The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 471

Vere, 1-16, 21-23.-0hrlsUan ,alutaUont. There remain now only salutations ond oonoluelone, But the same courteous love shall be manifested to the end. Nowhere do the ethioe of the new life come out more delicately than in theee trivialitiee as some would deem them, of opierolary correspondence, They are ae the fraarance r,f the rose. 0 I. First, the letter-bearer is commended to their care. "Phmbe onr eister1 who is o. servant of the Ohurch." The mere sisterhood in Christ should be enouah 0 but she we.erone in honour, the honour that comes of loving service, beiag a" deacoa ~ " c,f the Ohurch. How many offices of mercy could be filled then, as now, by the ministrations of gentle women I Some such o~ce she ~ulfilled-she had been "a succourer of many." Noy, even of Paul also, perhaps m some illness. Surely here was an additional reason why they should receive her, and assist her in whatsoever matter she might have need of them, II. Next, many Christie.ne·e.t Rome whom he knew are saluted by name-such doubtless o.s had removed thither from scenes of his former work, and through some of whom, per- haps, the gospel had first been ma.de known at Rome: Prisca and Aquila, those earnest workers, through whom also, in some great peril, his life had been spared at the peril of their own; Epmnetus the beloved; Mary, who in some way had wrought much for them ; Andronicue and J unie.s, kinsmen, who had also shared his bonds, and were earlier than himself in the faith of Christ; A.mpliatus the beloved in Christ; Urbanue the fellow-worker, and Stachys the beloved; Apelles, whose Christian faith had been sorely tested, but who had come forth approved from the fire; the household of .Arisrobulus, who himself perchance was not in Christ; Herod.ion, a kinsman; those of the house- hold of Narcissus who were in the Lord; Tryphama and Tryphosa, and Persis the beloved,eamest workers in Christ; Rufus the elect, and his mother, who had also acted a mother's part to Paul; Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patroba.s, Hermas, and the brethren among whom they worked; Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them. And also, to those whom he knew not, but who were in Christ, as well as to those mentioned, whom he knew, he would have the salutation given: "Salute one another." And not on his behalf alone, but on behalf of all amongst whom he had preached Christ, and who, knowing his intent to visit Rome, had charged him with their love. III. Yet, again, there are special ones who join him more formally in these salut~as: Timothy, his fellow-worker, joined expressly with him in some Epistles (see 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Colossians, Philippians, Philemon), but not in this, an authoritative exposition of the gospel, for which he, under Christ, must be alone respon- sible; Lucius, Ja.son, and Sosipater, kinsmen; Tertius, the writer, suffered, by Panl's exquisite delicacy, to give his salutation in hie own name; Ge.ius, the host of the Church; Ere.stus the tree.surer ; and brother Quartus. It was done.· The interchange of love was me.de. An illustration was given of that like-mindedness of love which he wished to see characterize ~he Churches of God. It only remained now that he should commend them to the grace of God.-T. F. L. Vere. 17-20.-,-.A last warning. There might, however, be some advent amougst them of a malign influence that should mar this brotherly love, and he must say one warning word. How_ had the trail of the serpent been on his path! At Galatia, in Corinth, and elsewhere, false teachers had come in, seeking to undo his work; those Judaizers, who sought to corrupt the young believers from the simplicity of the gospel. And would they not seek to undo the work e.t Rome? Yes, verily; for the obedience of the Roman Christians had come abroad unto nil men, and the tidings of their obedience of faith would be but the signal to these destroyers for a new errand of cunning and greed. He warns them. I. Tam WARNING. The work of these false teachers is spoken of first in Acts u. 1, where we rend, "And certain men which came down from Judrna taught the brethren, Except ye be circumcised after the m:mner of Moses, ye cannot be saved;" "false brethren," the apostle calls them in Gal. ii. 4:, "who cnme in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us iuto bond:\ge." Aud the whole of the Epistle to the Gnlatians, and forge part of the Second Epistle to the Corinthie.ns, were occupiod in the endeavour to counternct their poisonous r.ipresent.s.- tions. 'fhoil· aim was to mnko the Gentiles enter the Christian Church by the J!;!wish  THE EPI8'1'LB 01<' rAUL '1'0 TH-E nOMANS, [on. XV•L 1-21.