16:1 I 1 commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant
of the church which is at Cenchrea:
(1) Having made an end of the whole discussion, he comes now to
familiar commendations and salutations, and that to good
consideration and purpose, that is, that the Romans might
know who are most to be honoured and to be considered among
them: and also whom they ought to set before them to
follow: and therefore he attributes to every of them
individual and singular testimonies.
16:2 That ye receive her in the a Lord, as becometh saints,
and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need
of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of
myself also.
(a) For Christ's sake, which appropriately belongs to the
Christians, for the heathen philosophers have a
resemblance of the same virtues.
16:5 Likewise [greet] the b church that is in their house.
Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the c firstfruits
of Achaia unto Christ.
(b) The company of the faithful, for in so great a city as
that was, there were different companies.
(c) For he was the first of Achaia that believed in Christ:
and this type of speech is an allusion to the
ceremonies of the law.
16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my
fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who
also were in d Christ before me.
(d) Ingrafted by faith.
16:16 Salute one another with an holy e kiss. The churches of
Christ salute you.
(e) He calls that a holy kiss which proceeds from a heart
that is full of that holy love: now this is to be
understood as referring to the manner used in those
days.
16:172 Now I beseech you, brethren, f mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye
have learned; and avoid them.
(2) As by describing by name those who were worthy of
commendation he sufficiently declared whom they ought to
hear and follow, so does he now point out to them whom they
ought to take heed of, yet he does not name them, because
it was not necessary.
(f) Watchfully and diligently, as though you should scout
for your enemies in a watch tower.
16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,
but their own belly; and by g good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
(g) The word which he uses signifies a promising which
accomplishes nothing, and if you hear any such, you
may assure yourself that he who promises to you is
more concerned about receiving from you than he is
concerned about giving to you.
16:193 For your obedience is come abroad unto all [men]. I am
glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you
h wise unto that which is good, and i simple
concerning evil.
(3) Simplicity must be joined with wisdom.
(h) Furnished with the knowledge of the truth and wisdom,
so that you may embrace good things, and avoid evil,
beware of the deceits and snares of false prophets, and
resist them openly: and this place plainly destroys the
papists faith of credit, whereas they maintain it to be
sufficient for one man to believe as another man
believes, without further knowledge or examination what
the matter is, or what ground it has: using these daily
speeches, "We believe as our fathers believed, and we
believe as the Church believes."
(i) As men that know no way to deceive, much less deceive
indeed.
16:204 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your
feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be]
with you. Amen.
(4) We must fight with a certain hope of victory.
16:215 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and
Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
(5) He adds salutations, partly to renew mutual friendship, and
partly to the end that this epistle might be of some weight
with the Romans, having the confirmation of so many that
subscribed to it.
16:22 I Tertius, who k wrote [this] epistle, salute you in the
Lord.
(k) Wrote it as Paul uttered it.
16:246 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all.
Amen.
(6) Now taking his leave of them this third time, he wishes
that to them, upon which all the force of the former
doctrine depends.
16:257 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according
to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according
to the revelation of the l mystery, which was kept
secret since the world began,
(7) He sets forth the power and wisdom of God with great
thanksgiving, which especially appears in the gospel, and
makes mention also of the calling of the Gentiles, to
confirm the Romans in the hope of this salvation.
(l) That secret and hidden thing, that is to say, the
calling of the Gentiles.
16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the
prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, m made known to all nations for the obedience of
faith:
(m) Offered and exhibited to all nations to be known.
