Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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 succorer of many, and of myself also.
2. in the Lord, as becometh saints ] With all the attention and delicacy due from Christians to a Christian woman.
assist her ] Lit. (in the lit sense of “ assist,”) stand by her. What Phbe’s business at Rome was, is quite unknown to us. It may have concerned property, and involved enquiries and directions about law. Or it may have been (though less probably) religious business.
a succourer ] Lit. a champion; one who stands before another. The word conveys a graceful allusion to the request that they would “stand by ” Phbe: she had “stood before ” many a needing and suffering Christian.
of myself also ] Very probably at some time of illness, such as that other time which apparently delayed him in Galatia, on his first visit there, and called out the sympathetic love of the Galatians. (Gal 4:13-15; where read, “ on account of weakness of the flesh; ” i.e. “ because of illness ”).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That ye receive her … – That you acknowledge her as being in the Lord, or as being a servant of the Lord; that is, as a Christian; compare Rom 14:3; Phi 2:29.
As becometh saints – As it is proper that Christians should treat their brethren.
She hath been a succourer of many – The word used here prostatis, means properly a patron, a help, and was applied by the Greeks to one who presided over an assembly; to one who became a patron of others; who aided or defended them in their cause; and especially to one who undertook to manage the cause of strangers and foreigners before the courts. It was, therefore, an honorable appellation. Applied to Phebe, it means probably that she had shown great kindness in various ways to the apostle, and to other Christians; probably by receiving them into her house; by administering to the sick, etc. Such persons have a claim on the respect and Christian attentions of others.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Succourer of many] One who probably entertained the apostles and preachers who came to minister at Cenchrea, and who was remarkable for entertaining strangers. See Clarke on Ro 12:8.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Receive her in the Lord; i.e. in the Lords name, or for the Lords sake: see Mat 18:5. Or else it is as if he had said: Receive her Christianly.
As becometh saints; as it is fit that saints should be rcceived, or as it is fit for them, who profess themselves to be saints, to receive one another.
That ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you; that you stand by her, and afford her your counsel, or any other assistance. She might have some business in the emperors court, by reason of fraud, oppression, or some unjust vexations; and there might be those amongst them that could stand her in some stead. There were Christians of Caesars household, Phi 4:22.
For she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also: the word signifieth a patroness. She had been hospitable to many, and in particular, to the apostle himself. This showeth she was a woman of some account: it was but equal that the saints at Rome should assist her, who had been assistant unto so many others.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Receive her in the Lordthatis, as a genuine disciple of the Lord Jesus.
as“so as”
becometh saintsso assaints should receive saints.
assist her in whatsoeverbusiness she hath“may have”
need of yousomeprivate business of her own.
for she hath been a succourerof many, and of myself also(See Psa 41:1-3;2Ti 1:16-18).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That ye receive her in the Lord,…. This is one thing he recommends her to them for, that they would receive her in a kind and friendly manner into their houses, and into their hearts’ love and affections; admit her to their private meetings, and into church fellowship with them, and that as one that was in the Lord, and belonged to him; and also in his name, and for his sake:
as becometh saints; that is, both that they would treat her with that humanity, courteousness, Christian affection, and respect, as became them who were saints by calling and profession; and that they would use her as being one of the saints, a godly, holy person, and as such an one ought to be used, by virtue of the communion of saints:
and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: what her business was at Rome is not known; whether it was only to visit the saints; or whether it was to have a cause tried in any court of judicature there; or whether she came upon worldly business, as Lydia of Thyatira was at Philippi to sell her purple, when the Apostle Paul was there, it matters not: whatever assistance they could give her, either by directing her where the saints lived; or by giving her proper counsel and advice; or helping her forward in her worldly affairs; or whatever she was concerned in, this is desired; and is another thing for which the apostle recommends her to them, adding this reason,
for she hath been a succourer of many; or “a patroness of many” of the saints in necessity and distress. The word that is here used,
, is, as Harpocratian says k the name by which such were called by the Athenians, , “that were over the sojourners”, who had the care and direction of them. And such was this woman to the poor saints in Cenchrea, and the strangers that came thither; not as being in such an office by the order and appointment of the church, but what she cheerfully and voluntarily took up herself and performed at her own expense, otherwise there would not be so much in the character as to deserve such peculiar notice, nor she be so worthy of praise and commendation: moreover, the apostle observes, that he also partook of her succour and assistance,
and of myself also; which would hardly have been the case had she been one that had only the care of the poor sisters of the church, which was the office of the deaconess: but she being a rich generous woman, and the apostle having shared in her bounty, gratefully acknowledges it; and he the rather mentions it, as knowing it would the more endear her to the saints at Rome, who would take more notice of her for the respect she had shown to him.
k Lexic. decem Orator. p. 255.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Worthily of the saints ( ). Adverb with the genitive as in Php 1:27 because the adjective is used with the genitive (Lu 3:8). “Receive her in a way worthy of the saints.” This word had come to be the accepted term for followers of Christ.
Assist her (). Second aorist (intransitive) active subjunctive of , to stand by, with the dative case (“beside her”), the very word used by Paul of the help of Jesus in his trial (, 2Ti 4:17). Used with as .
In whatsoever matter ( ). Incorporation of the antecedent () into the relative clause ().
She may have need of you ( ). Indefinite relative clause with and the present subjunctive of with genitive.
A succourer (). Old and rare feminine form for the masculine , from (, common, but not in the N.T.), here only in the N.T. and not in the papyri. The word illustrates her work as and is perhaps suggested here by , just before.
Of mine own self ( ). “Of me myself.”
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Assist [] . See on Act 1:3 It is used as a legal term, of presenting culprits or witnesses in a court of justice. Compare prove, Act 24:13. From this, and from the term prostativ succorer, it has been inferred that Phoebe was going to Rome on private legal business (see Conybeare and Howson). This is a mere fancy.
Succorer [] . Only here in the New Testament. The word means patroness. It may refer to her official duties. The word is an honorable one, and accords with her official position.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “That ye receive her in the Lord,” (hina auten prosdkstesthe en kurio) “in order that you all may receive her in the Lord;” as a follower of Jesus Christ, not as an heathen woman.
2) “As becometh saints, (haksios ton hagion) “As it is worthy or as it becomes saints,” or members of a sister church, such as you all are in Rome, as a moral, ethical, spiritual sister, Eph 5:3; Php_1:27.
3) “And that ye assist her in whatever business she hath need of you,” (kai parastete aute en ho an humon chreze pragmati) “And that you all stand by her in whatever practical thing she may have need of you,” 1Co 3:9; 1Co 4:2.
4) “For she hath been a succorer of many,” (kai gar aute prostatis pollon egenethe) “Because she ‘surely became an aid, helper, or protectoress of many;” of many needy saints, as a deaconess, perhaps in attending to them in times of physical, emotional, and spiritual afflictions, as a faithful deaconess (a minister-servant) in lowly matters.
5) “And of myself also,” (kai emou autou) “And of myself as well;” This woman (sister in the Lord) had been a helper to Paul in difficult times while he had been in the Corinth-Cenchrea area. This was the greater reason she should now be assisted, Gal 6:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(2) In the Lord.With the consciousness that you are performing a Christian act, subject to all those serious obligations implied in the name.
As becometh saints.As Christians ought to receive a fellow-Christian.
Succourer.Patroness or protectress, in the exercise of her office as deaconess.
Of myself also.Perhaps in illness.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. As becometh saints He puts them upon their Christian honour.
Business Her private affairs at Rome, in which her benefactions to Christians entitled her to every assistance from Christians.
Succourer Apparently she was a lady of wealth, a housekeeper, and probably a widow. Hence she was an entertainer and patroness of her fellow Christians.
That Phebe was not merely a servitor, doing menial work, but an official, appears from the patronizing character which Paul assigns her. Hence when, no later than A.D. 104, we find that Pliny writes that he selected two females “who were called ( ministroe) ministresses” for torture to extract information against Christians, we see no reason to doubt that we have here the apostolic origin of a female deaconship. The separation of the sexes might in Greek and Roman sections require this office, not only in regard to temporalities, but in regard to more spiritual offices for the female part of the Church. The apostolic Church admitted a woman’s social prayer, with covered head, (1Co 11:4; 1Co 11:13😉 it admitted prophetesses, (preacheresses,) (1Co 11:9,) and it admitted deaconesses. But it seems to show no eldresses and no bishopesses.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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.
Ver. 2. As becometh saints ] Who are great princes, states, in all lands, Psa 45:1-17 , and to be observed accordingly, even worthy of God,3Jn 1:63Jn 1:6 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2. ] , in a Christian manner , as mindful of your common Lord: . , ‘ in a manner worthy of saints ;’ i.e. ‘ as saints ought to do ,’ refers to , and therefore to their conduct to her; not, ‘as saints ought to be received .’
] Her business at Rome may have been such as to require the help of those resident there.
] This may refer to a part of the deaconess’s office, the attending on the poor and sick of her own sex.
. ] when and where, we know not. It is not improbable that she may have been, like Lydia, one whose heart the Lord opened at the first preaching of Paul, and whose house was his lodging.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
That = In order that.
Lord. App-98.
as . . . saints. Literally worthily of the saints. Greek. axios ton hagion. Compare Eph 4:1. Php 1:1, Php 1:27. Co Rom 1:1, Rom 1:10. 1Th 2:12. 3Jn 1:6.
assist = stand by. See Rom 6:13. Compare Act 27:23.
business = thing. Greek. pragma. See Act 5:4.
hath = may have.
succourer. Greek. prostatis, protectress. Compare Latin. patronus, a defender of meaner persons. Athenian writers use the word of such as took care of strangers. Compare 1Ti 5:9, 1Ti 5:10.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2.] , in a Christian manner,-as mindful of your common Lord: . , in a manner worthy of saints; i.e. as saints ought to do,-refers to , and therefore to their conduct to her;-not, as saints ought to be received.
] Her business at Rome may have been such as to require the help of those resident there.
] This may refer to a part of the deaconesss office, the attending on the poor and sick of her own sex.
. ] when and where, we know not. It is not improbable that she may have been, like Lydia, one whose heart the Lord opened at the first preaching of Paul, and whose house was his lodging.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Rom 16:2. , in the Lord) There is very frequent mention of the Lord, Christ, in this chapter: In the Lord: at the present day we say, in a Christian manner [as Christians]. The phrase is peculiar to Paul, but often used.- , for even) a strong argument, 1Co 16:15-16; Php 2:29. There is an all-embracing [comprehensive] relationship among believers: Phbe is recommended to the Romans for acts of kindness, which she had done far from Rome.-, a succourer) We may believe, that Phbe was wealthy, but she did not shrink by subterfuges from the duty of ministering, in the case of strangers, the needy, etc.; nor did she regard in the case of [on the part of] her fellow-citizens, who were wholly intent on self-interest, the opinion entertained of her bad economy.-, of many) Believers ought to return a favour not only to him, who has been of service to themselves, but also to him, who has been of service to others.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Rom 16:2
Rom 16:2
that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints,- Receive her as servants of God should receive a worthy sister in a foreign land.
and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you:-She had gone on some business, and a woman in a strange city might need help; and he asks them to give it, for she is worthy.
for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self.-She had succored Paul when he was in need, and many others. This indicates the character of service she gave to the church.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
ye receive: Rom 15:7, Mat 10:40-42, Mat 25:40, Phi 2:29, Col 4:10, Phm 1:12, Phm 1:17, 2Jo 1:10, 3Jo 1:5-10
as: Eph 5:3, Phi 1:27, 1Ti 2:10, Tit 2:3
for: Rom 16:3, Rom 16:4, Rom 16:6, Rom 16:9, Rom 16:23, Act 9:36, Act 9:39, Act 9:41, Phi 4:14-19, 2Ti 1:18
Reciprocal: 2Ki 4:13 – thou hast 1Ch 22:17 – all the princes Pro 11:16 – gracious Luk 5:7 – that they should Act 18:27 – the brethren Rom 16:15 – and all 1Co 16:15 – to the Eph 6:1 – in Phi 4:3 – help
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:2
Rom 16:2. Business is from PRAGMA, which Thayer defines at this place, “a matter of law, case, suit.” Phebe needed to go to Rome on some legal affair, and in that big city she would naturally need some assistance. Paul tells the brethren to receive her as a saint (disciple of Christ), and to help her for her good example of assisting others, including himself.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rom 16:2. That ye receive her in the Lord. This is the purpose of the commendation, that the Roman believers give her a Christian welcome.
Worthily of the saints, as saints ought to receive such an one.
And that ye assist her, etc. The term used is a legal one, and hence it has been inferred that her visit to Rome was on private legal business. It is unlikely that she was travel-ling in the discharge of her official duty as deaconess.
For she too, she herself also, hath been a helper of many. The word used is an honorable one, indicating service bestowed by a superior on inferiors (patroness). It suggests here her labors as deaconess, though it may include private service.
Of myself also. Where is unknown; possibly Paul had once been ill during a visit to Cenchreae, or the Apostle may have made her house his home, as in the case of Lydia, at Philippi. This commendation has the true Christian tone; what she has done for other Christians gives her a claim on the helpfulness of the Roman believers.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
that ye receive her in the Lord [i. e., as Christians should receive a Christian], worthily of the saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you [what Phoebe’s business was is unknown]: for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self. [In the Greek there is a play upon words here: “Help her, for she is a helper.” She probably helped the apostle during his stay in Cenchre– Act 18:18]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
16:2 That ye receive her in the {a} 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.
(a) For Christ’s sake, which appropriately belongs to the Christians, for the heathen philosophers have a resemblance of the same virtues.