome, he is not named in the beginning of the epistle. Of Paul's first acquaintance with Timothy, see on Acts... [ Continue Reading ]
_I Tertius, who wrote this epistle_ While the apostle dictated it to me; or he might mean that he transcribed it from the apostle's autograph: _salute you in the Lord_ The Lord Christ, our common Master. This sentence Tertius inserted by the apostle's advice, or at least, permission. _Gaius, mine ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now to him that is of power_, Τω δυναμενω, that is able, _to establish you according to my gospel_ That is, in your belief of the great and important doctrines contained in it, particularly those that respect the gratuitous justification of Jews and Gentiles by faith. “These doctrines he calls _his... [ Continue Reading ]