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TEXT.

17 I have therefore whereof I may glory, through Jesus Christ, in those things which pertain unto God,

18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the gentiles obedient, by word and deed.

19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation. 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard, shall understand.

22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

PARAPHRASE.

*

17 ing out of the Holy Ghost upon them. I have, therefore, matter of glorying, through Jesus Christ, 18 as to those things that pertain to God. For I shall not venture to trouble you with any concerning myself, but only what Christ hath wrought by me, for the bringing of the gentiles to christianity, both 19 in profession and practice. Through mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Holy Ghost, so that, from Jerusalem and the neighbouring countries, all along, quite to Illyricum, I have effectually 20 preached the gospel of Christ; But so as studiously to avoid the carrying of it to those places, where it was already planted, and where the people were already christians, lest I should build upon another 21 man's foundationt. But as it is written +," To whom " he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they, 22" that have not heard, shall understand." This has

NOTES.

66

17 * Tà wpàs dy," Things that pertain to God." The same phrase we have, Heb. v. 1, where it signifies the things, that were offered to God, in the temple-ministration. St. Paul, by way of allusion, speaks of the gentiles in the foregoing verse, as an offering to be made to God, and of himself, as the priest, by whom the sacrifice, or offering, was to be prepared and offered; and then here he tells them, that he had matter of glorying, in this offering, i. e. that he had had success, in converting the gentiles, and bringing them to be a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to God; an account whereof he gives them, in the four following verses.

20+ See 1 Cor. iii, 10, 2 Cor. x, 16. 21 Isaiah lii. 15.

TEXT.

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

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 thither-ward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your

company.

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem, to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia, and Achaia, to make a certain contribution for the poor saints, which are at Jerusalem. 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. 28 When, therefore, I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come, by you, into Spain.

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

PARAPHRASE.

23 often hindered me from coming to you: But now, having in these parts no place, where Christ hath not been heard of, to preach the gospel in; and having had, for these many years, a desire to come to 24 you; I will, when I take my journey to Spain, take you in my way: for I hope, then, to see you, and to be brought on my way thither-ward by you, when I have, for some time, enjoyed your company, and pretty well satisfied my longing, on that account. 25 But, at present, I am setting out for Jerusalem, 26 going to minister to the saints there. For it hath

pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution for the poor, among the saints at Jeru27 salem. It hath pleased them to do so, and they are, indeed, their debtors. For, if the gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they are bound, on their side, to minister to them, for the 28 support of this temporal life. When, therefore, I

in

have dispatched this business, and put this fruit of my labours into their hands, I will come to you 29 my way to Spain. And I know that, when I come unto you, I shall bring with me to your full satisfaction, concerning the blessedness, which you re

TEXT.

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.

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

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

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

PARAPHRASE.

30 ceive by the gospel of Christ. Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love which comes from the spirit of God, to join 31 with me in earnest prayers to God for me, That I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea; and that the service I am doing the saints there, 32 may be acceptable to them: That, if it be the will of God, I may come to you with joy, and may be 33 refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. all. Amen.

NOTES.

29 He may be understood to mean here, that he should be able to satisfy them, that, by the gospel, the forgiveness of sins was to be obtained. For that he shows, chap. iv. 6-9. And they had as much title to it, by the gospel, as the jews themselves; which was the thing he had been making out to them in this epistle,

SECT. XV.

CHAP. XVI. 1–27.

CONTENTS.

THE foregoing epistle furnishes us with reasons to conclude, that the divisions and offences, that were in the roman church, were between the jewish and gentile converts, whilst the one, over-zealous for the rituals of the law, endeavoured to impose circumcision and other mosaical rites, as necessary to be observed, by all that professed christianity; and the other, without due regard

to the weakness of the jews, showed a too open neglect of those their observances, which were of so great account with them. St. Paul was so sensible, how much the churches of Christ suffered, on this occasion, and so careful to prevent this, which was a disturbance almost every where (as may be seen in the history of the Acts, and collected out of the epistles) that, after he had finished his discourse to them, (which we may observe solemnly closed, in the end of the foregoing chapter) he here, in the middle of his salutations, cannot forbear to caution them against the authors and fomenters of these divisions, and that very pathetically, ver. 17-20. All the rest of this chapter is spent, almost wholly, in salutations. Only the four last verses contain a conclusion, after St. Paul's manner.

TEXT.

1 I COMMEND unto you Phoebe our sister, which is, a servant of the church which is at Kenchrea:

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 myself also.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus:

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.)

PARAPHRASE.

1 I COMMEND to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a ser2 vant of the church, which is at Kenchrea *, That you receive her, for Christ's sake, as becomes christians, and that you assist her, in whatever business she has need of you, for she has assisted † many, and 3 me in particular. Salute Priscilla and Aquila, my 4 fellow-labourers in the gospel, (Who have, for my life, exposed their own to danger, unto whom not

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NOTES.

* Kenchrea was the port to Corinth. 2 + Προςάτις, 66 succourer," seems here to signify hostess, not in a common inn, for there was no such thing as our inns, in that country; but one, whose house was the place of lodging and entertainment of those, who were received by the church, as their guests, and these she took care of. And to that @poskris may be very well applied. But, whether St. Paul was induced to make use of it here, as somewhat corresponding to wapaste, which he used in her behalf just before, in this verse, I leave to those, who nicely observe St. Paul's style.

TEXT.

5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epænetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ.

6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.

9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles, approved in Christ. Salute them, which are of Aristobulus' houshold.

11 Salute Herodian, my kinsman. Greet them that be of the houshold of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.

12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13 Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.

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

PARAPHRASE.

only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the 5 gentiles.) Greet also the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epænetus, who is 6 the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet Mary, 7 who took a great deal of pains for our sakes. Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsfolk and fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who 8 also were christians before me. Greet Amplias, my 9 beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbane, our helper in 10 Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Salute Apelles

approved in Christ. Salute those who are of the 11 houshold of Aristobulus. Salute Herodian, my kins> man. Salute all those of the houshold of Narcissus, 12 who have embraced the gospel. Salute Tryphena

and Tryphosa, who take pains in the gospel. Salute the beloved Persis, who laboured much in the 13 Lord. Salute Rufus, chosen, or selected to be a 14 disciple of the Lord; and his mother and mine. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegón, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, 15 and the brethren who are with them. Salute Phi

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