TEXT. 24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem, to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a cer tain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 28 When, therefore, I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come, by you, into Spain. 29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the ful ness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. 30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me, in your prayers to God for me; 31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; PARAPHRASE. 24 to come to you: I will, when I take my journey to Spain, take you in my way; for I hope then to see you, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, when I have, for some time, enjoyed your company, and pretty well satisfied 25 my longing on that account. But, at present, I am setting 26 out for Jerusalem, going to minister to the saints there. For it hath pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to make a 27 contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them to do so, and they are indeed their debtors. For, if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they are bound, on their side, to minister to them, 28 for the support of this temporal life. When, therefore, I have despatched this business, and put this fruit of my labours into their hands, I will come to you in my way to Spain. 29 And I know that, when I come unto you, I shall bring with me to you full satisfaction, concerning the blessedness which 30 you receive by the Gospel of Christ. Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love which comes from the Spirit of God, to join with me in earnest 31 prayers to God for me, That I may be delivered from the NOTE. 29 He may be understood to mean here, that he should be able to satisfy them, that by the Gospel the forgiveness of sins was to be obtained. For that he shows, chap. iv. 6-9. And they had as much title to it, by the Gospel, as the Jews themselves; which was the thing he had been making out to them, in this epistle. TEXT. and that my service, which I have for Jerusalem, may be accepted of the saints; 32 That I may come unto you with joy, by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. PARAPHRASE. unbelievers in Judea; and that the service I am doing the 32 saints there may be acceptable to them: That, if it be the will of God, I may come to you with joy, and may be re33 freshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. SECTION XV. CHAPTER XVI. 1-27. CONTENTS. THE foregoing epistle furnishes us with reasons to conclude, that the divisions and offences that were in the Roman church, were between the Jewish and Gentile converts, whilst the one, over-zealous for the rituals of the law, endeavoured to impose circumcision and other Mosaical rites, as necessary to be observed by all that professed Christianity; and the other, without due regard to the weakness of the Jews, showed a too open neglect of those their observances, which were of so great account with them. St. Paul was so sensible, how much the churches of Christ suffered, on this occasion, and so careful to prevent this, which was a disturbance almost every where (as may be seen in the history of the Acts, and collected out of the epistles) that, after he had finished his discourse to them, (which we may observe solemnly closed, in the end of the foregoing chapter) he here, in the middle of his salutations, cannot forbear to caution them against the authors and fomenters of these divisions, and that very pathetically, ver. 17-20. All the rest of this chapter is spent, almost wholly, in salutations. Only the four last verses contain a conclusion, after St. Paul's manner. TEXT. 1 I commend unto you Phœbe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Kenchrea: 2 That ye receive her, in the 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 myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 (Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.) 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epænetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. 7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles, approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 11 Salute Herodian, my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. PARAPHRASE. 1 I commend to you Phœbe, our sister, who is a servant of the 2 church which is at Kenchrea, That you receive her, for Christ's sake, as becomes Christians, and that you assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for she has assisted 3 many, and me in particular. Salute Priscilla and Aquila, my 4 fellow-labourers in the Gospel, (Who have, for my life, exposed their own to danger, unto whom not only I give thanks, 5 but also all the churches of the Gentiles.) Greet also the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epæ6 netus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet 7 Mary, who took a great deal of pains for our sakes. Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsfolk and fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were Christians before me. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles, approved in Christ. Salute those who are of 11 the household of Aristobulus. Salute Herodian, my kinsman. 9 NOTES. 1. Kenchrea was the port to Corinth. 2 ὁ Προςάτις, “succourer," seems here to signify hostess, not in a common inn, for there was no such thing as our inns in that country; but one whose house was the place of lodging and entertainment of those who were received by the church as their guests, and these she took care of. And to that προςάτις may be very well applied. But whether St. Paul was induced to make use of it here, as somewhat corresponding to παροςῆτε, which he used in her behalf just before, in this verse, I leave to those who nicely observe St. Paul's style. TEXT. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute. the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13 Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such, serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good; and simple concerning evil. PARAPHRASE. Salute all those of the household of Narcissus, who have em12 braced the Gospel. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who take pains in the Gospel. Salute the beloved Persis, who laboured 13 much in the Lord. Salute Rufus, chosen or selected to be a 14 disciple of the Lord; and his mother and mine. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren 15 who are with them. Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark those who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, 18 and avoid them. For they serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, and by good words and fair speeches, insinuating themselves, deceive well-meaning, simple men. 19 Your conversion and ready compliance with the doctrine of the Gospel, when it was brought to you, is known in the world d, and generally talked of: I am glad, for your sakes, that you so forwardly obeyed the Gospel. But give me leave to advise you to be wise and cautious in preserving yourselves steady in what is wise and good; but employ no thought, or skill, how to circumvent or injure another: be in this re NOTES. 18 Such as these we have a description of, Tit. i. 10, 11. 19 See chap. i. 8. • A direction much like this you have, 1 Cor. xiv. 20, and Eph. iv. 13-15. TEXT. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 21 Timotheus my work-fellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. 23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus, the chamberlain of the city, saluteth you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my PARAPHRASE. 20 gard very plain and simple. For God, who is the giver and lover of peace, will soon rid you of these ministers of Satan f, the disturbers of your peace, who make divisions amongst yous. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 21 Timothy my workfellow, and Lucius and Jason, and Sosi22 pater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who wrote this 23 epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus, the chamberlain of the 24 city, saluteth you; and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25 Now to him that is able to settle and establish you in an adherence to myh Gospel, and to that which I deliver, con NOTES. 20 f So those who made divisions in the church of Corinth are called, 2 Cor. xi. 14, 15. " Shall bruise Satan," i. e. shall break the force and attempts of Satan, upon your peace, by these his instruments, who would engage you in quarrels and discords. 25" My Gospel." St. Paul cannot be supposed to have used such an expression as this, unless he knew that what he preached had something in it, that distinguished it from what was preached by others; which was plainly the mystery, as he every where calls it, of God's purpose, of taking in the Gentiles to be his people, under the Messiah, and that without subjecting them to circumcision, or the law of Moses. This is that which he here calls τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰησοῦ Χρισοῦ, "the preaching of Jesus Christ;" for without this he did not think that Christ was preached to the Gentiles as he ought to be and therefore in several places of his epistle to the Galatians he calls it "the truth," and "the truth of the Gospel;" and uses the like expressions to the Ephesians and Colossians. This is that mystery which he is so much concerned that the Ephesians should understand and stick firm to, which was revealed to him according to that Gospel, whereof he was made the minister; as may be seen at large in that epistle, particularly chap. iii. 6,7. The same thing he declares to the Colossians in his epistle to them, particularly chap. i. 27-29, and ii. 6-8. For that he, in a peculiar manner, preached this doctrine so as none of the other apostles did, may be seen Acts xxi. 18-25. Acts xv. 6, 7. For though the other apostles and elders of the church of Jerusalem had determined, that the Gentiles should only keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; yet it is plain enough from what they say, Acts xxi. 20-24, that they taught not, nay, probably did not think, what St. Paul openly declares to |