Romans 16

Romans 16:21-24

Paul is now concluding this long and excellent epistle, and he doth it with a great deal of affection. 1. He recommends our friend to the Roman Christians, and particularly Salsate several among them, ver. 1—16. 2. He gives a caution to take heed of those who caused divisions, ver. 17—20. 3. Salutatione are added from your who were with Paul, ver. 21—24. 4. He concludes with a solemn celebration of the glory of God, ver. 25—27.

1. I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Genchres: 2. That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh Saints, and that ye affil her in whatsoever business the hath need of you: for the hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 3. Greet: Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4. (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) 5. Likewise great the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epineatus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ. 6. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. 7. Salute Andronicus and Junia my kindness and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8. Greet Anuplus my beloved in the Lord. 9. Salute Urbane our helper in Christ, and Stachy my beloved. 10. Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus household. 11. Salute Herodian my kindness. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12. Salute Tryphena and Tryphola, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Prifis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13. Salute Rufus chofen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14. Salute Afyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the Saints which are with them. 16. Salute one another with an holy kife. The churches of Christ salute you.

2. 1—16. The apostle now takes his leave of them:

3. With commending to them the bearer. I commend unto you Phebe our sister in the Lord, which is a servant, or a deaconess, of the church which is at Genchres, in the neighbourhood of Corinth. She was one of those who devoted her time and substance to the service of the cause of Christ: probably her house served for the assemblies of the church, and the entertained there who came to preach the gospel among them. Therefore he desires, That ye receive her in the Lord, with all holy affections, in the Redeemer’s name and for his time, or hermitry before, such as to purify yourselves to be; and that ye affil her in whatsoever business the hath need of you, shewing her every mark of kindness and respect: for the hath been a succourer of many, and hath much hospitality received and entertained there; and of myself also with gratitude therefore I desire to acknowledge her kindness and generosity. Nate, The least return we can make for favours is to testify our gratitude to our kind benefactors.

4. He sends his affectionate salutations to many at Rome.

(1.) To Priscilla and Aquila, of whom he speaks with the first regard as his helpers in Christ Jesus, who had been particularly affiant to him in his labours at Corinth, and had the first life laid down their own necks, and when he was in danger he could him at the hazard of their lives, affs: avid. 12—17. For which noble instance of generous love, saith he, not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles, who owe the continuance of my ministry to their zeal and interposition. Likewise great the church that is in their house, either their family, who were all professors of the faith; or the Saints who usually assembled there for public worship.

(2.) To Epineatus, whom he entitles his well-beloved. So tenderly affectionate was the apostle’s heart towards his spiritual children, and especially to Epineatus, as being the first-fruits of his ministry in Achaia unto Christ, and the earnest of that plethren’s herself which followed.

(3.) To Mary, whom he distinguishes as having bestowed much labour on us, peculiarly assiduous in every kind office of love towards me and my fellow-labourers.

(4.) To Andronicus and Junia, who some suppose to be husband and wife, but others more probably to be herders. They were Jews, near kinsmen to the apostle, had been endeared to him by confinement in the same prison for Christ, were persons eminent for their gifts, graces, sufferings, and services, and, he adds to their honour, who were in Christ before

me, called among the earliest converts, and preaching the faith which he destroyed it.

(5.) To divers others, the most of whom he mentions with some note of distinction. Greet Anuplus, my beloved in the Lord, who bears his image, and is most amiable in the relation wherein he stands to the same divine Master. Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and fellow-labourer in the glorious gospel; and Stachy my beloved. Salute Apelles, approved in Christ, whose constancy and fidelity have appeared in many trials. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household. Salute Herodian my kindness both in the faith and in the spirit. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord, vitally united by faith unto him: Salute Tryphena and Tryphola, those excellent women, who labour in the Lord, in their place and station undertaking to serve the interests of the gospel. Salute the beloved Prifis, which laboured much in the Lord, remarkable diligent in her sphere to advance the cause of God. Salute Rufus, chofen in the Lord, eminent for gifts and graces, and an elect well of distinguished honour; and his mother and mine, whose kindness to me kept me under such obligations of filial love as if I were by birth her son. Salute Afyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them, and belong to their families, from the highest to the lowest. Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the Saints which are with them, of their respective households. Salute our another with an holy kife, loving one another out of a pure heart fervently. The churches of Christ salute you, joining me in the most affectionate remembrances, prayers, and good wishes.

17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. 18. 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 Joseph. 19. 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. 20. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

18. 17—20. Having testified his own warm affection towards them, and fought to unite them in mutual love, he adds,

19. A solemn caution. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, so opposite to the spirit of vital Christianity, and so contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned. Mark, with holy zealously, those deceivers, who, under plausible pretenses of greater purity of worship, rend the peace of the church, and avoid them, join not with them in communion, and shun, as the greatest evil, whatever would introduce or perpetuate needless divisions.

20. He discloses to them the true character of these pretenders, as the strongest argument to avoid them. For they that are such, serve not our Lord Jesus Christ; whatever plausible pretenses and pretensions they make, they have not really his glory and interest at heart, but their own belly, designing some means, selfish, sinister, worldly advantage; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the people, who credulously follow them in their destructive ways. Of you I am persuaded better things; for your obedience is come abroad unto all men, and, in your honour, affection is made through all the churches of your professed and exemplary subspections to the gospel of Christ. I am glad therefore at your behalf, that you are so well established, and have not been beguiled by these false teachers: but yet, knowing the weakness and folly of our fallen nature, and the fidelity so deceivers, I warn you to watch against the first efforts; for I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil, cautious to discern truth from error, and joining the wisdom of the serpent to the harmlessness of the dove.

21. He expresses his confidence in the Lord’s preservation of them from all their enemies and seduances. Now the God of peace, reconciled to you in a covenant of everlasting love, to whose blessing and protection I have recommended you, shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly, and all his instruments, though never so crafty. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, to strengthen, stabilize, settle you, and make you more than conquerors. Amen! Nate, (1.) None do the devil’s work more effectually than those who foment needless divisions among the people of God. (2.) Satan is a vanquished foe; and whomsoever it is possible for him to deceive, he cannot, we know, deceive the elect. (3.) The confidence of victory secured for us in Christ is the greatest encouragement boldly to conflict with our spiritual enemies. (4.) The time is short; if faith and patience hold out a moment longer, we shall be placed for ever out of the reach of sin and Satan, and reign triumphant with him who shall make our foes become our foositool. (5.) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ must do all the us, and therefore to his glory must all our victories be ascribed.

22. ‘Timotheus my work-fellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sospater, my kinsmen salute you. 22. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. 23. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, salutes you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you, and Quartus a brother. 24. ‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

As the apostle had before saluted many of the saints by name, he adds,

1. The affectionate remembrances of some of those who were at present his companions. Timotheus my work-fellow, as a son with a father, serving with me in the gospel; and Lucius, and Jason, and Sospater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, as the apostle’s amanuensis, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, whose hospitable doors are ever open to the faithful, salutes you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you; such had been his high office, and perhaps he still continued in his post, though converted to the faith, one of the not many noble who were called; and Quartus a brother in Christ Jesus; for all who have him for their Saviour, have one Father, even God.

2. He repeats his fervent prayers for their spiritual prosperity. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. May you experience his pardoning, comforting, strengthening, sanctifying grace below, and come to his compleat and eternal glory above. Amen! I pray it may be so. I trust it shall be.

3. 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, 26. 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)

4. ‘To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Romans 16:25-27

Once and again, when he seemed to close his epistle, some new matter arose to his mind; here he solemnly takes his leave of them.

1. He commends them to God and the word of his grace. Now I commend you to him that is of power to establish you, and keep you from falling, according to my gospel, which, by divine authority commissioned, I here declare unto you, and according to the preaching of Jesus Christ, agreeably to what he himself taught, and I speak in his name, pointing him out as the great sum and substance of the gospel, the hope and help of his people; according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, wholly hid from the Gentiles, and but obscurely intimated to the Jews in types and dark prophecies; but now is made manifest by the ministry of the divinely illuminated servants of Jesus, and by the scriptures of the prophets, which, having received their accomplishment, are unveiled, and clearly understood; according to the commandment of the everlasting God, who hath given his ministers an express commission to declare the unchangeable purposes of his grace, that they might be made known to all nations, Gentiles as well as Jews, for this glorious end, that they might be brought to the obedience of faith, receiving the testimony of his word, and from the divine principle of faith, which worketh by love, engaged to walk before him in righteousness and true holiness.

2. He concludes with a doxology. To God only wise, essentially wise in himself, and seen especially to be so in the amazing contrivance of the gospel method of salvation, be glory and honour ascribed, through Jesus Christ the only Mediator, for ever. Amen. May his saints on earth perpetuate with their latest breath his praises! and in heaven he shall for ever be to all his hosts the glorious object of their unceasing adorations. Amen and Amen!

THE EVANGELICAL EXPOSITOR; OR, A PRACTICAL COMMENT Upon the FIRST EPISTLE of St. Paul to the CORINTHIANS.

CORINTH was a famed city of that part of Greece called Achaia, situated on the neck of land which joined the Peloponnesus, now called Morea, to Greece. Its very situation made it a most convenient mart, and, in consequence of the vast trade carried on there, it became exceeding rich and populous; so that the place was noted for pride and luxury, and lewd to a proverb. Here was the gospel standard erected by the blessed Paul, and abundant fruit of his labours appeared during his two years stay: but, on his absence, factions arose; false teachers sought to raise a party against the apostle; disputes followed; disorders in discipline, doctrine, and morals, were introduced; and these grievous abuses, which had come to the apostle’s ears, are severely reprehended. After a short introduction at the beginning of the epistle, he first blames them for their discord and factions, enters into the original and source of them, shews them how much pride and vanity, and the affectation of science, learning, and eloquence, flattered by false teachers, had contributed to the scandalous schism; and prescribes humility and submission to divine instruction, to the teaching of God by his Spirit, both by external revelation and internal illumination, as a remedy for the evils that abounded amongst them. He shews them the vanity of their pretended science and eloquence on many accounts. This he doth through the first four chapters. In the fifth he treats of the case of the incestuous person, and orders him to be put out from amongst them. Nor is what the ancients say improbable, that this incestuous person was a man in great esteem, and head of one party at least amongst them. The apostle seems to tax them with being puffed up on his account, chap. v. 2. In the sixth chapter he blames them for their law-suits carried on before heathen judges, when their disputes about property should have been amicably determined amongst themselves; and in the close of the chapter warns them against the sin of fornication, and urges his caution with variety of arguments. In the seventh chapter he gives advice upon a case of conscience, which some of that church had proposed to him in an epistle, about marriage; and shews it to be appointed of God as a remedy against fornication; that the ties of it were not dissolved though an husband or wife continued an heathen when the other became a Christian, and, in short, that Christianity made no change in men’s civil states and relations. He gives also some directions here about virgins, in answer, as is probable, to the Corinthians enquiries. In the eighth he directs them about meats offered to idols, and cautions them against abusing their Christian liberty. From whence he also takes occasion in the ninth chapter to expatiate a little on his own conduct upon this head of liberty. For though he might have insisted on a maintenance from the churches where he ministered, he waved this demand, that he might make the gospel of Christ without charge; and did in other things comply with and suit himself to the tempers and circumstances of those among whom he laboured, for their good. In the tenth chapter he dissuades them, from the example of the Jesus, against having communion with idolaters, by eating of their sacrifices, inasmuch as they could not be at once partakers of the Lord’s table and the table of devils; though they were not bound to enquire concerning meat sold in the shambles, or set before them at a feast made by unbelievers, whether it were a part of the idol sacrifices or no, but were at liberty to eat without asking questions. In the eleventh chapter he gives direction about their habit in publick worship, blames them for their gross irregularities and scandalous disorders in receiving the Lord’s supper, and solemnly warns them against the abuse of so sacred an institution. In the twelfth chapter he enters on the consideration of spiritual gifts, which were poured forth in great abundance on this church, upon which they were not a little elated. He tells them in this chapter, that all came from the same original, and were all directed to the same end. They issued from one Spirit, and were intended for the good of the church; and must be abused when they were not made to minister to this purpose. Towards the close he informs them, that they were indeed

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