The Apoftle recommends Phoebe to the Romans; 191 that we do not rafhly judge that he hath rejected our Prayers, becaufe Sect. 33. we do not fee them answered in that particular Way, which might have been more agreeable to our own Wishes. The Apostle after recommending Phoebe to the Romans, particularly falutes feveral of his Friends then refident among Rom. XVI. 1,---16. I them. Phoebe our Sifter, which is a Servant of the Church which is in Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh Saints, and that ye affist her in whatsoever Bufinefs the hath need of you: For fhe hath been a Succourer of many, and of myself also. H ROMANS XVI. J. I. AVING thus difpatched the Subftance Sect. 34. of my Epiftle, I would add, by Way of Poftfcript, fomething relating to a few particular Rom. XVI. Chriftian Friends, with us, or with you: And first would recommend to you the Bearer of this Epiftle, Phabe, our Sifter, who is not only Partaker with us in the Profeffion of the Gospel, but in the Office of a stated Servant, or Deaconnefs (a), of the Church in Cenchrea (b); in the Neighbourhood of which I write to you. And z I defire that you would entertain her, in Regard to her Relation to the Lord Jefus Chrift, our common Saviour, with all Christian Affection, and in a Manner becoming thofe that profefs themfelves Saints, feparated from the World, to the Honour of his Name; and that you would affift her in any Thing, in which she may need it of you; for I can affure you, fhe has been, in her Office, an Helper of many, and of myself in particular; on which (a) Aftated Servant, or Deaconnefs.] Compare 1 Tim. v. 9. There were fome grave and pious Matrons engaged in fuch an Office, in the Primitive Church, is I think very apparent from thefe Places: But it is obvious, there were Circumstances which rendered fuch Sort of Servants much more useful and neceffary in the Churches at that Time, than they would now generally be. (b) The Church in Cenchrea.] As Paul mentions the Church in Cenchrea, as diftinct from that at Corinth, tho' Cenchrea lay in the Suburbs of it; I muft fubmit it to the candid Reader, whether it be not probable, that it had a diftinct Paftor, or Bishop of its own. (c) Prifcilla 192 Sect. E 34. And fends feveral Salutations in his own Name, your Re which Account fhe is well worthy of Rom. XVI. Reception from all that love me, or have any 2. 3 Concern for the common Cause. you 3 Greet Prifcilla and 4 (Who have for my Life laid down their own Necks: Unto whom not only I give Thanks, but alfo all the Churches of the Gentiles. I defire would alfo falute the pious Prif Aquila my Helpers in Chrift cilla, and her worthy Confort Aquila (c); who Jefus: have both deserved the Name of my Fellow-labourers in Chrift Jefus, as they have each of them, according to their different Stations and Characters, been ready to do their utmost to promote the Intereft of the Gofpel amongst us. 4 And indeed they are Perfons, who for the Preservation of my Life, exposed to fo many tumultuous Dangers, (Acts xviii. 6, 7, 12, 13.) have, as it were, laid down their own Necks, that is, offered themselves to the extreameft Dangers : to whom therefore, I do not only owe my own perfonal Thanks, but also all the Churches of the Gentiles, whofe Apoftle I peculiarly am, and for whofe fpiritual Liberties and Priviledges I am 5 always fo ftrenuous an Advocate. You will alfo, I hope, prefent my fincere and affectionate Salutation to the Church that is in their Houfe; as I know there are feveral other Chriftians with them, refident in the Family, or meeting them for focial Worship there. Salute alfo my beloved Epenetus, who is one of the First-fruits of Achaia (d) to Chrift, in the Number of the firft Chriftian Converts of thefe Regions, and therefore worthy my particular Remembrance. 6 Salute Mary, who has taken a great deal of Pains on our Account, to accommodate me, and my Companions, when we were in her Neighbour hood. the 5 Likewife greet Church that is in their Houfe. Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the Firft-fruits of Achaia unto Chrift. 6 Greet Mary, who beftowed much Labour on us. (c) Prifcilla and Aquila.] This excellent Couple appear, by this Paffage, to be returned to Rome, on the ceafing of that Edict against the Jews, which had driven them from thence, in the Reign of Claudius, Acts xviii. 2. Prifcilla feems to have been a Woman of great Note, and probably, of diftinguished Genius, and Influence; which appears, not only from the Manner in which she is here named, but alfo from the Edification, which the eloquent Apollos received from her Inftructions, in Concurrence with those of her Husband. (d) The Firf-fruits, &c.] 'Tis very probable he might be converted at the fame Time with Stephanas, called alfo the Firft-fruits of Achaia, (1 Cor. xvi. 15.) for there is no Manner of Neceffity to understand by that Expreffion, the very first Chriftian Convert. Indeed it is poffible, Epenetus might be one of that happy Family, to which this Apellation is given. (e) Adronicus, to the beloved in Chrift Jefus at Rome; 7 Salute Adronicus and Junia my Kinfmen, and my Fellow-prifoners, whe are of Note among the Apoftles, who alfo were in Chrift before me. 8 Greet Amplias my be loved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbane our Helper in Chrift, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles approved in Chrift. Salute them which are of Aristobulus's Houfbold. Rom. XVI. 7. 193 hood. Salute Andronicns (e), and Junias, my Kinf- Sect. 34. men, and dear in the Bond of Chriftian Fellowfhip, and united Sufferings too; having once been my Fellow-prifoners; who were early in great Reputation among the Apoftles (f), and were also happy in being joined to the Church of Christ before me; and therefore, tho' once the Object of my furious perfecuting Zeal, are now honoured and beloved as my elder Brethren in the Lord. Salute Amplias, my beloved in the Lord, for whom 8 I have a most affectionate Friendship, cemented in the Bonds of mutual Faith and Love. Sa- 9 lute alfo Urbanus, my Fellow-labourer in the Gofpel of Chrift, to the Service of which he is fo faithfully devoted, and with him my beloved Stachys, of whose Friendship I cannot but retain an affectionate Remembrance. Salute Apelles, 10 whofe long experienced Worth renders him thoroughly approved in the Caufe of Christ, as a Difciple of a Character undoubtedly honourable. Salute alfo thofe [of the Family] of Ariftobulus (g), and affure the Chriftians that hold the lowest Station in it, that they are not forgotten by me. Salute (e) Andronicus, &c.] Dr Jenkins very juftly obferves, that this Lift of Names can be no Objection at all to the Authority of this Epifle; for it might be an Encouragement to the Perfons thus particularly mentioned, might concilitate fome additional Expence to them, whereby their Usefulness might be promoted, and would render each of these Persons a kind of Witness to the Genuineness of the Epifle, as we may naturally fuppofe it was fhewed to each of them. Fenk. of Christianity, Vol. 11. pag. 37. (f) In Reputation among the Apofiles.] Diodati thinks, that Apoftles here fignifies Evangelifts; and that the Meaning is, that these Perfons were noted Messengers of the Churches, 2 Cor. viii. 23. Phil. ii. 25. But I rather apprehend with Mr. Cradock, (Apoft. Hift. pag. 43.) that they were fome early Converts, who had been known and much efteemed by the Apostles, before the Difperfion occafioned by the Death of Stephen, (Acts viii. 2.) and if fo perhaps Paul might have been active in perfecuting them, and have learned their Names at first, with an hoftile Intent of hunting them down to Deftruction. (8) Thofe [of the Family] of Ariftobulus.] The Roman Church hath confecrated Days to the Honour of many of the Saints, mentioned in this Chapter, whom they declare, I know not on what fufficient Authority to have been Martyrs. See L'Enf. Pref. to the Romans, pag. 6, 7. To these they have added, Ariftobulus, and Narciffus, tho' there is no certain Evidence, that they were Chriftians. It seems most probable, they were Perfons of high Rank, who had each a great Family of Slaves; and fome of them being Chriftian Converts, the Apostle would not forget them, low as their Rank in Life was, when he was faluting his Brethren, in fo particular a Manner. We may obferve, what a Regard the Apoftle had for foreign Churches, when he had informed himself of the Names, Circumftance, and Abodes, of many then in Rome. fo VOL. IV. Bb (b) His 194 Sect. 11. 32. 12 13 And bids them falute one another with an boly Kifs. II Salute Herodion my Kinfman. Greet them that Lord. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphofa, who labour in the Perfis, which laboured much in the Lord. Lord. Salute the beloved 13 Salute Rufus chofen in the Lord, and his Mo ther and mine. Salute my Coufin Herodion, ftill dearer to me in the Ties of Grace, than in thofe of Nature; be of the Houshold of NarRom. XV. and those belonging to [the Houfhold of] Narcifciffus, which are in the fus, who are Believers in the Lord Jefus Chrift. Salute thofe excellent Women Tryphana and Tryphofa, who, according to their Stations, have laboured with great Diligence in the Service of the Lord. Salute the beloved Perfis, who distinguished herself among many who were faithful and diligent; fo that it may properly be faid, fhe laboured much in the Lord. Salute Rufus, chofen. in the Lord, whom I efteem as a Christian of a most excellent Character; and pay the most affectionate Refpects, in my Name, to his Mother and mine (b): For fo I may call her, on Account of that maternal Tendernefs and Care, which fhe has often fhewn towards me. Salute Afyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and all the Brethren with them, as if every one of them 15 had been particularly named. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his Sifter, and Olympas, and all the other fincere Saints and Chriftians (i), that are with them; whom, with the reft of the Perfons that I have mentioned, I most fincerely honour and 16 love. In a word, whether you be Jews, or 14 14 Salute Afyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the Bre thren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his Sifter, and Olympas, and all the Saints which are with them. 16 Salute one another The Churches Gentiles, when you meet at your Affemblies, fa- with an holy Kifs. ftances. (b) His Mother and mine.] Hence fome have thought that Rufus was at leaft Half-brother to Paul; but perhaps he might in this Expreffion refer to the Maternal Care this good Woman had taken of him. (i) All the Saints, &c.] Calvin, and others, very juftly observe, that had Peter been now at Rome, he would undoubtedly have been named; fince no one in this numerous Catalogue, was of a Dignity and Eminence, by any Means comparable to him; and yet, if he were not there at this Time, the whole Tradition of the Roman Bishops, as the Roman Church delivers it, fails in the most fundamental Article of all. (k) A baly Kijs.] The Cuftom of thus faluting each other, was borrowed from the Jewish Synagogue; and as chaftly and prudently as it was managed, it feems to have been the Occafion of thofe falfe and fcandalous Reports, which were fo induftriously propagated among the Heathen, of the adulterous and incestuous Practices, in Chriflian Affemblies; on which Account, it seems to have been laid aside very early. 195 Reflections on the friendly Salutations of St. Paul. Churches of Christ falute ftances. All the Churches of Chrift in thefe Parts, Sect. 34. falute you; as they, with me, have heard of the you. T eminent Figure you make in Religion, and the Rom. XVI. many excellent Perfons who are refident among you. IMPROVEMENT. HOUGH so much of this Section be a mere Catalogue of Names, it is not without its moral and religious Instruction. We fee in it the good Heart of the Apostle; how full he was of the Sentiments of Chriftian Friendship; how folicitous he was to express his Esteem and Love, for his Brethren in the Lord. And God hath made him, the Means of tranfmitting to Pofterity, the Memorials of many excellent Perfons, of whom we no where else read, or hear, any Thing: Of whom all that we know, is, that they were fuch, as deferved the particular Affection of St. Paul, and were Profeffors of the Gospel at Rome, in the Reign of a very worthless, and wicked Prince, under whom it is highly probable, that fome of them fuffered Martyrdom for Chrift. 16. His large Heart opened to embrace them all, whether by Birth Jews or Gentiles; and as they shared in his Salutations, we cannot doubt, but they shared in his Prayers too. We find some of these pious, and much esteemed Friends of the Apostle, were Women, of whom he speaks with Ver. 1, 21 great Regard, as of Perfons, whom Divine Grace had made very ufeful in the Church; who had been Helpers of many, and particularly of him; who had laboured, yea, had laboured much, in the Lord. Let not that Sex Ver. 12. therefore think, that it is cut off from the Service of Christ, because the Miniftry is appropriated to Men. Eminently useful have many of them been. The most valuable Ministers have often been affifted by them, in the Success of their Work, while their pious Care, under the Restraint of the strictest Modesty and Decorum, has happily and effectually influenced Children, Servants, and young Friends; yea, has been the Means of sowing the Seeds of Religion in tender Minds, before they have been capable of coming under minifterial Care. Generous was the Zeal, which Aquila and Prifcilla fhewed in expo- Ver. 3. fing even their own Lives, in the Defence of this holy Apostle. Great Obligations did they, thereby, lay upon all the Churches of the Gentiles, and on us, who, at this Distance of Time, receive fo many Bleffings from the longer Continuance of St. Paul's Life, which they were ready fo Ver. 4. heroically to defend at the Hazard of their own. Truly valuable were these mutal Friendships, of which, Zeal for Christ was the common Bond; lafting, and indeed everlasting. These excellent Perfons are doubtlefs the Companions of Paul in Glory now, and will Bb 2 many |