Romans 16

Romans 16:1

I pray take special notice of the bearer hereof, Phebe, a pious person, who relieveth those Christians which be in want at Cenchrea,

[a] servant of the church] What διακονεῖν, to minister, signifies in the New Testament, hath formerly been noted at large, (see note [a] on Luke viii.) viz. to relieve the poor, either out of the stock of the church, as administrators and dispensers of others’ liberality and alms, or, as hospitable charitable persons, out of their own substance. So the women that administered to Christ ἐξ ὑπαρχόντων αὐτοῖν, out of their own estates, and so Phœbe here, who is therefore called προστάτις πολλῶν, a reliever or patroness of many, (see note [a] on Luke viii.) and of Paul himself, ver. 2, and in all probability is the γυνὴ ἀδελφῇ, 1 Cor. ix. 5, the sister, or believing Christian woman, which either did, or, if Paul would have accepted it, would have helped him and Barnabas to eat and drink, ver. 4, without labouring with their hands, ver. 6. Such as she accompanying the apostles in their journeys to preach the gospel, (as of her it appears by St. Paul’s sending this Epistle from Corinth to Rome by her, as it is in the subscription,) and furnishing them with all things which they wanted, from whence they are said κοπιᾶν ἐν κυρίῳ, to labour in the Lord, vv. 6 and 12, whereupon, saith the Scholiast, that the apostles carried about with them some matrons of good report, εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας αὐτῶν χρείας χορηγούσας, “that made provision for their necessary uses,” ὡς αὐτοὺς λοιπὰν ὄντας περὶ τούτου ἀμερίμνους, μόνῳ τῷ κηρύγματι ἀπασχολείσθαι, “that the apostles being free from those cares might be at leisure for preaching only;” and Theophylact, αἱ εὔποροι γυναῖκες ἠκολούθουν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις χορηγούσαι αὐτοῖς τὰ ἀναγκαία, καὶ πᾶσαν ἀμεριμνίαν ἐπὶ τούτοις περιποιούμεναι, “rich women followed the apostles, and provided them necessaries, and eased them of all that care,” &c. See note [a] on 1 Tim v.

Romans 16:2

And entertain her christianly, as she is wont to do others, and give her your best assistance in the dispatching the business which she hath at Rome; for she hath been very liberal to divers Christians, and particularly hath assisted me in an eminent manner.

Romans 16:3

Mention my love to Priscilla, who, though a woman, hath joined with Aquila, a man, to promote the gospel of Christ, and done their best to bring many to the faith,

Romans 16:4

(And have ventured their lives to save mine, for which cause I am not only bound to thank them, but all the churches of the Gentiles who were obliged by them,)

Romans 16:5

And all the Christians that belong to their family, (see note [c] 1 Cor. xvi.) My love to Epenetus, the first convert I had in all Achaia.

ᵃ See note [a].

ᵇ who are either known men of great estimation with other apostles as well as me, or else themselves apostolical men, who also were—

ᶜ who hath shewed himself a faithful sincere Christian. Salute them—

Romans 16:7

[b] apostles] Ἀπόστολος, apostle, signifies primarily that office whereunto the twelve were set apart by Christ immediately, and so that of St. Paul and Barnabas, sent immediately by appointment of the Holy Ghost, Acts xiii. 2. Secondarily, it belongs to some others after, that received the like commission from the twelve, or from St. Paul; thus is James the bishop of Jerusalem often called an apostle. And so saith Theodoret of those first times, that those which were after called bishops, were then called apostles. So, saith he, “Epaphroditus is called apostle of the Philippians, Phil. ii. 25, because he was their bishop.” So Clemens Romanus is by Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom. l. 4. called ἀπόστολος Κλήμης, “Clemens the apostle.” So Ignatius is by St. Chrysostom called ἀπόστολος καὶ ἐπίσκοπος, “apostle and bishop.” So of Timothy, ὁ ἀπόστολος Τιμόθεος, “the apostle Timotheus was made bishop of Ephesus,” saith an anonymous writer in Photius. So that Thaddæus, that was sent by Thomas to the king of Edessa, is styled in Eusebius, l. 1. c. 47. ἀπόστολος Θαδδαίος, “the apostle Thaddæus.” So Mark in Epiphanius, Hær. 51, and in Eusebius, l. 2. c. 48. So Luke also by Epiphanius, Hær. 51. And if it be he which is men-

Bibloth. num. 254

Romans 16:16

[c] holy kiss] The close of all the Christians’ prayers was wont to be in form of benediction, and that benediction the wishing all charity and unity among them (after the example of the love of God toward them) in the known form. The grace, or charity, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communication, or bounty, of the Holy Ghost, be with, or among you, always, that is, be continued among you, as it is from every person of the Trinity toward you. And this being the form of dismissing the assembly, it was ceremoniously observed among them to part with the kissing one another. So saith Justin Martyr Apol. 2. describing the church meetings, ἀλλήλους φιλήματι ἀσπαζόμεθα παυσάμενοι τῶν εὐχῶν, “when we make an end of prayers, we salute one another with a kiss,” which is therefore called the kiss of peace: and Tertullian de Orat., osculum pacis est signaculum orationis, “the kiss of peace is the seal of prayer.” This therefore is here called the holy kiss, and St. Paul’s bidding them salute one another with it, is in effect all one as his pronouncing that benediction which was wont to be attended with it.

° An. Ch. 51. n. 64. ° Τὰ πλεῖστα συγγεγονῶς τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς δὲ οὐ παρέργως ἐμλήκῃς &c. τὰς πράξεις οὐκέτι δι’ ἀκοῆς, ὀφθαλμοῖς δὲ παραλαβὼν συνετάξατο. l. 3. c. κδ'.

Romans 16:17

Now of this I warn you, brethren, to watch diligently, and (as out of a watch-tower men are wont to observe the enemy approaching, so) to observe and take notice of them which teach new doctrines, either contrary or different from what we have taught you, and so break the peace of the church, and discourage or drive away others from the faith; from such heretical teachers ye are to separate, that others may not be deceived by taking them for men as orthodox as any: (see note [g] 1 Cor. v.)

Romans 16:18

Such are the Gnostics, who instead of serving of Christ serve their own lusts and interests, and by plausible pretences and undertakings corrupt and seduce those who are of a temper ready to follow and obey, and so become easy and seducible, contrary to wise, ver. 19.

Romans 16:19

As for you, your purity of faith is generally taken notice of; and therefore I do not speak to you as to those that are thus corrupt already; but rejoicing that as yet you are immaculate, I exhort you to be watchful, and not so simple as to be cheated into heresies, but only so as to keep yourselves innocent.

Romans 16:20

And to encourage you to continue your watch, let me tell you, that it is not now many years to that coming of Christ so oft spoken of in the scripture, that spiritual, not corporal or personal, coming of his, 2 Thess. ii. 1—3, wherein he shall not only work his revenge on his crucifiers and your persecutors the Jews, (after which time there shall be an eminent discernible tranquillity for the Christians for some space, see Matt. xxiv. 13, and Rom. xiii. 11,) but wherein he shall also cast out the oracles of the Gentiles, and make their delusions appear, and plant the gospel, and root out idolatry over the whole Gentile world, Phil. ii. 11. The abundant goodness and mercy of Jesus Christ continue with you. Amen.

¶ one that hath used great liberality to me and all the Christians, saluteth you.

25, 26. Now to him that is able to keep you from falling into any noxious error, and to establish you in the constant practice of all that I have preached to you, the same that was the preaching or doctrine of Jesus Christ himself when he was here on earth, according to that which we now see revealed, and discern to be that which was foretold in the Old Testament, but not till now taken notice of by men, viz., that the Gentiles should have the gospel preached to them, which secret and all other Christian truths which have been in the purpose of God from all eternity, are now made known or revealed to the Gentiles, that they might believe the gospel;

Romans 16:27

To him, I say, who is the only wise disposer of all this, and who hath managed all by his Son Jesus Christ’s assuming of our nature, &c., be all honour and praise through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.