CHAPTER XVI. _The apostle commends to the Christians at Rome Phoebe, a_ _deaconess of the Church at Cenchrea_, 1, 2. _Sends greetings to Aquila and Priscilla, of whom he gives a_ _high character; and greets also the Church at their house_, 3-5. _Mentions several others by name, both men and wom... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:2. _SUCCOURER OF MANY_] One who probably entertained the apostles and preachers who came to minister at _Cenchrea_, and who was remarkable for entertaining strangers. Romans 12:8, Romans 12:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:3. _GREET PRISCILLA AND AQUILA_] This pious couple had been obliged to leave Rome, on the edict of Claudius, see Acts 18:2, and take refuge in Greece. It is likely that they returned to Rome at the death of Claudius, or whenever the decree was annulled. It seems they had greatly cont... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:4. _WHO HAVE FOR MY LIFE LAID DOWN THEIR OWN NECKS_] What transaction this refers to we know not; but it appears that these persons had, on some occasion, hazarded their own lives to save that of the apostle; and that the fact was known to all the Churches of God in that quarter, who... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:5. _THE CHURCH THAT IS IN THEIR HOUSE._] In these primitive times no such _places_ existed as those which we now term _churches_; the word always signifying the _congregation_ or _assembly_ of believers, and not the _place_ they assembled in. See the term defined at the end of the no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:6. _GREET MARY, WHO BESTOWED MUCH LABOUR ON US._] Who this _Mary_ was, or what the _labour_ was which she bestowed upon the apostles, we know not. Her works, though hidden from man, are with God; and her name is recorded with honour in this book of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:7. _ANDRONICUS AND JUNIA, MY KINSMEN_] As the word συγγενεις signifies _relatives_, whether _male_ or _female_, and as _Junia_ may probably be the name of a _woman_, the wife of Andronicus, it would be better to say _relatives_ than _kinsmen_. But probably St. Paul means no more than... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:8. _AMPLIAS, MY BELOVED IN THE LORD._] One who is my _particular friend_, and also a genuine Christian.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:9. _URBANE, OUR HELPER_] Who this Urbanus was we know not; what is here stated is, that he had been a fellow labourer with the apostles. _STACHYS, MY BELOVED._] One of my _particular friends_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:10. _APELLES, APPROVED IN CHRIST_] A man who, on different occasions, had given the highest proofs of the sincerity and depth of his religion. Some suppose that _Apelles_ was the same with _Apollos_: whoever he was, he had given every demonstration of being a genuine Christian. _OF... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:11. _HERODION, MY KINSMAN._] Probably another converted _Jew_. Romans 16:7. _OF THE_ HOUSEHOLD _OF NARCISSUS_] Probably _dead_ also, as we have supposed _Aristobulus_ to have been at this time. _WHICH ARE IN THE LORD._] This might intimate that some of this family were not Christia... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:12. _TRYPHENA AND TRYPHOSA_] Two holy women, who it seems were assistants to the apostle in his work, probably by _exhorting,_ _visiting the sick_, c. _Persis_ was another woman, who it seems excelled the preceding for, of her it is said, she _laboured much_ _in the Lord_. We learn... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:13. _RUFUS, CHOSEN IN THE LORD_] τον εκλεκον, one of _great excellence_ in Christianity; a _choice_ man, as we would say. So the word εκλεκτος often signifies. Psalms 78:31: _They smote_ τους εκλεκτους, _the chosen men that were of Israel_. So εκλεκτα μνημεια are _choice sepulchres_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:14. _SALUTE ASYNCRITUS_, c.] Who these were we know not. Hermas was probably the same to whom a work called the _Shepherd_ is attributed a work with this title is still extant, and may be found among the writings of the _apostolical_ fathers. But it is in vain to look for _identity_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:15. _SALUTE PHILOLOGUS_, c.] Of these several persons, though much has been conjectured, nothing certain is known. Even the names of some are so ambiguous that we know not whether they were _men_ or _women_. They were persons well known to St. Paul, and undoubtedly were such as had... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:16. _SALUTE ONE ANOTHER WITH A HOLY KISS._] In those early times the _kiss_, as a token of _peace, friendship_, and _brotherly love_, was frequent among all people; and the Christians used it in their public assemblies, as well as in their occasional meetings. This was at last laid a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _MARK THEM WHICH CAUSE DIVISIONS_] Several MSS. read ασφαλως σκοπειτε, _look sharply after them_; let _them_ have no kiss of charity nor peace, because they strive to make _divisions_, and thus set the flock of Christ at variance among themselves; and from these _divisions, offences_ (σκαν... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _THEY - SERVE NOT OUR LORD JESUS_] They profess to be apostles, but they are not apostles of CHRIST; they neither _do_ his will, nor _preach_ his _doctrine; they serve their own belly_ - they hate intruded themselves into the Church of Christ that they might get a secular support; it is f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE IS COME ABROAD_] The apostle gives this as a reason why they should continue to hear and heed those who had led them into the path of truth, and avoid those false teachers whose doctrines tended to the subversion of their souls. _YET I WOULD HAVE YOU WISE_] I would wis... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _THE GOD OF PEACE_] Who neither sends nor favours such disturbers of the tranquillity of his Church. _SHALL BRUISE SATAN_] Shall give you the dominion over the great _adversary_ of your souls, and over all his _agents_ who, through his influence, endeavour to destroy your peace and subver... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _TIMOTHEUS MY WORKFELLOW_] This is on all hands allowed to be the same _Timothy_ to whom St. Paul directs the two epistles which are still extant. See some account of him in the notes on Acts 16:1, c. _LUCIUS_] This was probably Luke the _evangelist_, and writer of the book called _The Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _I TERTIUS, WHO WROTE_ THIS _EPISTLE_] Some eminent commentators suppose _Tertius_ to be the same with _Silas_-the companion of St. Paul. If this were so, it is strange that the _name_ which is generally given him elsewhere in Scripture should not be used in this place. I have already noti... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _GAIUS MINE HOST_] _Gaius_ in Greek is the same as _Caius_ in Latin, which was a very common name among the Romans. St. Luke (Acts 19:29) mentions one _Gaius of Macedonia_, who was exposed to much violence at Ephesus in the tumult excited by Demetrius the silversmith against St. Paul and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:24. _THE GRACE OF OUR LORD_] This is the conclusion of _Tertius_, and is similar to what St. Paul used above. Hence it is possible that Tertius wrote the whole of the 22d, 23rd, and 24th verses, Romans 16:22 without receiving any particular instructions from St. Paul, except the bare... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:25. _NOW TO HIM_] In _Clarke's note at "_Romans 14:23_"_, I have shown that this and the following verses are by the most reputable MSS. and versions placed at the end of that chapter, which is supposed by most critics to be their proper place. Some of the arguments adduced in favour... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:26. _BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST_] Now, under the New Testament dispensation, and by my preaching. _BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS_] Hints relative to this important work being scattered up and down through all their works, but no clear revelation that the Gentiles, who should be a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 16:27. _TO GOD ONLY WISE_] This comes in with great propriety. He alone who is the fountain of _wisdom_ and _knowledge_, had all this mystery in himself; and he alone who knew the _times,_ _places, persons_, and _circumstances_, could reveal the whole; and he has revealed all in such a... [ Continue Reading ]