joined the Morea to Greece; as the Lecheum was the sea-port on the west side of the same Isthmus. These were the only two havens and towns of any note next to Corinth, that belonged to this territory. As the Lecheum opened the road to the Ionian sea, so Cenchrea opened the road to the Egean; and both were so advantageously situated for commerce, that they were very rich. It was on the Isthmus, between those two ports, which was about six miles wide, that the Isthmean games were celebrated; to which St. Paul makes such frequent allusions.

Verse 2. Succourer of many] One who probably entertained the apostles and preachers who came to minister at Cenchrea; and who was remarkable for entertaining strangers. chap. xii. 8.

See on

Verse 3. Greet Priscilla and Aquila] This pious couple had been obliged to leave Rome, on the edict of Claudius, see Acts xviii. 2. and take refuge in Greece. It is likely that they returned to Rome at the death of Claudius, or whenever the decree was annulled. It seems they had greatly contributed to assist the apostle in his important labours. Instead of Priscilla, the principal MSS. and Versions, have Prisca, which most critics suppose to be the genuine reading. Verse 4. Who have for my life laid down their own necks] What transaction this refers to we know not; but it appears that these persons had, on some occasion, hazarded their own lives to save that of the apostle; and that the fact was known to all the churches of God in that quarter; who felt themselves under the highest obligations to these pious persons, for the important service which they had thus rendered. Verse 5. The church that is in their house] In these primitive times, no such places existed as those which we now term churches; the word always signifying the congregation, or assembly of believers, and not the place they assembled in. See the term defined at the end of the Notes on Matt. xvi.

Epenctus-the firstfruits of Achaia] In 1 Cor. xvi. 15. the house, or family of Stephanas, is said to be the firstfruits of Achaia: how then can it be said here, that Epenetus was the firstfruits, or first person who had received the gospel in that

Philem. 2.- 1 Cor. 16. 15. Gal. 1. 22.

district? Ans.-Epenetus might have been one of the family
of Stephanas; for, it is not said that Stephanas was the first-
fruits, but his house or family; and there can be no impro-
priety in supposing that one of that house or family was
called Epenetus: and that this person being the only one of
the family now at Rome, might be mentioned as the first-
fruits of Achaia; that is, one of that family which first re-
ceived the gospel in that country. This would rationally ac
count for the apparent difficulty, were we sure that Axaias,
Achaia, was the true reading: but this is more than doubtful,
for Arias Asia, is the reading of ABCDEFG, some others;
the Coptic, Æthiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and Itala; and
some of the chief of the Fathers. On this evidence, Gries-
bach has admitted it into the text. Yet, the other reading
is sufficiently natural, for the reasons already assigned.
Verse 6.

Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.] Who this Mary was, or what the labour was, which she bestowed upon the apostles, we know not. Her works, though hidden from man, are with God; and her name is recorded with honour in this book of life.

Verse 7. Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen] As the word guyyɛvels signifies relatives, whether male or female, and as Junia may probably be the name of a woman, the wife of Andronicus, it would be better to say relatives than kinsmen. But probably St. Paul means no more than that they were Jews; for in chap. ix. 3. he calls all the Jews his | kinsmen according to the flesh.

My fellow-prisoners] As Paul was in prisons often, it is likely that these persons shared this honour with him on some occasion, which is not distinctly marked.

Of note among the apostles] Whether this intimates that they were noted apostles, or only highly reputed by the apostles, is not absolutely clear: but the latter appears to me the most probable. They were not only well known to St. Paul, but also to the rest of the apostles.

In Christ before me.] That is, they were converted to Christianity before Paul was; probably at the day of pentecost, or by the ministry of Christ himself, or by that of the seventy disciples.

The apostle sends salutations

A. M. cir. 4062.
A. D. cir. 58.
An. Olymp.

eir CCIX. 2.

cir. CCIX. 2.

8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, A.M.cir.4069. A. D. cir. 58. Lord. who labour in the Lord. Salute the An. Olymp. A.U.C.cir.811. 9 Salute Urbane, our helper in beloved Persis, which laboured much A.U.C.cir.811. Christ, and Stachys my beloved. in the Lord.

10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' a household.

C

13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Pathat be of the household of Narcissus, which trobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with are in the Lord.

them.

Verse 9. Urbane, our helper] Who this Urbanus was, we know not what is here stated, is, that he had been a fellow-labourer with the apostles.

Stachys my beloved.] One of my particular friends. Verse 10. Apelles approved in Christ] A man who, on different occasions, had given the highest proofs of the sincerity and depth of his religion. Some suppose that Apelles was the same with Apollos. Whoever he was, he had given every demonstration of being a genuine Christian.

Verse 8. Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.] One who it to the uttermost of their power. Many have spent much is my particular friend; and also a genuine Christian. useless labour in endeavouring to prove that these women did not preach. That there were some prophetesses, as well as prophets, in the Christian church, we learn; and that a woman might pray or prophesy, provided she had her head covered, we know; and that whoever prophesied, spoke unto others to edification, exhortation, and comfort, St. Paul declares, 1 Cor. xiv. 3. And that no preacher can do more, every person must acknowledge; because, to edify, exhort, and comfort, are the prime ends of the gospel ministry. If women thus prophesied, then women preached. There is, however, much more than this implied in the christian ministry; of which men only, and men called of God, are capable. Verse 13. Rufus chosen in the Lord] Tov ExλEXTOV; one of great excellence in Christianity; a choice man, as we would say. So the word ExλEXTOS, often signifies. Psal. Ixxviii. 31. They smote, Tous ExλEXTOUS, the chosen men that were of Israel.-So Exλexтα μquaia, are choice sepulchres, Gen. xxiii. 6.—ExλExтα тwv dwpwr, choice gifts, Deut. xii. 11.

Of Aristobulus' household.] It is doubted whether this person was converted; as the apostle does not salute him, but his household; or, as the margin reads, his friends. He might have been a Roman of considerable distinction: who, though not converted himself, had Christians among his servants or his slaves. But, whatever he was, it is likely that he was dead at this time, and therefore those of his household only are referred to by the apostle.

Verse 11. Herodion my kinsman] Probably another And avopes ExλEXTOI, choice men, Judges xx. 6. converted Jew. See on ver. 7.

Of the household of Narcissus] Probably dead also, as we have supposed Aristobulus to have been at this time.

Which are in the Lord.] This might intimate that some of this family were not Christians; those only of that family that were converted to the Lord, being saluted. There was a person of the name of Narcissus, who was a freed man of the emperor Claudius, mentioned by Suetonius, in his life of that prince, cap. 37. And by Tacitus, An. lib. xii. cap. 57. But there does not seem any reason to suppose that this was the person designed by St. Paul.

Verse 12. Tryphena and Tryphosa] Two holy women, who it seems were assistants to the apostle in his work; probably by exhorting, visiting the sick, &c. Persis was another woman, who, it seems, excelled the preceding; for, of her it is said, she laboured much in the Lord. We learn from this, that Christian women, as well as men, laboured in the ministry of the word. In those times of simplicity, all persons, whether men or women, who had received the knowledge of the truth, believed it to be their duty to propagate

By the same use of the word, the companions of Paul and Barnabas are termed chosen men, εκλεξαμενους ανδρας• persons in whom the church of God could confide. See Whitby.

His mother and mine.] It is not likely that the mother of Rufus was the mother of Paul; but while she was the natural mother of the former, she acted as a mother to the latter. We say of a person of this character, that she is a motherly woman. Among the ancients, he or she, who acted a kind, instructing, and indulgent part to another, was stiled the father or mother of such an one. So TerenceNaturâ tu illi pater es, consiliis ego.

Adelphi. Act. i. scen. 2. ver. 47. Thou art his father by nature; I, by instruction. Verse 14. Salute Asyncritus, &c.] Who these were we know not. Hermas was probably the same to whom a work called the Shepherd, is attributed; a work with this title is still extant, and may be found among the writings of the apostolical fathers. But it is vain to look for identity of persons in similarity of names; for, among the Greeks and Romans,

The apostle sends salutations

A.M. cir. 4062.

ROMANS.

b

to different persons at Rome.

15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, which cause divisions and offences A. M.cir.4002. An. Olymp. Nereus, and his sister, and Olym-contrary to the doctrine which ye pas, and all the saints which are learned; and avoid them.

A. D. cir. 58. cir. CCIX. 2. A.U.C.cir.811.

with them.

d

have An. Olymp.

A. D. cir. 58. cir. CCIX. 2. A.U.C.cir.811.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord 16 Salute one another with a holy kiss. The Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by churches of Christ salute you. good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them of the simple.

a 1 Cor. 16. 20. 2 Cor. 13. 12. 1 Thes. 5. 26. 1 Pet. 5. 14.- b Acts 15. 1, 5, 24. 1 Tim. 6. 3.- 1 Cor. 5. 9, 11. 2 Thes. 8. 6, 14. 2 Tim.

3. 5. Titus 3. 10. 2 John 10. Phil. 3. 19. 1 Tim. 6. 5.- - Col. 2.4. 2 Tim. 3. 6. Titus 1. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 3.

at this time, there were many persons who bore the same names mentioned in this chapter.

cause it is customary and common. Shaking of hands is now substituted for it, in almost all Christian congregations. The churches of Christ salute you.] The word TaCQI ALL, is added here by some of the most reputable MSS. and principal Versions; and Griesbach has received it into his text. St. Paul must mean here, that all the churches in Greece and Asia, through which he had passed, in which the faith of the Christians at Rome was known, spoke of them affectionately and honourably and probably knowing the apostle's design of visiting Rome, desired to be kindly remembered to the church in that city.

Verse 17. Mark them which cause divisions] Several MSS. read aofaλws onomeite, look sharply after them: let them have no kiss of charity nor peace; because they strive to make divisions, and thus set the flock of Christ at variance among themselves: and from these divisions, offences, tzardaλa, scandals are produced; and this is contrary to that doctrine of peace, unity, and brotherly love which you have learned. Look sharply after such, that they do you no evil: and avoid them: give them no countenance, and have no re

Verse 15. Salute Philologus, &c.] Of these several persons, though much has been conjectured, nothing certain is known. Even the names of some are so ambiguous, that we know not whether they were men or women. They were persons well known to St. Paul; and undoubtedly were such as had gone from different places where the apostle had preached, to sojourn or settle at Rome. One thing we may remark, that there is no mention of St. Peter, who, according to the Roman and papistical catalogue of bishops, must have been at Rome at this time: if he were not now at Rome, the foundation stone of Rome's ascendancy, of Peter's supremacy, and of the uninterrupted succession, is taken away; and the whole fabric falls to the ground. But, if Peter were at Rome at this time, Paul would have sent his salutations to him in the first place and if Peter were there, he must have been there according to the papistical doctrine, as bishop and vicar of Jesus Christ; but if he were there, is it likely that he should have been passed by, while Andronicus and Junia are mentioned as of note amongst the apostles, ver. 7.||ligious fellowship with them. and that St. Paul should call on the people to remedy the disorders that had crept in among themselves; should not these directions have been given to Peter, the head of the church? And if there were a church in the papistical sense of the word, founded there, of which Peter was the head, is it likely that that church should be in the house of Priscilla || and Aquila, ver. 5. But it is loss of time to refute such ridiculous and groundless pretensions. It is very likely that Peter, so far from being universal bishop at Rome, never saw the city in his life.

Verse 18. They serve not our Lord Jesus] They profess to be apostles, but they are not apostles of CHRIST; they neither do his will, nor preach his doctrine; they serve their own belly. They have intruded themselves into the church of Christ, that they might get a secular support; it is for worldly gain alone, that they take up the profession of the ministry: they have no Divine credentials; they convert not the heathen nor the ungodly; they have no Divine unction but by good words and fair speeches, (for they have no mir culous nor saving powers,) deceive the hearts of the simple.

Verse 16. Salute one another with a holy kiss] In perverting Christian converts, that they may get their those early times the kiss, as a token of peace, friendship,|| and brotherly love, was frequent among all people; and the Christians used it in their public assemblies, as well as in their occasional meetings. This was at last laid aside, not because it was abused, but because the church becoming very numerous, the thing was impossible. In some countries the kiss of friendship is still common; and in such countries it is scarcely ever abused; nor is it an incentive to evil, be

property; and thus secure a maintenance for themselves. The church of God has ever been troubled with such pretended pastors; men who FEED themselves, not the flock; men who are too proud to beg, and too lazy to work: who have neither grace nor gifts to plant the standard of the cross on the devil's territories; and by the power of Christ, make inroads upon his kingdom, and spoil him of his subjects. On the contrary, by sowing the seeds of dissensions, by

24 The grace of our Lord Jesus | to the revelation of the mystery, A. Dir. 58. which was kept secret since then. Olymp. world began,

Verse 24. The grace of our Lord] This is the conclusion of Tertius, and is similar to what St. Paul used above. Hence Verse 26. But now is made manifest] Now, under the it is possible that Tertius wrote the whole of the 22nd, 23rd,|| New Testament dispensation, and by my preaching. and 24th verses, without receiving any particular instructions By the Scriptures of the prophets] Hints relative to this from St. Paul, except the bare permission to add his own salu-important work being scattered up and down through all tations with those of his particular friends.