Romans 16:11. In the Lord— From this and the following verse we may observe, that when the whole family was converted, the Apostle writes to the church in such a house; when not, the salutation is directed to as many as were in the Lord in that fami read more
Romans 16:13. And his mother and mine— Hence some have thought, that Rufus was at least half-brother to St. Paul; but perhaps he might in this expression refer to the maternal care which this good woman had taken of him. read more
Romans 16:15. And all the saints, &c.— Dr. Calvin and many others observe, as before hinted, that had St. Peter been now at Rome, he would undoubtedly have been named, since no one in this numerous catalogue was of a dignity and eminence by any means comparable to him;—and yet if he were not there at this time, the whole tradition of the Romish bishops, as that church delivers it, fails in the most fundamental article of all. read more
Romans 16:18. And fair speeches— 'Ευλογιας, flattering forms of address. We hence learn what were the weapons which these false apostles opposed to the miracles of the true. See Titus 1:10-11. read more
Romans 16:20. Shall bruise Satan, &c.— Satan is here put for his instruments;—the troublers of the church's peace. See 2 Corinthians 11:15. "God shall break the force and attempts of Satan upon your peace, by those his instruments, who would engage you in quarrels and discords." See Locke. At the same time, the words may be taken in the most spiritual sense, as implying that all the spiritual enemies of every faithful soul among them should soon be destroyed. read more
11. Salute Herodion, my kinsman—(See on Romans 16:1). Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord—which implies that others in his house, including probably himself, were not Christians. read more
12. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord—two active women. Salute the beloved Persis—another woman. which laboured much in the Lord—referring probably, not to official services, such as would fall to the deaconesses, but to such higher Christian labors—yet within the sphere competent to woman—as Priscilla bestowed on Apollos and others ( :-). read more
13. Salute Rufus, chosen—"the chosen" in the Lord—meaning, not "who is one of the elect," as every believer is, but "the choice" or "precious one" in the Lord. (See 1 Peter 2:4; 2 John 1:13). We read in Mark 15:21 that Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to bear our Lord's cross, was "the father of Alexander and Rufus." From this we naturally conclude that when Mark wrote his Gospel, Alexander and Rufus must have been well known as Christians among those by whom he expected his Gospel to be... read more
14, 15. Salute Asyncritus, &c.—These have been thought to be the names of ten less notable Christians than those already named. But this will hardly be supposed if it be observed that they are divided into two pairs of five each, and that after the first of these pairs it is added, "and the brethren which are with them," while after the second pair we have the words, "and all the saints which are with them." This perhaps hardly means that each of the five in both pairs had "a church at his... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Romans 16:21
Timothy my fellow-worker saluteth you; and Lucian and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.This and the next two verses contain the greetings sent by Paul's kinsfolk, his other fellow-workers, their host, and Paul's amanuensis, there being no less than eight of these. Timothy, of course, was usually with the apostle when circumstances permitted it, and a great affection existed between them. Two of Paul's epistles were addressed to him, and his name must be hailed as among the most illustrious in... read more