Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 2 · Chapter 16 · Section 1 – Section 2
1. The text with the diuerse readings.
v. 1. I commend vntounto you Phebe our sister, which is a minister (a seruant, B.G.) of the Church of Cenchris, (Cenchrea, B.G. but the word is in the plurall.)
2 That ye receiue her in the Lord, as it becommeth Saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoeuer busines shee hath neede of you: (needeth your ayde, G.) for shee hath beene helpefull (succoured, B. giuen hospitalitie, G. beene assistant, foreign, Gr.) to many, and to me also.
3 Greete Priscilla and Aquila my fellow helpers (helpers, L.B.V. but the word is foreign,) in Christ Iesus.
4 Which hauehave for my life laid downe their owne necke: vntounto whome not I onelyonly giuegive thanks, but also all the Churches of the Gentiles.
5 Likewise greete the Church that is in their house. Salute my beloued Epenetus, which is the first fruits of Achaia (the first of Asiae, I…ad.) in Christ.
6 Greete Marie, which bestowed much labour (laboured much, Gr.) on vsus. (on you, L.S.)
7 Salute Andronicus and Iunia my cousins and fellow prisoners, which are notable (noble, L. well taken, B. foreign, Gr.) among the Apostles.
8 Greete Amphas my beloued in the Lord.
9 Salute Vrbanus our fellow helper in Christ, and Stachys my welbeloued.
10 Salute Apelles approoued in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus houshold: L.V.B.S., (friends, B.G. the first rather may be supplied out of the 5. v.)
11 Salute Herodian my kinsman. Greete them which are of the houshold (of the friends, B.G.) of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12 Salute Tryphena, and Tryphosa, which women labour in the Lord. Salute the beloued Persis, which woman hath laboured much in the Lord.
13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother, and mine.
14 Salute Afyncritus, Plegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, L.V. (Mercurius, B.G. but if he had beene called Mercurius, it is like the same name should hauehave beene retained in Greeke, as the name Rufus, v. 13.) and the brethren which are with them.
15 Salute Phylologus, and Iulia, Nereus, (Nereas, G.) and his sister, and Olympa, (Lympa, S. Olympas, B.G.) and the Saints which are with them.
16 Salute one an other with an holy kisse. The Churches (all the Churches, L. ad.) of Christ salute you.
17 Now I beseech you brethren, marke them (or obserue) which cause (make, Gr.) division and offences, (scandals, Gr.) contrarie to the doctrine which ye hauehave learned, and auoid them.
18 For they that are such, serue not the Lord Iesus Christ, but their owne bellies, and with faire speech and flattering (blessing, Gr.) deceiue the hearts of the simple, (innocents, B. men not euill, S.Gr.)
19 For your obedience is gone abroad among all: I am glad therefore of you: but yet I would hauehave you wise vntounto that which is good, and simple concerning euill.
20 The God of peace shall tread (crush, tread, B.G.L.S. in the imperative) Satan vnderunder your feete shortly. (quickly, L.S.) The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you.
21 Timotheus my workfellow, (helper, G.) and Lucius, and Iason, and Sosipater my kinsmen, salute you.
22 I Tertius, which wrote out this Epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole Church saluteth you. Erastus the steward (chamberlaine, B. treasurer, V. cofferer, L. foreign, the steward, Gr.) of the citie saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
24 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all, Amen.
25 To him now, that is of power to establish you according to my Gospel and preaching of Iesus Christ, by the reuelation of the mysterie, a long time (since the beginning of the world, B.G. from euerlasting time, G.) kept secret: (in silence, Gr.)
26 (But now is opened, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, at the commandement of the euerlasting God for the obedience of faith, published (made knowne) among all nations)
27 To God, I say, onelyonly wise, be glorie thorough Iesus Christ, for euer: Amen.
2. The Argument, methode, and parts.
IN this chapter the Apostle concludeth the whole Epistle, with familiar salutations, and celebrating the praise of God: there are fiue parts.
1. He commendeth Phebe, whome he sent vntounto them, v. 1. shewing what he would hauehave done vntounto her, and why.
2. He sendeth greeting to certaine of speciall note among the Romanes for their singular vertues, whose catalogue is set downe, v. 3. to v. 18.
3. He exhorteth to take heede of schismatikes, v. 17. which he enforceth by three reasons. 1. one taken from the euill condition and effects of such persons, v. 18. 2. an other from the person of the Romanes, that they should ioyne wisdome, with their simplicitie, v. 19. 3. the third from the hope of victorie on Gods behalfe, v. 20.
4. The Apostle setteth downe the salutations of others, which he sendeth to v. 25.
5. Then the doxologie followeth: wherein he setteth forth, 1. the power of God, what he is able to doe toward the Romanes. 2. his goodnes toward all people in reuealing the Gospel, a long time kept secret, v. 25. the causes whereof he sheweth, the author and efficient, the commandement of God, the instrument, the Scriptures of the Prophets, and the ende, for obedience of faith, v. 26. 3. his wisdome. 4. his glorie, which he desireth to be ascribed vntounto God.