Ελληνικά

Pelagius

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 465 passages across 8 books

Commentary

441–460 of 465
Romans 15:23

But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

Where all the people have already heard the gospel, Paul has no reason for laying a foundation. Observe from this that there are some desires which are good!

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:24

Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

It is not certain whether Paul ever got to Spain.… The reason he says that he will enjoy their company “for a little” is that they did not need to come to faith but only to be strengthened in faith. Or it may mean that no amount of time can satisfy love.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:25

But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

In Jerusalem there were saints who had sold all their possessions and laid them at the feet of the apostles, devoting themselves to prayer, reading and teaching. It is clear from this text that their character was such that Paul is traveling in order to attend them in person, and he hopes that his offering will be received by them … thereby showing that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:26

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

They thought it would be good for them to make some collection for the expenses of the saints who had voluntarily become poor for their edification.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:27

It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

By example Paul incites the Romans to a similar effort, indicating that there was a good reason why it seemed good to them. The Gentiles had obtained teachers from the Jews and so … they ought to share their abundance with them.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:29

And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

If the Romans behave well, Paul will be full of good teaching for them, for the teacher is incited to teach to the extent that the student shows progress.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:30

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

Paul asks the whole church to pray for him, because he knows that when many people pray together their prayers have great effect. When James was killed, Peter was set free from prison by the prayers of the brethren, who prayed not so much for his good as for their own, so that they could be strengthened by his teaching. Spiritual love leads us to pray for one another.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:31

That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

Paul says this either so that they may all believe or else so that he may not fall into the hands of unbelievers while he is trying to serve believers, with the result that it would be impossible for him to come to them.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:32

That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

Paul will come to Rome in joy if his offering is accepted at Jerusalem and will then speak the Word of God with peace of mind.… For heaviness of heart is a great hindrance to teaching.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:33

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

The God of peace dwells only in those who are peaceable. It is good that he has concluded with peace, because the two parties are here called back to peaceful agreement with each other.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:1

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Although the text of the letter is already finished, as it were, Paul has attached this material for the purpose of commendation and greeting, as was his custom.Even today, women deaconesses in the East are known to minister to their own sex in baptism or even in the ministry of the Word, for we find that women taught privately, e.g., Priscilla, whose husband was called Aquila.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:2

That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

Help her with expenses or support, says Paul, because she also helped many people as long as she had the means.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:3

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

They are said to have established Apollos in the faith. Paul calls them helpers because they helped him in his work of instruction.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:4

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

By supporting Paul’s teaching, they exposed themselves to danger. Therefore all the churches thank them, for Paul was kept from harm by them.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:5

Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

Paul shows that a gathering of believers is called a “church.” Epaenetus was the firstborn of the church in Asia Minor. We learn from their names that all the people Paul greets were foreigners, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that the Romans came to faith through their example and teaching.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:13

Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

These were Jews, and because they had suffered tribulation along with Paul but like him they had not been intimidated, they are deservedly held in esteem. Among others, they had been sent to further the progress of the Romans, and according to the testimony of Paul himself they are reported to have been believers before him.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:15

Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.

By his example Paul teaches us what sort of friends we should greet in our letters, not those who are rich in worldly goods or honored with positions of rank but those who are well supplied in grace and faith.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:16

Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Not with a false and treacherous kiss, of the sort with which Judas betrayed the Savior. For in the church the peace is proclaimed first, so that we may show that we are at peace with all who are about to partake of the body of Christ.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:18

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Paul is speaking of those who in his day came from among the circumcised and did away with fasts and abstinence. Disagreeing with apostolic teaching and setting obstacles before the brethren, they preached new moons and sabbaths and other feast days for the sake of their stomach.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:19

For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

If you obeyed those you should not have obeyed, how much more should you obey us! For this is why these people came to you, because they knew that you could readily be led astray by unsuspecting obedience. I rejoice with you, because obedience is good only if it is reasonable. I want you to be wise in what is good, so that by being ignorant of evil you may bring the enemy down under the feet of innocence.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

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