The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 464

whnt they hRt been, Andronicus and JuniRB deserved greeting Rnd commend&tlon, "Time tries 11U ; " 11nd time sets an approving s8111 upon those who for n lifetime hnve 11dorned the doctrine of God our Saviour. Respect is due to our seniors in the spiritual life. " Bt>t.ter is the end of a thing th11n the beginning." APPLICATION. 1. Learn a generous appreciation of the character and services of brethren in Christ. 2. Forget not the ties of ChristiRn fellowship dating from distant years. 3. Admire the power <>f ChrisUanity to 88IlCtify the sociRl nature; and seek to afford in social intercourse a. living example of this benign influence. Vers. 8-15.-Groonds/or g1·eeting. Salutations are often empty forms. Yet the original meaning is often very deep and beautiful and appropriate. Our " God bless you ! " and "Good-bye! " and "Adieu I" are instances. If we sincerely send "respects n and "kind regards," it is well. Salutations are not to be neglected or despised because they are oft~n meaningless or insincere. See in this passage how Paul greeted his friends in Christ. Even as Christ himself, coming to his own disciples, addressed them thns, " Peace be with you!" so the apostle, even in this important Epistle, did not think it beneath him to salute bis friends. L CHRISTIO"ITY IS A BOND WHICH UNITES TOGETHER PERSONS OF IIIOST VARIOUS OO:!>-r>ITioNs AND EIIIPLOntENTS. Of the persons greeted, some were Jews and some were Gentiles. Some were persons who bad, to some extent, the command of their own time; for they are mentioned as ha'V:ing laboured much with the apostle, or as banng entertained him with hospitality. Some undoubtedly were slaves. From the Epistle to the Philippians, written a very few years after this, it appears that members of Clllsa.r's household were numbered among the Christian community at Rome. Recent explorations near the old metropolis of the world have brought to light tomb- inscriptions, including many of the names mentioned in this chapter, in memory of persons in the imperial household. It is all but certain that some of these friends of Paul held such positions, it may be honourable and important, but probably of an ordi- nary kind. They may have been artificers and craftsmen and household attendants, Two other households are mentioned here-those of Aristobulus and of Narcissus, There seems no re.ason to suppose that the heads of these households were Christians. They may themselves have been dead at this time, and their bond.men may have passed over by bequest to the emperor. The list includes some Christian Jews, now permitted to return to Rome--persons whom, in their wanderings, Paul had met in various cities of Asia and of Europe, and whose memory he retained in bis capacious and affectionate heart. Il. CBEISTIANITY CONFERS HONOUR UPON THOSE WHO ABE LITTLE EBTEEIIIED m TIIE WORLD. The names mentioned in these verses are all, and utterly, unknown to fame, They here glint a.cross our vision, like meteors in the midnight sky, which appear for a moment, only to vanish for ever. Yet Paul esteemed and loved them, and put their names upon this imperishable roll-more glorious and more laeting than the blazoned records of heraldry or the splendid memorials of the historian. It is better to be enrolled among the friends of Christ than to occupy the highest station in the regard of worldly minded men. To be his when he makes up his jewels, this will be honour and happin8116 indeed. III. CHBIBTIANITY PUTB ITB OWN llABKB UPON ITS ADHEBENTB. For example, in this passage, one is described 88 "in the Lord," implying spiritual union with the Saviour. Another is said to be "chosen in the Lord," and yet another "approved in the Lord "-langua)!;e which denotes those congenial in character, e.nd obedient in life, to the Lord Jes1111 Christ, and which points on to a coming and glorious reward. Again, some are described a.s "brethren" and others as "saints," implying their incorporation into the spiritual family of God, and their. holy character and devotion to the Lor~'s service. Such language 881!W'e& us that, a~1~s_t man~ faulty and some '?lw~rt~y Ohr1a- tilrns, there were not a few amongst the pnm1t1ve believers who, by thell' pnnc1ples and life, mnat have commended the gospel, and have yielded the truest satisfaction to the apc,stle's pure and benevolent heart. IV. Observe, further, 11undry BEOOGlilTIOl!i'B OP CHaISTIAll BEBVIOB. One Is com- ntt,r,&d for his "labour in the Lord," and another as having "laboured much In the Lurd," whilst a third is described a11 a "fellow-worl,(er." 'l'hat faul laboured woro (JII, xvr. 1-27,] THE EPIS'fLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS.