'In Him shall the Gentiles hope.' Lest they should say, 'This was spoken of proselytes.' 'Now the God of hope fill you with all joy.' In whom we all hope. All spiritual joy ought to be in the faithful in future hope. 'And peace in believing, that you may abound.' The joy of all is where there is peace; but there is no joy where there is dissension, but sorrow. 'In hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.' The consolation of the saints' hope is the virtues of the Holy Spirit. 'But I myself also am confident of you, my brethren.' A good teacher provokes to progress by praising, so that such men may blush not to be what they are thought to be. 'That you also are full of love.'
Lest he should seem to have accused them as contentious, and dissenting, and foolish, at the same time he shows that Christians ought always to admonish one another. 'Filled with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another'—of both the Old and the New Testament. 'But I have written to you the more boldly, brethren, in part.' Nay, for this reason I had the greater confidence in writing, because I know that you, being prudent, quickly grasp the reason. 'Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.' 'As it were putting you in remembrance.' Knowing how wise you are—for the wise man understands even by a nod. 'Because of the grace which is given me by God.' Not because of human gifts, or that I may be praised by you, but that I may fulfil my office. 'That I should be the minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles.' Recalling to Him those who were once fugitive servants.
'Sanctifying the Gospel of God.' Presently he shows by example that it is holy, since with such great fear it is to be ministered, in that some, while they despise as human what they preach as divine, it thus comes to pass that the holy thing seems to be not holy, unless it be made holy. Whence it is said: 'Sanctify a fast,' that is, make it holy, or show it to be so. 'That the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Spirit.' That by my example the Gentiles may be made a sacrifice acceptable to God, not sanctified or received by fire, but by the Holy Spirit, as it is written: 'For He sat upon the apostles as fire.' 'I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus.' 'He that glories, let him glory in the Lord'—toward God, although among men there be ill repute.
'For I dare not speak of any of those things which Christ works not by me, unto the obedience of the Gentiles.' I dare not say that I have done it by my own power, and that all things have not been wrought through me by Christ, that He may take from us presumption. 'By word and deeds'—in the power of signs and wonders. He Himself spoke through me, and He Himself did signs, working miracles. 'In the power of the Holy Spirit'—this he spoke not of works, but of the virtues and signs which were done. 'So that from Jerusalem round about even unto Illyricum I have filled with the Gospel of Christ.' He fills the Gospel when the Gentiles too believe; thus are the sufferings of Christ fulfilled in Paul, when he suffers from the Gentiles, and in every place the Gospel of Christ is spread abroad.
'But if I have preached this Gospel not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another's foundation.' Not every one who builds upon another's foundation builds ill, for he may build gold upon it. Here he censures the false apostles, who always went to those who already believed, and never to the Gentiles, because they could not work miracles [or do something similar]; and he shows that he laboured perfectly, who both laid a foundation and built upon it. 'But as it is written: They to whom it was not announced concerning Him.' He shows that his labour was foretold. 'They shall see; and they that have not heard of Him shall understand.' Christ is seen in the apostles through miracles, as the Father in Christ, when He says:
'Or believe for the works' sake, that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.' 'For which cause also I was hindered very much from coming to you.' 'But now, having no more place in these regions.' He explains that which he had said at the head of the epistle: 'But I was hindered.' 'Having a desire to come to you.' It is to be noted that there is even a good desire. 'For many years past.' What necessity there was, that he should be detained for many years! 'When I shall begin to set out for Spain.' He had indeed promised, but by God's disposing he did not go. 'I hope that in passing I shall see you, and be brought on my way thither by you.' Because you so present yourselves that I have no place among you to tarry longer. 'If first I shall have enjoyed you in part.' In part:
because you have already believed, to confirm you—therefore 'in part,' for no greatness of time satisfies charity. 'Now therefore I shall set out for Jerusalem.' This alone remains to me, that I should come. 'To minister to the saints.' The saints were in Jerusalem, who, despising all things and casting them at the apostles' feet, gave themselves to reading, prayer, and doctrine. Of what sort then were they, that the Apostle himself should go to minister to them, and to whom he desires his oblation to be acceptable, if they deign to accept it—showing that this profits not so much those who receive as those who give! 'For Macedonia and Achaia have approved.' They have approved this to be profitable to themselves. 'To make some contribution.' To confer somewhat of their means. 'For the poor of the saints who are in Jerusalem.'
The poor of the saints, because they are poor for the Lord's sake. 'For it pleased them, and they are their debtors.' He provokes them to this work, and shows that they were not unreasonably pleased. 'For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things.' Because from them they had teachers, and were made partners of the root and fatness of the olive tree. 'They ought also to minister to them in carnal things.' Each in that wherein he abounds. 'When therefore I have accomplished this, and consigned to them this fruit, I will go by way of you into Spain.' If you will so abundantly present yourselves, I shall teach you well; for as much as the disciple profits, so much is the teacher also provoked to teaching, as there: 'Our mouth is open to you.'
'But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the abundance of the blessing of Christ.' Either that you will abundantly prepare things to be reaped, or that Christ is blessed at my coming. 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' James being slain, they prayed for Peter, and he was freed from prison, lest they themselves should suffer loss. 'And through the charity of the Holy Spirit.' The charity of the Spirit, which he wrote of to the Galatians—the charity of the Holy Spirit brings it about that we pray for one another. 'That you help me in your prayers for me to God.' For the earnest prayer of many avails much. 'That I may be delivered from the unbelievers who are in Judea, and that the offering of my service may be made acceptable in Jerusalem to the saints.'
Either that all may believe, or that, ministering to the faithful, I may not fall among the unbelievers, and so be unable to come to you; for he foresaw through the Spirit that there, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, he would suffer many things. 'That I may come to you in joy.' Then will I come with joy, if my offering has been accepted by them, and I may securely speak the word of God more abundantly. For sadness of mind greatly hinders teaching, as Ecclesiastes says: 'Calumny troubles even the mind of the wise.' 'Through the will of God, and may be refreshed with you.' If God will—not if I intend anything without His will. 'Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.' Only in the peaceable does the God of peace dwell. And fittingly he ended in peace, the two peoples being recalled to concord.
CHAPTER XVI. 'Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister.' This is now as it were after the end, as is wont to be done at the close of an epistle. 'Who is in the ministry of the Church.' As deacons are, or in the ministry of the word; for women too then taught within their own sex, as we read of Priscilla, whose husband was called Aquila. 'Who is at Cenchreae.' Cenchreae, they say, is a port of Corinth. 'That you receive her in the Lord, as becomes saints.' That is, for the Lord's sake. 'And that you assist her in whatsoever business she shall have need of you'; for she herself has also assisted many, and myself also. 'And that you help her,' whether with means or with some other solace, since she too, while she had it, helped very many. 'Salute Prisca and Aquila.'
Who confirmed Apollos and taught him, as we read. 'My helpers in Christ Jesus.' In this they helped—wherein Paul laboured, namely in the word. 'Who for my life laid down their own neck.' In approving my doctrine they exposed themselves to dangers. 'To whom not I only give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.' By whom, through them, I was preserved. 'And their household church.' He shows that in whatever place the brethren are gathered, there is a church. 'Salute Epaenetus, beloved to me.' He salutes those through whom the Romans had believed; for their names are not Latin, but Greek. 'Who is the firstfruits of Asia in Christ Jesus'—who was the first from Asia to believe. 'Salute Mary, who has laboured much among you.'
In the word, for then she also prophesied. 'Salute Andronicus and Junia my kinsmen'—from among the Jews—'and my fellow-captives.' Together they had suffered tribulation with Paul. 'Who are of note among the apostles'—both in mind and in doctrine. They themselves, among the others sent to the Romans, through whom they might believe or be strengthened by their example, were reckoned notable. 'Who also were in Christ before me. Salute Ampliatus, most beloved to me in the Lord. Salute Urbanus our helper in Christ Jesus, and Stachys my beloved.' Who also believed before I did. 'Salute Apelles, approved in Christ'—proven or perfect. 'Salute those who are of Aristobulus' household. Salute Herodion my kinsman.'
'Salute those who are of Narcissus' household.' It is a city or a place. 'Who are in the Lord.' For not all who were of Narcissus were in the Lord. 'Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who has laboured much in the Lord. Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine'—by age, not by birth. 'Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them. Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympias, and all the saints who are with them. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you'—not feignedly, or under guile, such as that by which Judas betrayed the Saviour.
For this reason peace is first announced from the Church, that he may show himself to be at peace with all men, who is about to partake of the body of Christ. 'Now I beseech you, brethren, to mark those who cause dissensions.' They dissent from the doctrine who were of the circumcision, who, doing away with fasting and abstinence, taught new moons and sabbaths and feast-days for the belly's sake. 'And cause stumbling-blocks contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.' Because through these you can be made to stumble. 'For such serve not Christ our Lord, but their own belly'—like Jovinian. 'And by sweet speeches and blessings seduce the hearts of the innocent'—speaking in a composed manner, and building up their case well.
'For your obedience is spread abroad in every place.' If you obeyed those whom you ought not to have obeyed, how much more us? Therefore I come to you, knowing that you can quickly be seduced; for obedience is good, but in that which is good. For it is not always so, since often evil things too are taught. 'I rejoice therefore in you; but I would have you to be wise unto good, and simple unto evil.' Be wise unto good by doing it; be ignorant of evil by shunning it, 'and the enemy shall be subjected under your feet.' 'Be wary as serpents, simple as doves.' 'And the God of peace shall crush Satan under your feet speedily.' 'Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions'—that is, that they may not have dominion over you, and that you may walk free over them with all your members.
'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Timothy my helper salutes you, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.' This is always Paul's subscription. 'I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.' 'Caius my host salutes you, and the whole church'—Tertius by name, not by number. 'Erastus the treasurer of the city salutes you, and Quartus a brother.' This Erastus he plainly says, in writing to Timothy, was a disciple and had preached. 'Now to Him who is able to confirm you'—by signs and mighty works. 'According to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ.' That you may live according to the preaching of Jesus Christ. 'According to the revelation of the mystery, kept secret from eternal times.'
'Which now is made manifest through the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, unto the obedience of faith in all the Gentiles.' The mystery of the calling of the Gentiles had long been hidden in the Law, which now, through the preaching, or revelation, of Christ, and the Gospel of Paul, is made manifest through the testimonies of the prophets; for although the prophets foretold this beforehand, yet how it was to be, not even the prophets themselves knew. For they could suppose that they were to be admitted to the faith as proselytes. 'To God alone wise, being known.' God alone foreknew these things beforehand—or alone is naturally wise. As He alone is good, though a man too is called good. For we can by the gift of God be good or wise; He is so by nature.
It is to be noted that he did not say 'to the only wise Father,' but 'to the only wise God,' who is the eternal Trinity. 'Through Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.' Through Jesus Christ, not from ourselves.