Romans 16:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

ROMANS CHAPTER 16 Romans 16:1,2 Paul commendeth Phebe to the Christians at Rome, Romans 16:3-16 and sendeth salutations to many by name. Romans 16:17-20 He warneth them to take heed of those who cause divisions and offences. Romans 16:21-24 After sundry salutations, Romans 16:25-27 he concludes with praise to God. This chapter is in the nature of a postscript. The apostle begins it with the recommendation of a certain woman to them. She went upon some occasion to Rome, and by her (as some have supposed) this Epistle was sent to the church there. Phebe: the poets called the moon Phoebe, as they did the sun Phoebus. This name is likely to have been imposed by her parents, being Gentiles. Our sister; i.e. in Christ, and by the profession of the same faith: see James 2:16. Cenchrea; a port or haven belonging to Corinth, on the east side towards Asia: there was another on the west side towards Italy, called Lechea. By reason of this double haven, Corinth was called by the poets, Bi maris. Here Paul paid a vow, which he had made, Acts 18:18. Here also he preached and converted many, amongst whom this Phebe (as is probable) was one. When he saith, she was servant of the church, it is not meant she was a deaconness, or one of the college of widows, of whom he speaketh, 1 Timothy 5:9. But she served the church, in harbouring and succouring the saints that were driven out of their country; yea, as appears by the next verse, she was a succourer of the ministers of the gospel, and of the apostle himself. We read, Luke 8:3, of some that ministered unto the Lord of their substance; there the same word is used. And this Phebe seems to have been employed in the same works; she ministered unto Paul as Onesiphorus did, 2 Timothy 1:18; there the same word is used again.