Paul willeth the brethren to greet many; and adviseth them to take heed of those who cause dissension and offences; and, after sundry salutations, endeth with praise and thanks.
Anno Domini 58.
PHEBE, a deaconess of the church of Cenchrea, having occasion to go to Rome about some important affairs, the Apostle earnestly recommended her to the good offices of the Roman brethren, Romans 16:1-2.—To this recommendation, he subjoined salutations to a number of persons by name, members of the church at Rome, with whom it seems he was acquainted, Romans 16:3-16.
The names of the persons saluted, shew them to have been Greeks, or of Greek extraction. We may therefore conjecture, that they had settled themselves in Rome for the sake of commerce, or of exercising their particular trades. But being afterwards banished by the emperor Claudius, under the denomination of Jews, they had retired, some of them into Greece, others into the Lesser Asia, and others into Judea, where it is supposed they became known to the Apostle Paul, in the course of his travels through these countries. Some of the saluted are called by the Apostle his kinsmen, either because they were his relations, or because they were of the same nation with himself; and who, during theirbanishment from Rome, or perhaps before it, had been converted to Christianity. These, with many others, returned to Rome on the death of Claudius, and re-established the church there in its former lustre.
The Papists affirm, that at the time when the Apostle wrote this letter, St. Peter was in Rome exercising the office of bishop in the church there. But if St. Peter had been in Rome when this Epistle was written, St. Paul would certainly have known it: in which case, he would not have omitted him in the salutations, and have mentioned so manyothers of inferior note.—The Apostle's saluting so many members of the church at Rome, could not displease the rest who were not personally known to him. By saluting all his acquaintance in Rome, the Apostle proposed to make himself known to the Roman brethren, through the accounts which he knew his acquaintance would give of his apostolical character and gifts, and of his success in converting the Gentiles. The truth is, he wished the Roman brethren to be well informed concerning these matters, because the knowledge of them was necessary to give his letter its full effect with those who might read it.—From the characters which the Apostle has given of the persons whom he saluted, we learn that some of them were remarkable for their station and education, and all of them for their graces and virtues. Wherefore, the accounts which they gave of the Apostle's character and endowment, and success in preaching, must have had great weight in establishing his authority among the brethren at Rome, and in drawing their attention to the things written in this Epistle.
Concerning the salutations in the apostolic Epistles, it is proper to remark, in general, that they were of great benefit to the persons saluted. For being sent to individuals, in letters addressed to the churches of which they were members, such public testimonies of the Apostle's esteem not only gave the saluted much pleasure, but tended to confirm them in the faith, and to encourage them to bear with patience the evils attending the profession of the Gospel. And to us, these salutations are an example of that love which we owe to the sincere disciples of Christ, on account of their character. Farther, the Apostle, by naming so many persons in his Epistles, has not only transmitted to posterity an honourable character of them, but has furnished an additional proof of the truth and authenticity of his own epistles. For all the persons named in them, were appealed to as witnesses of the things which he has writt
After finishing his salutations, the Apostle gave the Romans a few more practical advices suited to their circumstances, Romans 16:17-20.—Then sent them salutations from his assistants, Romans 16:21-23.—To which he added his own apostolical benedictions Romans 16:24.—And concluded this letter, in which he had considered the dispensations of God to mankind, from the beginning of the world to the end of time, with a sublime doxology to God the Father, Romans 16:25-27.