Romans 16 · The Lantern

Personal Greetings and Love

Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, being also a servant of the church in Cenchrea,

"I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is in the ministry of the Church which is at Cenchreae, that you receive her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and assist her in whatever matters she may have need of you.

Although the text of the letter is already finished, as it were, Paul has attached this material for the purpose of commendation and greeting, as was his custom.Even today, women deaconesses in the East are known to minister to their own sex in baptism or even in the ministry of the Word, for we find that women taught privately, e.g., Priscilla, whose husband was called Aquila.

After mentioning certain personal matters about himself to the Romans to whom he was writing, the Apostle now presents certain personal matters pertaining to others.

that you may receive her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and that you may assist her in whatever matter she may need of you; for she also has been a patroness of many, and of me myself.

"That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints. (Gr. "the saints.") That is, for the Lord's sake, that she may enjoy honor among you. For he that receives a person for the Lord's sake, though it be no great one that he receives, yet receives him with attention. But when it is a saint, consider what attention he ought to have shown him.

It is probable that Phoebe helped Paul by offering him hospitality in her house at Corinth for the short time that he was there. In return Paul opened the whole world to her, and throughout the Mediterranean she became a famous woman.

Then he mentions two things he wants done for her, the first of which is that she be honorably received. And this is what he says: that you receive her in the Lord, i.e., for the love of God, as befits the saints, i.e., according as it is fitting to receive saints, for it says in Matthew: he who receives a just man because he is a just man shall receive a just man's reward (Mat…

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

who laid down their own neck for my life, whom not I myself only thank but also all the churches of the Gentiles —

"Who for my life have laid down their own necks." You see they are thoroughly furnished martyrs. For in Nero's time it is probable that there were thousands of dangers, at the time as he even commanded all Jews to be removed from Rome." (Acts viii. 2).

They were perfect martyrs, for under Nero there were innumerable dangers. Here he hints at their hospitality. And lest they think he speaks out of flattery, he presents many other witnesses as well.

Who have for my life laid down their own necks, i.e., put themselves in danger of death to save my life, an indication of the greatest charity: greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). This seems to have happened at Corinth where Paul suffered persecution, as is found in Acts (Acts 18:6).

and the church at their house. Greet Epenetus my beloved, who is a firstfruit of Asia for Christ.

Greet Epaenetus my beloved, who is the beginning of Asia in Christ. This Epaenetus seems to me to have been the very first of all from Asia to believe; whence also he called him the beginning of the Church, or, as the Greek has it, the firstfruits of Asia — unless indeed this saying signifies something more profound, so that we understand that the angels of God who watch over t…

Paul shows that a gathering of believers is called a "church." Epaenetus was the firstborn of the church in Asia Minor. We learn from their names that all the people Paul greets were foreigners, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that the Romans came to faith through their example and teaching.

Then he wants another person joined to him by love to be greeted, saying: greet Epenetus, my beloved, who is the firstfruits of Asia in Christ. This lent him great dignity: you have come to the assembly of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven (Heb 12:23). But at that time he was in Rome.

Greet Mary, who toiled much for you.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners with me, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow captives, who are noble among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Yet more praises. These people were companions of Paul in his sufferings and even shared imprisonment with him. Hence he says that they are men and women of note, not among the pupils but among the teachers, and not among the ordinary teachers but among the apostles. He even praises them for having been Christians before him.

Then he says, greet Andronicus and Junias, whom he describes, first, from their race when he says: my kinsmen. This shows that they were Jews, about whom he said above: who are my kinsmen according to the flesh (Rom 9:3). Second, from the suffering they endured for Christ, saying and fellow prisoners.

Greet Ampliatus my beloved in the Lord.

Greet Urbanus our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

Greet Urbanus my helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. He joins Stachys in the greeting, but he set Urbanus ahead in praises. For he calls the one a helper in Christ; but Stachys he named only as beloved to himself, just as he did Ampliatus. Now a helper of the Apostle in Christ is understood as nothing other than a partaker in the apostolic work.

Paul praises Urbanus more highly than Stachys, because Urbanus had helped him in his preaching and in his struggles.

Then he says, greet Urbanus, our helper in Christ, i.e., in preaching the faith: a brother helped is like a strong city (Prov 18:19), and Stachys, my beloved. He mentions them together, perhaps because they lived together or were connected in some other way.

Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those of the household of Aristobulus.

Greet Apelles approved in Christ. I think that this Apelles had passed through many tribulations patiently and bravely endured, and that for this reason he is pronounced approved by the Apostle, according to those things which he himself said elsewhere, that tribulation works patience, and patience approval, and approval hope.

Paul bears witness to the great virtue of Apelles; there was nothing corrupt in him.

Then he says, greet Apellas, approved in Christ, perhaps through certain tribulations: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10). Then he says, greet those who are of the house, i.e., of the family, of Aristobulus, in whose house many believers were gathered whom he does not greet, perhaps because he was absent for some reason.

Greet Herodion my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those toiling in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who toiled much in the Lord.

Greet Persis most dear, who has labored much in the Lord. This woman seems to be praised more than Tryphaena and Tryphosa, since indeed he says that those labored in the Lord, but that this one labored much in the Lord, to whom he added also "most dear."

Once more, praise for work which has been done. This presumably refers to hospitality, or fasting, or some other good work of that kind.

Then he says, greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord, i.e., in ministering to the saints, which the Lord regards as done to himself, as it says in Matthew: as you did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me (Matt 25:40). Then he says, greet Persis, the dearly beloved, whom the Apostle especially loved for his devotion.

Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Greet Rufus, elect in the Lord, and his mother and mine. I do not think that in these greetings the difference of praise and of greeting through each single person is made emptily.

These were Jews, and because they had suffered tribulation along with Paul but like him they had not been intimidated, they are deservedly held in esteem. Among others, they had been sent to further the progress of the Romans, and according to the testimony of Paul himself they are reported to have been believers before him.

Then he says, greet Rufus, elect in the Lord, i.e., in the grace of Christ: he chose us in him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4); also his mother, according to the flesh, and mine, because she was his mother as a benefactor.

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and if there are any brethren with them. Concerning these the greeting is simple, nor is anything distinctive of praise added to them. I think, however, that this Hermas is the writer of that little book which is called The Shepherd, which writing seems to me very useful, and, as I think, divinely inspired.

Hermas whom the apostle Paul mentions in writing to the Romans "Salute Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren that are with them" is reputed to be the author of the book which is called Pastor and which is also read publicly in some churches of Greece.

Then he says, greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them. He greets them together, because they lived together in harmony: God gives the lonely a home to live in (Ps 68:6).

Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

If we are called to the kingdom of God, let us walk worthy of the kingdom, loving God and our neighbor. Love is not proved by a kiss but by kindly feeling. But there are those who do nothing but make the church resound with a kiss, not having love itself inside them.

"Salute one another with an holy kiss." To cast out of them, by this salutation, all arguing that confused them, and all grounds for little pride; that neither the great might despise the little, nor the little grudge at the greater, but that haughtiness and envy might be more driven away, when this kiss soothed down and levelled every one.

Then he shows them in general how to greet others, saying: greet one another with a holy kiss, which he says to distinguish it from a sensual kiss, about which Proverbs says: she seizes him and kisses him (Prov 7:13); and to distinguish it from a deceitful kiss, about which Proverbs says: better are wounds from a friend than the fraudulent kisses of an enemy (Prov 27:6).

Avoid Divisions

Now I encourage you, brothers, to watch out for those causing the divisions and the obstacles contrary to the teaching that you yourselves have learned; and turn away from them.

But I beg you, brethren, that you observe those who make dissensions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and turn aside from them. For such do not serve Christ our Lord, but their own belly; and through sweet words and blessings they seduce the hearts of the innocent. For your obedience is everywhere published abroad. In you therefore I rejoice.

Paul is here discussing the same people he wrote about to Timothy and to Titus. See also Philippians [3:19].

After indicating whom they should greet, the Apostle now shows them whom to avoid. In regard to this he does three things: first, he teaches whom they should avoid; second, he gives the reason, at for they who; third, he promises them divine help to implement this, at but may the God of peace.

For such do not serve our Lord Christ but their own belly, and through the smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

For your obedience has reached to all. Over you therefore I rejoice. But I wish you to be wise to the good, and innocent to the evil.

The ancient race was perverse and hard-hearted; but the band of infants, the new people which we are, is delicate as a child. On account of the hearts of the innocent, the apostle, in the Epistle to the Romans, owns that he rejoices, and furnishes a kind of definition of children, so to speak, when he says, "I would have you wise toward good, but simple towards evil."

"For your obedience is come abroad unto all men." This he does, not to leave them free to be shameless, but to win them beforehand with encomiums, and the number of his witnesses, to arrest their attention. For neither is it I alone that am the witness, but the whole world.

He assigns the second reason from a trait of the Romans, who found it easy to follow good and evil. First, he commends them for their readiness to accept the good, saying: for your obedience, by which you obey the faith so easily, is published in every place on account of the dominion the Romans then exercised over other nations.

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet with speed. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

"And the God of peace shall crush Satan under your feet speedily." The question is asked in this passage what Satan he meant, who was to be crushed swiftly by God beneath the feet of those to whom he writes.

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." For since he had spoken of those who "caused divisions and offences among them," he has mentioned "the God of peace" also, that they might feel hopeful about the riddance of these evils. For he that rejoiceth in this (i. e., peace) will put an end to that which makes havoc of it.

Then when he says, but may the God of peace, he promises them divine help against such deceivers. First, he makes the promise when he says: but may the God of peace, i.e., its author, who hates the dissensions they cause, crush Satan, i.e., the devil, who is trying to deceive you through these false apostles, under your feet, because you will overcome him by your wisdom.

Greetings from Paul’s Fellow Workers

Timothy my fellow worker greets you, also Lucius and Jason and Sosipater my kinsmen.

Timothy my helper greets you, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater my kinsmen. It seems to me that concerning these men, whom he set apart from the whole catalogue of those sending greetings, he had something more in mind. For he calls Timothy his helper, and all of them together his kinsmen.

"Timotheus my work-fellow saluteth you." Observe the customary encomiums again. "And Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater my kinsmen." This Jason Luke also mentions, and sets before us his manliness also, when he says, that "they drew" him "to the rulers of the city, crying," etc. And it is likely that the others too were men of note.

Then when he says, Timothy, he greets them on the part of others, saying: Timothy, my helper, greets you: I have sent you Timothy, who is my dearest and faithful son in the preaching of the Gospel (1 Cor 4:17). He adds: so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen, who were Jews.

I myself, Tertius, the one having written down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

I Tertius, who wrote this Epistle in the Lord, greet you. As one who had been judged worthy to write out the Epistle to the Romans at Paul's dictation, he inserts his own name into it as well, employing neither rashness nor boastfulness, but because he knew that he had not only rendered the service of a scribe, but had written in the Lord: since indeed the righteous man does al…

Tertius was another of those who had accepted the apostle's teaching. Being rewarded for this with the gift of expression, he was told to send this letter to the Romans.

Tertius, Paul's secretary, was allowed to greet the Romans personally with Paul's consent. Hence he adds: I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Gaius my host, and of all the church, greets you. Erastus the steward of the city greets you, and Quartus the brother.

Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus the brother. I think this is the same Erastus of whom he says that he remained at Corinth, and who appears to be designated the steward of the city.

The highest praise is reserved for hospitality on such a scale.… Gaius was a Corinthian, as appears from 1 Corinthians [1:14]: "I thank my God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius." … Erastus is also mentioned elsewhere, in 2 Timothy [4:20].

Then he says: Caius, my host, was the person to whom John wrote in his third letter commending the charity he exercised toward the saints; and the whole church, namely, who were assembled in his house or who were in that region. Then he says: Erastus, treasurer of the city, i.e., who guarded the city's money, and Quartus, a brother.

[The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.]

In conclusion, Paul places Christ, through whom we were made and by whose grace we were again reformed, so that he may remain fixed in our minds; for if we are mindful of his benefits, he will always protect us, as he said: "And behold," he says (Matt. 28:20), "I am with you all days, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Once again Paul offers them a spiritual blessing and surrounds them with the grace of God, which is like an impenetrable wall. This is how the epistle began and this is how it ends. We too may share in this grace, triumphing over temptations and, enlightened by it, following the right way free of all error.

Then he greets them on his own, saying: the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Doxology

Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent in eternal times

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept in silence through the times of the ages, but now made manifest through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God, made known to all the nations unto the obedience of faith: to God, alone wise, through…

God strengthens us with signs and teachings, so that you may live in the way that Paul has preached by the example and authority of Christ.

He finishes the epistle with thanksgiving, saying: now to him, namely, to God who is the Trinity, who is able to establish you: after you have suffered a little, he will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you (1 Pet 5:10); and this in the faith which is according to my Gospel, namely according to the Gospel I preach: whether, then, it was I or they, so we preach and so…

but made manifest now, and through prophetic Scriptures according to the command of the eternal God made known to all the nations unto obedience of faith —

to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory to the ages of the ages. Amen.

Romans16

Personal Greetings and Love

Avoid Divisions

Greetings from Paul’s Fellow Workers

Doxology