Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
4. who have for my life, &c.] Lit., and better, who did for my life lay down their own neck, (not necks). An entirely unknown occasion, on which Aquila and his wife had risked their lives for St Paul’s. “ Laid down: ” the figure is of presenting the neck, or throat, to the executioner. Whether the word is only figurative here, we cannot determine.
all the churches of the Gentiles ] To whom they had, by their self-devotion, preserved their Apostle.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Who have for my life – In order to save my life.
Laid down their own necks – To lay down the neck is to lay the head on a block to be cut off with the axe; or to bow down the head as when the neck was exposed to be cut off by the sword of the executioner. The meaning is, that they had hazarded their lives, had exposed themselves to imminent danger, to save the life of Paul. On what occasion this was done, is not known, as it is not referred to in the New Testament elsewhere. As Paul, however, lived with them Act 18:3, and as he was often persecuted by the Jews, it is probable that he refers to some such period when he was persecuted, when Aquila and Priscilla took him into their house at the imminent hazard of their lives.
All the churches of the Gentiles – All the churches that had been founded by the apostles. They felt their deep obligation to them for having saved the life of him who had been their founder, and who was their spiritual father.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Who have for my life laid down their own necks] What transaction this refers to we know not; but it appears that these persons had, on some occasion, hazarded their own lives to save that of the apostle; and that the fact was known to all the Churches of God in that quarter, who felt themselves under the highest obligations to these pious persons, for the important service which they had thus rendered.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Who have for my life laid down their own necks; i.e. they hazarded their own lives to save mine. The Scripture speaks of this as the duty of Christians, 1Jo 3:16. He refers (it may be) to that uproar that was at Corinth, of which see Act 18:12; or that in Asia, of which see Act 19:23.
Unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; because he was the apostle of the Gentiles, and his preservation redounded to the benefit of them all.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. who have for my life laiddown“who did for my life lay down”
their own necksthatis, risked their lives; either at Corinth (Act 18:6;Act 18:9; Act 18:10),or more probably at Ephesus (Act 19:30;Act 19:31; and compare 1Co15:32). They must have returned from Ephesus (where we last findthem in the history of the Acts) to Rome, whence the edict ofClaudius had banished them (Ac18:2); and doubtless, if not the principal members of thatChristian community, they were at least the most endeared to ourapostle.
unto whom not only I givethanks, but also all the churches of the Gentileswhose specialapostle this dear couple had rescued from imminent danger.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Who for my life laid down their necks,…. That is, exposed themselves to great danger to save the apostle’s life: the allusion is to the manner of executions by beheading, and to one person’s laying down his head, and offering his neck to the executioner the room of another: this we are not to suppose was literally done; but the design of the expression is, that in some shape or another they risked their own lives for the apostle’s; which might be done either at the insurrection in Corinth against Paul, when the Jews dragged him to the judgment seat of Gallio, and beat Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue before him; or the uproar in Ephesus by Demetrius and the craftsmen, when Paul and his companions were in great danger; at both which times and places these two persons were, and being very zealous, were no doubt active to preserve the apostle, and which he acknowledges with thankfulness:
unto whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles; both for the care they took of him, and the danger they exposed themselves to on his account; which the apostle expresses his sense of gratitude for, and which all the Gentile churches were under obligations to do likewise, since they had a common share in his labours and usefulness, he was the apostle of them all; and also for their help and assistance in carrying on the work of the Lord in all the churches of the Gentiles.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Laid down their own necks ( ). First aorist active of , old verb to place under (the axe of the executioner), only here in N.T. in this sense, though in 1Ti 4:16 to suggest. If literal or figurative, the incident may be connected with the uproar created by Demetrius in Ephesus. Certainly Paul felt deep obligation toward them (see Ac 20:34).
Not only I ( ). Rather, “not I alone” (adjective ). The Gentile churches also (great mission workers).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Who [] . The double relative, with an explanatory force : seeing that they.
Laid down their own necks [ ] . Laid down is, literally, placed under (the axe). Whether the expression is literal or figurative, or if literal, when the incident occurred, cannot be determined.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1 ) “Who have for my life,” (oitines huper tes psuchus mou) “Who on behalf of my life,” to save my life, or save me from danger of death, exposed their lives to protect him from physical harm.
2) “Laid down their own necks,” (ton heauton trachelon jupethekan) “Laid down or risked their own necks,” stuck out their neck”; This was perhaps during the tumult, insurrection in the time of Gallio, Act 18:12; Eph 5:2; Joh 10:11. To lay down one’s life for another is to emulate the love of Christ for all men.
3) “Unto whom not only I give thanks,” (ois ouk ego monos eucharisto) “To whom not only (do) I give thanks”; express gratitude for their care for and protection given to me, 1Jn 3:16.
4) “But also all the churches of the Gentiles,” (alla kai hai ekklesiai ton ethon) “But also all the churches (assemblies or congregations) of the nations or Gentiles offer thanks;” The church, as a body should also express special gratitude for those of her fellowship who dare die on behalf of a brother or sister, Joh 13:34-35; Joh 15:13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
4. To whom not only I, etc. As Prisca and Aquila had not spared their life for preserving the life of Paul, he testifies that he himself was individually thankful to them: he however adds, that thanks were given them by all the Churches of Christ; and he added this that he might, by such an example, influence the Romans. And deservedly dear and precious to all the Gentiles was the life of such a man, as it was an incomparable treasure: it was therefore no wonder that all the Churches of the Gentiles thought themselves to be under obligations to his preservers. (472)
What he adds respecting the Church in their house is worthy of being observed; for he could not have more splendidly adorned their household than by giving it the title of a Church. The word congregation, which [ Erasmus ] has adopted, I do not approve; for it is plainly evident, that Paul, by way of honor, had used the sacred name of Church. (473)
(472) The occasion is not mentioned. It was probably at Corinth, according to the account given in Act 18:0.
(473) Some of the Fathers considered that the family, being all religious, was the Church; but this is wholly inconsistent with the mode of expression that is used, and with the state of things at that time. They had no churches or temples to meet in; private houses were their churches. Superstitious ideas as to places of worship no doubt led men to seek such following, if he meant only the family, — “Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with ( σὺν — together with) the Church that is in their house,” 1Co 16:19. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Laid down their own necks.Whether this expression is to be taken literally or figuratively we do not know, neither can we do more than guess at the event to which it refers. It may have something to do with the tumult at Ephesus, and with that fighting with beasts mentioned in 1Co. 15:32.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Laid down their necks A strong figure, as if they had laid their necks upon the block to be beheaded in the apostle’s place; the meaning being that they had imminently risked their lives for his. It was probably in the fray at Ephesus.
All Gentiles For rescuing the apostle of the Gentiles. The fact of their self-devotion would of course be better known in the eastern Churches than at Rome.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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.
Ver. 4. Who have for my life ] A rare example. Fast friends are in this age for the most part gone on pilgrimage (said one once), and their return is uncertain.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
for App-104.
life. App-110and App-170.
laid . . . necks = risked their own lives. A similar expression occurs in a roll from Herculaneum c. 160 B.C.
necks = neck.
give thanks. See Act 27:35. The occasion is nowhere mentioned.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rom 16:4. , who) They are individually distinguished by their own respective graces, or duties; but Scripture never praises any one so as to give him any ground for extolling himself, but for praising God and rejoicing in Him.-) The force of the verb is not unsuitably explained by the noun , a stake laid down.- , the churches) even the Church at Rome, for the preservation of Paul, and we still are bound in some measure to give thanks to Aquila and Priscilla, or we shall do so hereafter.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Rom 16:4
Rom 16:4
who for my life laid down their own necks;-At some time they had imperiled their lives for the sake of Paul. Christ died for them; they were ready to die that his servant might live.
unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:-Paul gives thanks to them. Their services in building up the churches among the Gentiles had been such that all the churches of the Gentiles felt grateful to them. The frequent mention of Prisca’s name first has suggested the idea to some that she was the more earnest and intelligent of the two.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
have: Rom 5:7, Joh 15:13, Phi 2:30, 1Jo 3:16
laid: Jos 10:24, 2Sa 22:41, Mic 2:3
also: Act 15:41, Act 16:5, 1Co 7:17, 1Co 16:1, 1Th 2:14, Rev 1:4
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:17 – adventured his life Jdg 11:36 – forasmuch Jdg 12:3 – put 1Ch 11:19 – that have put their lives Est 4:16 – if I perish Job 16:12 – by my neck Act 18:2 – Aquila Rom 16:2 – for Rom 16:16 – The 1Co 16:19 – Aquila 2Co 8:18 – throughout 2Co 11:28 – the care 2Ti 4:19 – Prisca
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rom 16:4. Who for (in behalf of, not, instead of) my life laid down, etc. Lit., laid under, used of submitting to execution. That they underwent peril of their life for the sake of Paul is clearly meant; whether at Ephesus or Corinth is uncertain, since in both places Paul had been ex-posed to violence. But the mention of this fact opposes the Ephesian destination of the chapter.
All the churches of the Gentiles; evidently including the Roman congregation. The Gentile churches owed gratitude for what was done in behalf of the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
who for my life laid down their own necks [As Paul’s chief danger lay in Ephesus (1Co 15:32), it was evidently there that Aquila and Priscilla risked their lives for him, though no specific account is given us of any such service, or of other dangers than the great riot– Act 19:23-41]; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles [being grateful to the pair for aiding in saving so precious a life as that of their apostle, their light in gospel truth, the bulwark guarding their liberties against Jewish aggression]:
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 4
Laid down their own necks; exposed themselves to the most imminent dangers.