Commentary on Romans, Chapter 16
The ſixtenth Chapiter.
I Commend vntounto you Phebe our ſiſter, which is a ſeruaunt of the Church of Cenchrea. That ye receaue her in the Lord, as it becommeth ſaintes, and that ye aſiſt her in whatſoeuer buſines ſhe nedeth of your ayde: for ſhe hath geuen hoſpitality to many, and to me alſo.
I commend vntounto you Phebe our ſiſter.] Men thinke that this holy woomanWhat maner of miniſtery Phebe had in the church. caried this epiſtle of Paul to Rome. She had bene a miniſter in the Church of cen…hrea, not indede in teaching publikely, but in looking to the poore, which were ſuſteyned at the charges of the Church. And what maner of widowes, either as touching age, or as touching maners were required to that charge, it is at large ſet forth in the epiſtle to Timothe. By what maner of meanes ſhe was an helpe vntounto Paul we know not, But it is inough for vsus out of this teſtimony of Paul to vnderſtand, that ſhe had oftentimes bene beneficiall both to many others, and alſo to Paul himſelf. She is here thrée ways commended, for that ſhe was a ſiſter, for that ſhe was a miniſter, and for that ſhe had geuen hoſpitalitie to many others, and to Paul alſo. Wherunto alſo may be added, that ſhe was holy: For Paul ſtreight wayPhebe thre waies cōmended. addeth, as it becommeth ſaints. Hereby it is manifeſt y• Chriſtians that are ſtrangers, ought not only therefore to be receaued, for that they are brethern, but alſo for that they pertayne to God, as ſaynts, and wholy dedicated vntounto him. Cenchrea is a towne nighe vntounto Corinthe, and a port or hauen longing to that towne. Neither is it to be meruailed at, that Paul here cōmendeth a woman: for he alſo wrot… letters of commendation to Ph…lemon for Oneſimus his bondman.
Salute Priſca and Aquila my fellow helpers in Chriſt Ieſus (which hauehave for my life laid downe their owne necke, vntounto whom not only I geue thankes, but alſo all the churches of the Gentles) Likewiſe greete the church that is in their houſe. Salute my welbeloued Epenetus, whiche is the firſt fruites of Achaia in Chriſt. Salute Mary which beſtowed much labour on vsus. Salute Andronicus and Iunia my coſins and fellow priſoners, which are notable Amongſt the Apoſtles, and were in Chriſt before me. Salute Amplias my beloued in the Lorde. Salute Vrbanus our fellow helper in Chriſt, and Stachis my beloued. Salute Appelles approued in Chriſt. Salute them whiche are of Ariſtobulus houſe. Salute Herodian my kinſman. Salute them whiche are of the frendes of Narciſſus which are in the Lord. Salute Triphena & Triphoſa, which women labour in the Lord. Salute the beloued Perſis, which woman hath laboured much in the Lorde. Salute R…fus choſen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Greete Aſyncritus, Plegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Mercurius, and the brethren which are with them. Salute Philologus and Iulias, Nereas and his ſiſter, and Olimpas, and al the ſaints which are with thē. Salute one an other with an holy kiſſe. All the Churches of Chriſt Salute you.
Salute Priſca▪ and Aquila] This woman Priſca the wife of Aquila is called of Luke in the 18. chapiter of the Actes Priſcilla. Her huſband Aquila was borne in Pontus, but as touching his ſtocke he was a Iew, and he was of the ſame art or ſcience that Paul was. But why he ſetteth the woman before the man, we know not but hereby it is manifeſt that the louelove of ech of them was notable, when as for Pauls ſake they did put theyr life in danger. Wherefore the Apoſtle cōfeſſeth, that not only he himſefe is much in theyr debt but alſo all the churches of the Gentils: For it was eu…t that they had doone a great benefit to them all, in that they had preſerued Paul theyr teacher and maiſter. Neyther is this to be paſſed ouer with ſilence, that he calleth the man and the wife his helpers, and foreign, which commonly they cal, felow workers. And … not without a cauſe. For they inſtructed in y• way of the lord Apollo a Iew & one that had very great knowledge in the law: as it is writen in the 18 chap. of y• Actes. All theſe which are there named Paul hath adorned with moſt exc…llent titles: Which if a man diligently conſider, conteyne nothing that is earthly or worldly: but conteyne moſt excellent gifts and vertuesWhat thinges ought to moue chriſtians to louelove one another. which God had geuen vntounto them: that we might vnderſtand, what are the things that ought to moue vsus to louelove men. If there be any which louelove them that are rich, beawtifull, mighty, and in honour, they ought to know, that this is not the Apoſtolicall louelove. Riches indede, and beawty, and honour are the giftes of God: but yet not ſuch, that we ought with a ſingular louelove to embrace them.
And the Church that … in they… houſe.] Paul writeth the ſelfe ſame thing of theſe perſons in the firſt to y• Corinthians the laſt chap: either bycauſe that theyr famely was ſo godly enſtructed that it mought ſeme to be a Church, or els for that the faythfull gathered together into theyr houſe to celebrate holy aſſemblies. And this interpretacion I thinke to be the likelier, although Chriſoſtome, Origen, and Ambroſe follow the firſt.
The firſt fruites of Achaia.] They which before all others come to profeſſe religion plainely declare, that they litle regard men and the iudgements of the fleſh, but only follow the impulſiō of the holy goſt. Origen in ſtede of Achaia redeth Aſia: whome he that will follow let him vnderſtand Aſia the leſſe wherein is Epheſus. I meruayle at Ambroſe, which referreth firſt fruites to preſent dignity, as though he were placed in ſome mageſtrateſhip or principality which ſemeth not vntounto me very likely, and eſpecially for that this word, in Chriſt, is added.
My k…nſmen and fellovv priſone…] Kinred alone could not hauehave moued him: but he the gladlier mencioneth them, for that they had ſuffred together with hym. They came to Chriſt before Paul, they are called notable amongſt the Apoſtles: not that they were of the number of the 12. Apoſtles, but for that as it is moſt likely they had ſowed abrode the Goſpell in many places, and had built many Churches. Origen thinketh that it is poſſible that they were of the number of the 72. diſciples. Which I thinke can not be: for they fell away from Chriſt. But how attributeth he this vntounto his wife? as though the office of the Apoſtleſhip could agrée alſo with her? Paraduenture they are called notable amongſt the Apoſtles, for that they were well knowen vntounto them, and were of no ſmall reputation in the Church of Chriſt. This ſence I diſlike not ſo that the very wordes be not repugnaunt thereunto.
Them which are of Ariſtobulus houſe.] He biddeth not them to ſalute Ariſtobulus Narciſſus made a freman by Claudius Ceſar.himſelfe: peraduenture for that he beleued not in Chriſt. Yet he had of▪ his houſholde that were Chriſtians. Which ſelf thing is alſo thought of thoſe whome he addeth, the friendes of Narciſſus. This man was made a frée man by Claudius Ceſar, and was a man of great might, but otherwiſe wicked, an extorcioner, and one euill ſpoken of: howbeit Ambroſe thinketh that he was an elder.
In the Lord] For all the family of Narciſſus beleued not the goſpel. VntoUnto theſe men he aſcribeth no titles: paraduenture for that they were weake, and did not ſo boldly profeſſe the Goſpell.
Apollo.] Origen thinketh that Apollo was that Apollo borne at Alexandria: but I know not how I ſhould be of his minde touching that. For ſo great a man without doubt, ſhould hauehave bene adorned with ſome moſt notable title.
He therefore peraduenture ſayth that theſe women …hryphona, Tryphoſa, Perſis, & Mariae laboured, for that they had ſuche a miniſtery as before we ſayde Phebe had.
His mother and mine.] He calleth this woman mother, bicauſe of her affectionThe boke of Hermas is not in the Canon. towardes him, and not that ſhe was ſo by nature. So before he called Phebe his ſiſter.
Hermas.] Origen thinketh that this man was the author of the boke called the booke of the Paſtor: which ſcripture he ſayth ſéemeth to him holy, and inſpired by God, which is a plain argumēt, that that boke is not to be receiued as Canonicall.
VVith an holy kiſſe.] This amongſt the Hebrues was a token of peace and of brotherly amitie.
All the churches of Chriſt ſalute you.] Here are ment thoſe churches through which Paul had paſſed, or which were nigh to thoſe places.
Now brethren I beſech you marke them diligently, which cauſe diuiſion and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you hauehave learned, and auoide them. For they that are ſuch, ſerue not the lord Ieſus Chriſt but their owne bellyes, and with faire ſpeche and flattering, deceiue the hartes of the ſimple. For your obedience is come abrode amongſt al. I am glad therfore of you, but yet I wold hauehave you ariſe vntounto that which is good, and ſimple cōcerning euill. The God of peace ſhall treade ſathan vntounto your fete ſhortly. The grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt be with you.
I beſeche you brethren, marke them diligently which cauſe diuiſion and offence….] He had willed them before to ſalute the godly. Now he admoniſheth them to beware of the wicked. He willeth them diligently to marke and to conſider them: for that as it oftentimes happeneth, they can not eaſely be found out, but after lōg time, and after that they hauehave done ſome great miſchief. In theſe words are noted the falſe Apoſtles, and as Chryſoſtome ſayth, diuers of the Iewes, which by reaſon of the ceremonyes of the lawe did cauſe diuiſion and diſſenſion in the Churches. Theſe men ſerued theyr voluptuous pleaſures and their bealy, and not God: ſuch as they were alſo, whome the Lord ſayd deuoured the houſes of widowes. Suche men Paule to Timothe calleth intractable, vaine ſpeakers, deceiuers of mennes mindes, and which were of the circumciſion. They ouerthrow ſayth he, houſes: they teache thoſe things which are not meete, for filthy gaine ſake: whoſe mouth oughte to be ſtopped. A certaine Prophet of theyrs, ſayd. That the men of Crete hauehave alwayes bene liers▪ euill beaſts, and ſlouthfull bellies. And in the latter Epiſtle to Timothe, which crepe into the houſes of widowes, and lead captiue wemen laden with ſinnes; always learning, and neuer comming to the knowledge of the truth. They vſe fayre ſpeach (ſayth he) but by theyr flattering they ſeke nothing elſe but to deceiue you. Theſe are two marks to know falſe Apoſtles by. They ſerue theyr bealy, and ſpeake fayre or flatteringly. Such men ſayth Origen ment Chriſt, when he ſaid, They come vntounto you in ſhepes Two markes to know falſe Apoſtle… ▪ by. OnelyOnly by the word of God falſe doctrine is diſc…rned from true.clothing, but within they are rauening wolues, ſhéepes clothing are fayre wordes, the gredines of the belly ſignifieth the rauening of Wolues. And Origen addeth, See in how great daunger they are, which exerciſe not them ſelues in the holy ſcriptures, by which only theſe men are diſcerned. Theſe wordes are diligently to be noted, that true doctrine is diſcerned from falſ, by the holy ſcriptures only. We make not diſcordes in the churche, as the bondſlaues of the Pope falſly ſlaunder vsus, but we as muche as lieth in vsus, and as our bounden duety is, reſiſt theyr conſpiracye which they hauehave made againſt the truthe, and with which they hauehave ſo long time oppreſſed it.
And auoyde them.] The Church hath no other ſword but excommunication. This ſword the Apoſtle admoniſheth them to vſe againſt theſe men.
Your obedience.] This he therfore addeth, leaſt by reaſon of this adnio…ition, he might ſéeme to hauehave no good opinion of them. And this in déede is the common interpretation. But I like very wel, that which Origen ſayth, that here is couertly reproued the ouermuch eaſenes and redines of the Romaines to beleue. For y• redynes putteth liers and falſe Prophets in hope to deceiue them. Wherefore he exhorteth them, not ſo eaſely to ſuffer them ſelues to be deceiued. Which expoſition yet, if any man ſhall thinke not to agrée with this that foloweth, (I am glad therfore of you.) we ought to vnderſtand, that it is better to offend on that behalf. For if they ſhould hauehave true doctrine taught them, and ſound teachers, there ſhold follow very great fruit. Wherfore h… exhorteth them, and ſtirreth them vp to prudence, namely to heare with iudgement, and to try & examine thoſe things which are ſpoken, before that they beleue them. I would hauehave you, (ſayth he,) wiſe to that which is good, and ſimple concerning euill: as if he ſhould ſay. Be ye without guil and fraud: and be not crafty and ſubtil to deceiue, and to doe iniuryes. Paule requyreth at theyr hands ſimplicity, but yet ioyned with prudence: he requireth alſo prudēce, but yet a ſimple prudence. So Chriſt ſayde, Be ye prudent as ſerpentes, and ſimple as doues. Wherfore let no man boaſt of the ignorance of the ſcriptures, or of the want of knowledge in doctrine, or of vnſkilfulnes in doing of thinges: as thoughe this ſhould be counted vntounto him a praiſe. For God will hauehave vsus vnſkilful to committe things vniuſt, but prudent, wary, circumſpect & induſtrious to finde out, to iudge, and to performe thoſe things which are good.
And the God of peace shall tread Sathan vnderunder your fete shortly.] Out of this notable promiſe the Romanes in times paſt mought, and we at this day may receiueWe are made ſure of the victory. moſt ſwéete conſolation, and confirme our ſelues valiantly to fighte, ſéeing that we are aſſured of the victory. He promiſeth that the troubles, diſſentions and offences wherewith the Church of Rome was troubled, ſhould be diminiſhed and broken: and therewithall alſo ſheweth that all our temptatiōs are to be ouercome by the ſtrength and helpe of God. There is no ſmall emphaſis in this word Conterere, that is, to treade vnderunder. For it is vſed in thoſe things, which are ſo broken that they can by no meanes be reſtored againe. But this perfect, full, and abſolute victory we hauehave not in this life. For here the deuil ſtill renueth warre againſt the ſeruaunts of God. Therefore ſome thought that this ſaying of Paul is to be referred to the comming of Chriſt, which for that Paul beleued to be euen at the dores, therfore he addeth shortly. But Ambroſe thinketh that this is to be vnderſtanded of Paules comming to Rome. For by it they ſhould ſo be confirmed, that all impediments of ſaluation ſhould vtterly be expelled. But I thinke neyther of thoſe expoſitions to be of neceſſity. For we may ſimply vnderſtand that Sathan ſhall be ouercome, and ſo ouercome, that he ſhal no more be able to do any thing to hinder our ſaluation. And Paule by this kinde of ſpeche, ſéemeth elegātly to all…de to that which is written in Geneſis: that the ſerpent in déede ſhould bruſe the héele: but his head ſhould be broken in pieces by the ſéede of the woman. Which thing for as much as Chriſt hath performed, he hath alſo geuen power to his members to be able to doe the ſame. In Luke the 10. chapiter the diſciples ſayd vntounto Chriſt: Euen Lord, the deuils alſo are through thy name ſubiecte vntounto vsus. VntoUnto whome Chriſte anſwered. I ſaw Sathan like lightning fal downe from heauen. Behold I geue vntounto you power to treade vponupon Serpents and Scorpious, and ouer all the power of the enemy. And yet is not this victory to be taken in this ſenſe, as though henceforth we ſhal no more be aſſaulted with temptations: for oftentimes temptations are profitable for vsus. AndTemptations are profitable for v…, leſt we ſhald geue ou… ſelues to idle…es. euen when we are in to much ſecurity, and hauehave all things quiet and in tranquillity, God himſelf ſtirreth vp vntounto vsus an aduerſary, that our ſtrength being at conflict with him, ſhould not waxe heauy in ſlouthfulnes, but ſhould with a godly exerciſe be ſtirred vp.
The grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt be with you.] VnderUnder the name of grace he comprehendeth both the fauor of God towards his, and alſo the effectes thereof, that is, ſundry giftes and faculty and endowmentes: All which vnderunder one word he wiſheth vntounto the Romanes. Towardes the end of the chapiter going before he wiſhed vntounto them peace, ſaying, The God of peace be with you all, Here he wiſheth vntounto them grace: that foraſmuch as he had begonne thys epiſtle with theſe words, Grace vntounto you, and peace, ſo alſo he mought wyth the ſelfe ſame wordes end it.
Timotheus my fellow worker, and Lucius, and Iaſon, and Soſipater my kinſemen ſalute you. I Tertius which wrote thys epiſtle ſalute you in the Lord. Gaius myne hoſt and the hoſt of the whole Church ſaluteth you. Eraſtus the receauer of the City ſaluteth you, and ſo doth Quartus a brother. The grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt be with you all Amen.
Timotheus my fellovv worker ſaluteth you.] Before with great diligence he reckoned vp thoſe whome he would hauehave at Rome to be ſaluted in his name: now alſo he reckeneth vp thoſe which ſend ſalutacions vntounto them. And before that we come to the reherſall of thē, this is not to be paſſed ouer, that amongſt thoſe whichNo menciō is made of Peter. dwelled at Rome and were ſaluted of Paul, no mencion at all is made of Peter: who if he had then ben at Rome it is not likely that Paul would hauehave ouerhipped him. For theſe ſo diligently whome he ſendeth ſalutacions were much inferior to him. Of Timothe I will ſpeake nothing. For his name is famous both in the Epiſtes of Paul and in the Actes of the Apoſtles. And this ſemeth to be ſufficient to the commendacion of him, that Paul oftentimes calleth him his ſonne, and his naturallLucius peraduenture is Luke. ſonne. And in this place he calleth him fellow worker.
Lucius.] This man Origen ſuppoſeth to be Luke whoſe name is drawen of Paul to the forme of the names of the Romanes.
Iaſon.] Of this man is large and manifeſt mention made in the Actes of the Apoſtles the 17. chapiter. The Iewes that were at Theſſalonia were troubleſom vntounto him, and accuſed him vntounto the Mageſtrate, for that he had geuē lodging and harbrough to Paul and Silas.
Soſipater.] This man paraduenture, as Origen thinketh, is that Soſipater the ſon of Pirrhus of Berea, of whome alſo Luke maketh mencion in the Actes.
I tertius which wrote this epiſtle ſalute you in the Lord.] Tertius ſayth Ambroſe not in nomber, but in name. No man is ignorāt but that the Romanes were called. Tertii, Quarti, Quinti, Sexci &c. Neyther executed this mā any ſmall office in that he was the ſcribe or ſecretary of Paul.
Gaius mine hoſt and the hoſt of the whole Church ſaluteth you.] It muſt nedes be that this was a good and godly man. For the Lord commaunded his diſciples that when they came into any citie, they ſhould firſt of all looke, whome they thought to be a mete man with whome they might be, & might abide. Wherfore ſeing y• Paul was moſt diligent in obſeruing the cōmaundements of the lord he would not vndoubtedly leue this vndoone. Hereout may we gather the worthines of Gaius. This Gaius, Ambroſe thinketh to be that man to whome Iohn the Apoſtle wrote, reioyſing of his louelove and dewties which he ſhewed towards the faithfull. And vndoubtedly it was a great token of religion and piety to beſtow hoſpitality not only vponupon Paul, but alſo vponupon the whole church. This is he (ſayth Origen) of whome Paul ſayth to the Corrinthians, I geue thankes to God that I baptiſed none of you but Criſpus and Gaius: and he addeth, that it was an old tradition, that this mā was afterward Biſhop of Teſſalonia,
Eraſtus the receauer of the citie ſaluteth you.] Although the mageſtrateſhipps and dignities of this world encreaſe not the fayth of Chriſt, yet foraſmuch as Paul knew that they are certayne ornaments of piety he would not reiect them. So to the Phillippians, They which are of the houſe of Ceſar ſalute you.
The grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt be with you all Amen.] He agayne wiſheth vntounto thē the ſelfe ſame thing that he before wiſhed: not that y• repeticion there of is vayne: but to declare that it is a thing moſte neceſſary and moſt oftentimes to be prayed for.
To him now that is of power to eſtabliſh you according to my Goſpell and preaching of Ieſus Chriſt by the reuelation of the miſtery which was kept ſecret ſince the world began, but now is opened and publiſhed among all nations according to the ſcriptures of the prophets, according to the ordinance of God for the obediēce of fayth, to him I ſay only wiſe be prayſe thorough Ieſus Chriſt for euer Amen.
To him that is of power to confirme you.] This part wanteth in ſome books and in ſome is put at the end of the 14. chapiter ſtreight way after theſe woordes, Whatſoeuer ie not of fayth is ſinne. But now it is red in the laſt place of this epiſtle: neyther will we alter that order. Marcion, as Origen telleth vtterly reiected certayneMarcion reiected the two laſt chapiters of this epiſtle. We cā not render glory vntounto God, but thorough Chriſt. epiſtles of Paul▪ and other ſome of them he ſo alowed, that yet he would not admitte them, but only mayned and gelded. So he vtterly reiected the two laſt chapiters of this epiſtle. Wherefore in the bookes that he corrupted this p…rt vtterly wanted. But we together with other ſound and catholike interpreters wholy allow theſe woordes which he hath cut of: & therfore wil we interprete thē Paul is with a great zeale of piety moued to the end his epiſtle with the prayſes & glory of God. To him (ſayth he) which is only wiſe be prayſe thorough Ieſus Chriſt for euer. We can not render prayſe and glory vntounto God but thorough Chriſt. For as thorough hym are deriued all giftes vntounto vsus, ſo on the other ſide thorough the ſelfe ſame are referred prayſes and thankes geuing from vsus to GOD. Wherfore they which beleue not in Ieſus Chriſt, do neither vnderſtād not ſet forth the true GodHow God i… wiſe. from whome all good thinges come. He is onelye wiſe: For he is not, as ſayth Origen, wiſe by wiſedome: as men commonly are: but therefore he is wiſe for that he begeteth wiſedome: not only, in that he hath brought forth his only ſonne, but alſo for that by his breathing and ſpirite he maketh vsus wiſe.
VVhichWhich is able to confirme you.] Foraſmuch as we are weake and infirme, we hauehave perpetually nede of confirmation. Wherefore Paul ſheweth vntounto vsus the fountayne, from whence we ought to ſeke it. And he prudently inculcateth thys and eſpecially to the Romanes, for that as we hauehave ſayd, they were troubled with ſondry diſcordes amongſt themſelues.
According to my Goſpell and preaching of Ieſus Chriſt] Hereby it is manifeſtGod confirmeth his by the goſpell. that God confirmeth his not by humain inuentions or traditiōs, or by the law but by the Goſpel, which vndoubtedly is nothing ells but the preaching of Chriſt.
According to the reuelatiō of the miſtery which was kept ſecret ſince the world began: but now is reuealed.] By this preuention he anſwereth to theyr cogitacions, which ſuſpected the Goſpell to be a new doctrine. It is not ſo (ſayth he). For itThe goſpell is no new doctrine. was before the world began, but it was hidden wt ſilēce & kept ſecret a long time. But why God euen frō the beginning reuealed vntounto ſome of the fathers although indede to a very few ſo great a ſecret, namely that all mankind ſhould by ſo wonderfull a meanes be renewed, and ſaued by Chriſt, and why he opened this vntounto the people of the Iewes only, and that no otherwiſe then in ſhadowes and propheſies, we can not by our coniectures and vnderſtandinges attayne vntounto. For God according to his moſt high liberty and wiſdome ſhewed this ſecret, both when, and to whome, and in what ſort he himſelfe would.
According to the vvritinges of the prophets.] This he addeth, leſt any man ſhould ſuſpect and count weake the new reueling of this miſtery. It hath the teſtimony of the Prophets.
According the ordinance of God.] That which we now ſayd, namely, that this miſtery was not reuealed by mans inuention or wiſedome, but only by the hidden will of God, he now in theſe wordes confirmeth.
For the obedience of fayth] Laſt of all he putteth the end why the Goſpel was reueled, namely, that men ſhould beleue it, and by that meanes be ſaued.
Amongſt all nations.] As touching this preaching of the Goſpell there was no acception of perſons. Chriſte ſent his Apoſtles to preach thoroughout the whole world.
❧ The ende of the Commentarie of D. Peter Martir vponupon S. Paules Epiſtle to the Romaines.
¶ Faithfully peruſed by M. Dauid Whitehead.