Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 16

Romans Chapter 16

The epistle concludes with various salutations. The names that occur in this chapter are chiefly Greek; and the persons designated had probably been inhabitants of Greece but had moved to Rome for purposes of commerce, etc. Possibly some of them had been converted under the ministry of the apostle himself during his preaching in Corinth and other parts of Greece. It is remarkable that the name of Peter does not occur in this list, which is conclusive evidence, contrary to the Papists, that Peter was not then known by Paul to be in Rome.

I commend. It was common then, as it is now, to carry letters of introduction to strangers, commending the person thus introduced to the goodwill and attention of those to whom the letters were addressed (2 Corinthians 3:1; Acts 18:27). This epistle, with the apostle's commendation, was designed in this way to introduce its bearer to the Roman Christians. The mention of Phoebe in this manner leaves it beyond a doubt that she was either the bearer of this epistle or accompanied those who carried it to Rome. The epistle was therefore written, probably, at Corinth. (See Introduction.)

Our sister. A member of the Christian church.

Which is a servant. Greek, "Who is a deaconess." It is clear from the New Testament that there was an order of women in the church known as deaconesses. The New Testament, in various places, refers to a class of women whose duty it was to teach other women and to take general supervision of that part of the church; their existence is also expressly affirmed in early ecclesiastical history. They appear to have been commonly aged and experienced widows, holding a good reputation, and suited to guide and instruct those who were young and inexperienced (Compare to 1 Timothy 5:3, 9-11; Titus 2:4).

The Apostolical Constitutions, Book III, says, "Ordain a deaconess who is faithful and holy, for the ministries toward the women." Pliny, in his celebrated letter to Trajan, says, when speaking of the efforts he made to obtain information regarding the opinions and practices of Christians, "I deemed it necessary to put two female servants who are called ministrae [that is, deaconesses] to the torture, in order to ascertain what is the truth." The reasons for their appointment among the Gentiles were these:

1. Women were usually separate from men. They were kept secluded, for the most part, and not permitted to mingle in society with men, as is the custom now.
2. It became necessary, therefore, to appoint aged and experienced women to instruct the young, visit the sick, provide for them, and perform for them the services that male deacons performed for the whole church. It is evident, however, that they were confined to these offices and were never regarded as an order of ministers or permitted to preach to congregations (1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34).

Of the church, etc. This is the only mention that occurs of a church at that place. It was probably gathered by the labors of Paul.

At Cenchrea. This was the seaport of Corinth. Corinth was situated on the middle of the isthmus and had two harbors, or ports: Cenchrea on the east, about eight or nine miles from the city, and Lechaeum on the west. Cenchrea opened into the Aegean Sea and was the principal port. It was on this isthmus, between these two ports, that the Isthmian games were celebrated, to which the apostle so often refers in his epistles.

That you receive her, etc. That you acknowledge her as being in the Lord, or as being a servant of the Lord; that is, as a Christian. Compare to Romans 14:3; Philippians 2:29.

As becometh saints. As it is proper that Christians should treat their brethren.

She has been a succourer of many. The word used here (prostatis) means, properly, a patron, a help, and was applied by the Greeks to one who presided over an assembly; to one who became a patron of others; who aided or defended them in their cause; and especially one who undertook to manage the cause of strangers and foreigners before the courts. It was, therefore, an honourable appellation.

Applied to Phoebe, it means probably that she had shown great kindness in various ways to the apostle, and to other Christians; probably by receiving them into her house; by administering to the sick, etc. Such persons have a claim on the respect and Christian attentions of others.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila. This means to salute them; an act implying the apostle's kind remembrance of them and his wishes for their welfare.

Priscilla. Priscilla was the wife of Aquila. They are mentioned in Acts 18:2, 26 and 1 Corinthians 16:19.

Paul at first found them at Corinth. Aquila was a Jew, born in Pontus, who had resided at Rome and had left Rome and come to Corinth when Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome (see Barnes on Acts 18:2).

It is probable that they were converted under the preaching of Paul. Paul lived with them, and they had the advantage of his private instruction (Acts 18:3). At the death of Claudius, or whenever the decree for the expulsion of the Jews was repealed, it is probable that they returned to Rome.

My helpers. This means his fellow workers. They had aided him in his work. A particular instance is mentioned in Acts 18:26. They are also mentioned as having been with Paul when he wrote the first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16:19).

In Christ Jesus. This means in the Christian cause.

Who have for my life. In order to save my life.

Laid down their own necks. To lay down the neck is to lay the head on a block to be cut off with the axe, or to bow down the head as when the neck was exposed to be cut off by the sword of the executioner. The meaning is that they had hazarded their lives, had exposed themselves to imminent danger, to save the life of Paul. On what occasion this was done is not known, as it is not elsewhere referred to in the New Testament. However, since Paul lived with them (Acts 18:3) and was often persecuted by the Jews, it is probable that he refers to some such period of persecution when Aquila and Priscilla took him into their house at the imminent hazard of their lives.

All the churches of the Gentiles. All the churches that had been founded by the apostles. They felt their obligation to them for having saved the life of him who had been their founder and who was their spiritual father.

The church that is in their house. Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned (Acts 18:26) as having received Apollos into their family to instruct him more perfectly. The church in their house is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:19. This may mean either the church that was accustomed to assemble for worship at their hospitable mansion, or it may mean their own family with their guests, regarded as a church.

In those times, Christians had no houses erected for public worship and were therefore compelled to meet in their private dwellings.

Salute. This is the same word previously translated as "greet."

Who is the firstfruits. One who first embraced Christianity under my preaching in Achaia. The first-fruits were a small part of the harvest, which was first gathered and offered to the Lord (Exodus 22:29; Exodus 23:10; Leviticus 2:12; Deuteronomy 18:4).

In allusion to this, Paul calls Epenetus the first fruits of the great spiritual harvest which had been gathered in Achaia.

Achaia. See Barnes on Romans 15:26.

This name and those that follow are chiefly Greek, but we know little about the persons mentioned, except what is recorded here.