Westminster Annotations, Romans 2 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Vers. 1. I Commend unto you, &c.] Having made an end of the whole disputation, he commeth now to familiar commendations and salutations, and that to good purpose; to wit, that the Romanes might know who were most to be honoured and made account of amongst them, and also whom they ought to set before them to follow, and therefore he attributeth to every of them peculiar and singular testimonies.
V. 2. In the Lord] That is, for Christs sake, which is proper to the Christians; for the Heathen Philosophers have resemblance of the same vertues, namely, humanitie and hospitalitie; yet because what they do in this kinde, is not done out of faith in Christ, nor to the glory of God, but for their own fame and honour; the works they most brag of, are no better then shining sinnes, or glittering abominations. Or, the meaning of the phrase may be, receive her in the Lord, that is, into the communion of the faithfull, and esteem her as a member of the Lords mysticall body.
succourer] Or, assister.
V. 3. Priscilla and Aquila] See Acts 18. 2, 16.
helpers] Gr. fellow-labourers.
V. 5. the Church] That is, the company of the faithfull. For in so great a Citie as Rome was, there were divers assemblies of beleevers which were held in some private mens houses, where they might meet safest, the State then, and for some hundred years after, not permitting them any publike Temples or Auditories.
the first-fruits of Achaia] That is, the first of Achaia that beleeved in Christ, and consecrated himself and his familie to God, and after him there followed a great crop of true beleevers there.
V. 6. bestowed much labour on us] Or, laboured in many things for us.
V. 7. among the Apostles] That is, are eminent Evangelist… or Preachers of the Gospel; for the word Apostle is not ascribed alone to the twelve Apostle, but, sometime… in a larger sense to other Doctours and Ministers of the Church, as, 2 Cor. 8. 23. Phil. 2. 25. Or foreign, may signifie, not that these men were Apostles, but men very well known to the Apostles, and highly esteemed of them.
were in Christ before me] In the Church by the profession of the faith of Christ, being converted before me, or ingraffed by faith into Christ, who is the true Vine, John 15. 1.
V. 10. houshold] Or, friends.
V. 11. houshold] Or, friends.
V. 14. Hermas] Origen, a very learned and ancient Writer, conceiveth that this Hermas was the Author of the Book intituled Pastor, because the Angel therein is said to appear in the likenes of a shepherd, this book he conceiveth to be divinely inspired; but Saint Jerome in his Prologus Galeatus reckoneth it among Apocryphall books: and Eusebius in his third book of Ecclesiasticall Story, saith, That many in his time took exception against this Book, though by many it were ascribed to this Hermas, whom S. Paul saluteth.
V. 16. Salute one another with an holy kisse] See 1 Cor. 16. 20. 2 Cor. 13. 12. 1 Pet. 5. 14. He calleth that a holy kisse, which proceedeth from an heart which is full of holy love; now this is to be referred to the manner used in those dayes.
V. 17. mark them] Either set a brand upon them; 2 Thess. 3. 14. or warily and diligently observe them, as though you would scout out for your enemies in a Watchtower; or observe them to shun them.
contrary to the] Or, beside the.
V. 18. fair speeches] The word which he useth signifieth a promising which performeth nothing.
simple] Or, harmlesse.
V. 19. simple] Or, harmlesse.
V. 20. the God of peace] The Author and Conserver of the true spirituall peace of the Church, which these schismaticall and factious men, set on by the Devill, do endeavour to their utmost to disturb.
bruise Satan] Or, tread. Shall make that by Christ ye shall overcome him. The Apostle seemeth here to have an eye unto the first Evangelicall promise, Gen. 3. 15.
V. 21. Timotheus, &c.] Act. 16. 1.
V. 22. wrote this Epistle] This Tertius was not the author of this Epistle, or pen-man of the holy Ghost, but S. Pauls Scribe, who wrote from his mouth as Baruc did from Jeremie, Jer. 36. 18.
V. 23. chamberlain] Gr. steward.
V. 25. that is of power] He setteth forth the power and wisdom of God, with thanksgiving, which especially appeareth in the Gospel; and he maketh mention also of the calling of the Gentiles, to confirm the Romanes in the hope of this salvation.
which was kept secret] See Ephes. 3. 9. Col. 1. 26.
since the world began] Gr. secular, or, everlasting times.
V. 26. for the] Gr. to the. See Rom. 1. 5.