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dence by four years } — yeyov a<nv ev X?/<rr,w,) they began to be in Christ.
8. *Ev Kvploj, in the Lord ) Construed with beloved; for greet or salute at ver. 6 and throughout the chapter is employed abso- lutely [and it is not therefore to he connected with h K up/ui],
9. of us. Comp. ver. 21.1 2 *
10. Tiv donifiov, approved ) an incomparable epithet [ This man was of tried excellence. — V. g.] — roug ex ruv) Perhaps Aristobulus was dead, and Narcissus too, ver. 11, and all in their respective families had not been converted. Some of them seem not to have been known by face to Paul, but by the report of their piety. Faith does not make men peevish, but affable. Not even the dignity of the apostolic office was any hindrance to Paul.
11. ovrag, who are ) Therefore a part of that family were heathens.
12. Tag xoTriutug, who laboured ) although they have their name [t pvpuiva, TpvtpZxf a] from rpv<pfjy a luxurious life ; as Naomi ( agreeable ). It is probable that these two were sisters according to the flesh.
13. ’E xXexrov, chosen ) a remarkable title, 2 John, ver. 1, 13 ; 1 Tim. v. 21.
14. ’A ffvyxpirov, x.r.X., Asyncritus , etc.) Paul joins those to- gether, among whom there was a peculiar tie of relationship, neighbourhood, etc. The salutation offered by name to the more humble, who were perhaps not aware that they were so imich as known to the apostle, could not but greatly cheer their hearts.
16. 9 AfftfatatiQe aWijXovg, salute ye one another ) supply: in my name. — ev (pi\v)fian ay/w, with a holy kiss ) This was the flower of faith and love. The kiss of love , 1 Pet. v. 14. This was the practice after prayers. Paul mentions the holy kiss at the con- clusion of the first epistle to the Thessalonians, of both his epistles to the Corinthians, and of this to the Romans. Paul wrote these epistles at the earliest period. Afterwards purity of
1 A quotation from Juvenal Sat. xiii. 58 —
“Tam venerabile erat prsecedere quatuor annis.” — Ed.
2 Where we find “my work-fellow:” but here “ our helper,” or work-
fellow. — Ed.