Salutations and benedictions.
The programme being sketched, the apostle now proceeds to the salutations and benedictions with which his Epistles usually end. And here notice—
I. THE DISTINGUISHED PLACE OCCUPIED IN THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH BY WOMEN. There are no less than nine women specially referred to in this list, and all are active in the Church. Some were deaconesses; for instance, Phoebe, Mary, Tryphena and Tryphosa, and Persis. Oriental society separates the sexes in a way we do not in the West; hence the need of such officials there, and in zenana mission work still. Why should they not exist? Many a work which the Church should undertake can be better done by women than by men. But notice briefly:
1. Phoebe. She was a deaconess of Cenchrea, the port of Corinth. It was she who carried the precious Epistle to Rome. Some business led her thither. She is the bearer of the finest Epistle ever written to a Christian Church, and in it she has a magnificent introduction.
2. Prisca. Called Priscilla, and mentioned before her husband Aquila. Perhaps she was the better Christian. At all events, they had a "Church in their house." They had been very kind to the apostle, and had prosecuted with him their tent-making trade.
3. Tryphena and Tryphosa. Their names suggest voluptuous living—but they had been transformed by grace into hard workers (cf. Godet, in loc.).
4. Persis. Likely an aged deaconess. Her work is over. She had done much—had doubtless done what she could, and did not need to go to her work in company, like the preceding pair, but could face it alone.
5. Mother of Rufus. She seems to have been the widow of Simon the Cyrenian, as Mark 15:21 suggests. Paul had likely lodged with them when in Jerusalem, and received maternal sympathy from the good lady. Hence he speaks of her as his mother too.
II. NOTICE THE PARTICULAR KNOWLEDGE PAUL POSSESSES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH IN ROME. This long list is a very particular one, and shows how the apostle has them all at his fingers' ends. He seems to have had that very enviable faculty for remembering names. And his particularity in the matter was from the love he bore them, as references in the words used over and over suggest.
III. THE SALUTATION WITH THE KISS OF HOLINESS. The arrangement was men kissed men, and women women, as is the Oriental fashion. It indicated a deeper interest in one another's welfare than we are inclined for in the West.
IV. THE ADVICE TO AVOID TROUBLES OF THE CHURCH. (Mark 15:17-20.) Prudence was necessary in the doing of good and a desire to avoid all pugnacity. On peaceful lines they might expect the victory over the evil one.
V. PAUL'S FELLOW-WORKERS AT CORINTH SEND GREETINGS TO THE CHURCH AT ROME. (Mark 15:21-23.) The apostle had made good way at Corinth, from the greetings he was here enabled to send.
VI. THE DOXOLOGY. (Mark 15:24-27.) He carries his praise and hope upwards, and lays all at the feet of God. So should it be always.—R.M.E.
Romans 15
Romans
1 Corinthians Intro
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