An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 1 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
THe parts of this Chapter chiefly are two. In the first, after the commendation of Phebe, who, as it seems, carried this Epistle to the Romans, Some Saints hee salutes honorably of tried fidelity, to ver. 17. In the second part, after exhortations to them that they would beware of Schismaticks, hee adjoyns to his own salutations, the salutations of certain Saints by name, who were with him when hee sent this Epistle, and concludes the Epistle with earnest prayers.
Vers. 1. I commend unto you Phebe our Sister, which is a servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea:
2. That yee receive her in the Lord, as becometh Saints, and that yee assist her in whatsoever business shee hath need of you, for shee hath been a succourer of many, and of my self also.
At Cenchrea there was a Haven neer to Corinth, in which little Town a Church collected, the charge which this Church could not bear, it seems Phebe sustained, whose house was freely set open as a common receptacle for Christian strangers, and therefore shee is called the Servant of the Church: For it does not seem that shee was of the company of poor Widows, which the Church maintained at their publique charge, (1 Tim. 5.) but it is likely, that shee supplyed the office of them, and sustained them at her own cost, because shee succoured both the Apostle, and many others: And that shee took so great a journey from Greece to Rome, having the care of secular affairs at Rome, (which deserved the cognizance and assistance of the whole Church, and to that end, Apostolical intercession) are not the signs of a poor, but wealthy famous woman, whom therefore hee would have received by the Romans in the Lord, i. e. with Christian affection, and for the Lords sake, and treated fairly by the Saints, i. e. as became the outward condition of the Romans and Phebe, adorned with holiness.
Vers. 3. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Iesus:
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.)
The salutations, with the names and commendations of the Saints, are so clearly distinguished, that here is no need of any Analysis, some observations shall suffice for our purpose.
How could Priscilla and Aquila bee helpers to the Apostles? It appears, Act. 18. that although they were private persons, yet as much as could bee privately done by them, keeping themselves in their calling, they did vigorously labour in propagating the Doctrine of Christ, according to their knowledge, and with singular zeal; in which business, as the wife is named before the husband, so shee seems to precede him [in piety.]
Their necks] It appears that Priscilla and Aquila couragiously stood up in the defence of the Apostle in some dangerous persecution or tumult, and that they rescued his life with hazard of their own lives; upon which account, all the Church which regarded the welfare of the Apostle, ought to render thanks to them.
Vers. 5. Likewise greet the Church that is in their house, salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ.
By Church, hee seems to understand only their family, (piously instructed, and daily imployed about holy things, amidst their manual labours) by reason of its resemblance to a Church; because hee saith not the Church which met in their house, but which is, or dwells in their house, unless wee suppose them to have given entertainment also to the whole Church, as Gaius, of whom ver. 23.
Epenetus is said to be the first fruits of Achaia, because he was converted to the faith amongst the first, as 1 Cor. 16.15. the family of Stephen also, upon that account is commended amongst those that are of chief note, and approved Christians in the faith.
Vers. 6. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
The pains of Mary toward the Faithful, and the Apostles, hee would have the Church take notice of and acknowledge, that hee might encourage or exci…e the like pains in others.
Vers. 7. Salute Andronicus, and Junia, my Kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note amongst the Apostles, who also were in Christ before mee.
Andronicus and Iunia of the Apostles Kindred, are said to bee of note among the Apostles, because they were known and approved of by the Apostles, and highly accounted of among them, who also were converted to the Faith before the Apostle Paul, and were partners of his sufferings for the Gospel, in prison and bonds.
Vers. 8. Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
Amplias is said to bee worthy of love in the Lord, for the faith and piety which was vouchsafed of the Lord.
Vers. 9. Salute Urbane our helper in Christ, and Starchys my beloved.
Urbane seems to bee one of the Pastors of the Church at Rome, and an helper of the Apostle in his labours in the Gospel.
Vers. 10. Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus houshold.
Apelles hee calls approved, because hee gave certain evidences of his faith and constancy.
Vers. 11. Salute Herodion my Kinsman. Great them that bee of the houshold of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
Hee doth not salute Aristobulus and Narcissus, because they continued unbeleevers, as wee may safely conjecture, but their Christian houshold servants, that they might bee confirmed in the Faith, and continue their obedience towards their Masters, though unbeleevers.
Vers. 12. Salute Traphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
Hee salutes the approved Matrons, which contributed their labours, zealously and successefully for the promoting of the Gospel.
Vers. 13. Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his Mother and mine.
Hee salutes Rufus an eminent young man, whose Mother very much respected Paul, even as much as shee did Rufus her own Son.
Vers. 14. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrabas, Hermes, and the Brethren which are with them.
15. Salute Philologus and Julia, Nerius and his Sister, and Olympias, and all the Saints which are with them.
Because hee could not insist upon the rehearsal of all, setting down some Saints by name, the rest hee salutes in general.
Vers. 16. — Salute one▪ another with an holy kiss.
Because in those times, amongst the signs of mutual love, a kiss was, (as now the shaking of right hands amongst us) hee commands that they salute one another holily, without fraud and deceit.
Vers. 16. — The Churches of Christ salute you.
Salute] The second part of the Chapter follows, wherein the Apostle salutes the Romans in the name of the Churches amongst which hee was conversant, who understood his purpose of writing to the Romans.
Vers. 17. Now I beseech you, Brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which yee have learned, and avoid them.
Hee interposes (as it were in a Parenthesis) his admonition to observe, restrain and excommunicate those which should move any thing against the Apostolical doctrine, or discipline (already received by them) to the renting of the Church, and commands to avoid fellowship, viz. after they were excommunicated by the Church.
Vers. 18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Iesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the people.
Hee adds four Reasons of this his admonition; First, because such men whoever they bee, serve not God, but their own belly, minding worldly things, i. e. their own lusts, and advantages, but not the welfare of the Church.
Reason second; Because unless they bee observed by the wiser sort, the more simple are easily deceived by their feigned words, by which means they make a schism in the Church.
Vers. 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.
Reason the third; Because there was danger, le…t the commendable readiness of the Romans to beleeve the Preachers, might bee exposed to some impostures, unless they were wary, viz. except they tempered that simplicity with prudence, respecting simplicity onelyonly as to mischief, but in other things, following after prudence, lest they bee wronged by the subtilty of others.
Vers. 20. And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with you. Amen.
The fourth Reason; Because although wee must conflict with Satan, the author of contentions, yet the Go… of Peace will give victory to us, when wee have a while combated with those that trouble us: which Argument the Apostle concludes with an Apostolical benediction.
Vers. 21. Timotheus my work-fellow, and Lucius and Jason, and So…ipater my kinsmen salute you.
The Parenthesis being shut up, hee subjoyns the salutations of other Saints with him to the Romans, the first of wh…m is Timothy the Evangelist, after him Lucius ▪ who as it seems is that Cyrenean, Act. 13.1. Iason, of whom, Act. 17.5. Sosipater, of whom, Act. 20.4.
Vers. 22. I Tertius, who wrote this Epistle, salute you in the Lord.
Tertius Pauls Secretary who wrote this Epistle, in honour of his Ministery, hee receives this mentioning of himself from the Holy Ghost, as it were in reward of his faithfulness.
Vers. 23. Gaius mine Host, and of the whole Church, saluteth you. Erastus the Chamberlain of the City saluteth you, and Quartus a Brother.
24. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with you all. Amen.
Gaius, of whom Act. 20.4. and 1 Cor. 1.14. commends himself to the Romans, and in the mean while is commended by Paul to the Romans, that his house did not onelyonly give entertainment to Paul, but also the whole Church in which they met for the performance of religious duties.
Erastus, the Chamberlain of the City of Corinth, to whom is added Quartus a Brother by name; hee shuts up these salutations, repeating his Apostolical wish.
Vers. 25. Now to him that is of power to establish you, according to my Gospel, and the preaching of Iesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began:
In the three last verses hee concludes this excellent Epistle with a solenm thanksgiving, in which hee asserts the Faith, and the certainty of the Romans salvation, against all fear, which dangers, persecutions, Impostors, Schismaticks, or their own infirmities, or any other temptations might cause in them, and that by reason of the power and good pleasure of God, which God by the Gospel set down in this Epistle, as it were holds forth his arms for their salvation; and also hee commends his Gospel upon a sixfold account; First, Because it is the preaching of Jesus Christ, 2. Because it is the Revelation of the Grace of God which was kept secret: for although Grace was made known to the Fathers, yet in comparison of the present light, which hath shined in the world by the doctrine of the Apostles, it may bee termed secret and hidden.
Vers. 26. But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, according to the commandement of the everlasting God, made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith.
27. To God onelyonly wise, bee glory through Iesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Because 3. This Gospel is agreeable to the Old Testament, and is confirmed out of that. 4. Because it hath Gods command, and appointment for its authority. 5. Because it is not contained, as the Old Testament, in the narrow bounds of the Jews, and one people, but shines forth for the use of all Nations. 6. Because it tends to the obedience of Faith, that is, that the hearers being brought to the Faith of Christ, may bee made obedient subjects to the Grace of that Kingdome: Withall hee ascribes the glory of all these to God, as the onelyonly wise, in himself, and of himself, who owes his wisdome to none; To him, through Christ, bee glory for ever and ever. Amen.