Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 16:14
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
14. Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes ] All otherwise unknown. The names are Greek. Hermas was the name of the author of “The Shepherd,” a celebrated religious romance, sometimes compared as such to the Pilgrim’s Progress. But it is at least probable that “The Shepherd” belongs to a later generation than that of the Hermas here named. On Hermes, see second note on Rom 16:1.
the brethren which are with them ] Perhaps forming with them a “church” such as that of Rom 16:5; where see note. If so, the next verse may similarly be a greeting to a similar district “church,” meeting under another roof.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 14. Salute Asyncritus, c.] Who these were we know not. Hermas was probably the same to whom a work called the Shepherd is attributed a work with this title is still extant, and may be found among the writings of the apostolical fathers. But it is in vain to look for identity of persons in similarity of names; for, among the Greeks and Romans at this time there were many persons who bore the same names mentioned in this chapter.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. The Christians that are their domestics, or that dwell with them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14, 15. Salute Asyncritus,&c.These have been thought to be the names of ten less notableChristians than those already named. But this will hardly be supposedif it be observed that they are divided into two pairs of five each,and that after the first of these pairs it is added, “and thebrethren which are with them,” while after the second pair wehave the words, “and all the saints which are with them.”This perhaps hardly means that each of the five in both pairs had “achurch at his house,” else probably this would have been moreexpressly said. But at least it would seem to indicate that they wereeach a center of some few Christians who met at his houseit may befor further instruction, for prayer, for missionary purposes, or forsome other Christian objects. These little peeps into the rudimentalforms which Christian fellowship first took in the great cities,though too indistinct for more than conjecture, are singularlyinteresting. Our apostle would seem to have been kept minutelyinformed as to the state of the church at Rome, both as to itsmembership and its varied activities, probably by Priscilla andAquila.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes,…. The two first of these names are Greek, and the persons called by them, with Herodion before mentioned, are taken notice of in the Roman martyrology, as disciples of the apostle; Asyncritus is said to be bishop of Hyrcania, and Phlegon of Marathon, and both of the seventy disciples; [See comments on Lu 10:1]; Hermas is said to be bishop of Philippi, or Aquileia, and brother of Pope Pius the First, and to be the author of the book called Pastor, or the Shepherd, cited by many of the ancients; but all is doubtful and uncertain. Patrobas is a Roman name, Martial makes mention of it w; it seems to be composed of the Greek word , or the Latin “pater”, and the Syriac , “Abba”, and signifies the same as the other two. This man might be a Jew, whose name was Abba; we often read of R. Abba in the Jewish writings x, and as the Jews were wont to have two names, the one Gentile, the other Jewish, Pater might be this man’s Gentile name, and Abba his Jewish one, and both being put together, by contraction be called “Patrobas”; he is said to be of the seventy disciples, and to be bishop of Puteoli; [See comments on Lu 10:1]. The last of them, Hermes, is a Greek name, the same with Mercurius, which the Lystrians called Paul by, in Ac 14:12, who he was is not known; he is also mentioned among the seventy disciples, and said to be bishop of Dalmatia:
and the brethren which are with them; these seem to have lived together, with others who were their brethren, not in a natural but spiritual relation, and whom the apostle owned and loved as such.
w Epigr. l. 2. ep. 27. x Juchasin, fol. 70. 1, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Asyncritus (). There is an inscription of a freedman of Augustus with this name.
Phlegon (). No light on this name till the historian of the second century A.D.
Hermes (H). A very common slave name.
Patrobas (). Name of a freedman of Nero, abbreviated form of Patrobius.
Hermas (H). Not the author of the Shepherd of Hermas. Common as a slave name, shortened form of Hermagoras, Hermogenes, etc.
The brethren that are with them ( ). Perhaps a little church in the house of some one.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Hermes. Or Hermas. A common slave – name, a contraction of several different names, as Hermagoras, Hermogenes, etc. 74
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1 ) “Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon,” (aspasasthe asugkriton, Phlegonta) “You all greet Asyncritus, Phlegon”; The former name means “incomparable,” and the latter means “flaming.”
2) “Hermas, Patrobas, Herme,” (Hermen, Patroban, Herman) “Hermes, Patrobas, and Hermas”; Greet these five brethren; The name “Patrobas” means “one who treads or walks in his father’s steps”.
3) “And the brethren which are with them,” (kai tous sun autois adelphous) “As well as the brethren in colleague or close covenant with them”; the group it is indicated constituted a congregation or church in the area of Rome, from whom Paul had perhaps received special reports and support.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(14) Of the names in this and the next verse, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, Philologus, Julia, Nereus (with the corresponding female name Nereis) all occur with more or less frequency in inscriptions relating to the household. Hernias and Hermes are very common. The first is a contraction from several longer forms. Patrobas is contracted from Patrobius. We find that a freed-man of Neros who bore this name was put to death by Galba; but the person saluted by St. Paul is more likely to have been a dependent of his than the man himself.
Taking the list of names as a whole, and comparing them with the inscriptions, we maywithout going so far as to identify individuals, which would be precarious groundnevertheless, note the general coincidence with the mention of Csars household in Php. 4:22.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Asyncritus We have here probably the leading male names of a congregation at one house, and the body of the Church superadded as brethren with them.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.’
Nothing direct is known of any of these. Hermes was very common name as a slave name. Hermes was the god of good luck. Patrobas may well have been connected with the ‘household’ of Patrobius, a wealthy freedman of Nero. Hermas was also a very common name. Paul salutes these Christians along with their church group.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rom 16:14-15 . Hermas was not, as already Origen declared him to be, the composer of the book , [46] which, according to the Canon Muratorianus, is said to have been composed by a brother of the Roman bishop Pius I., and in any case belongs to no earlier period than the second century.
. . .] It is possible, but on account of the more general designation deviating from Rom 16:5 , not probable, that those named here as well as in Rom 16:15 were members, well known to the apostle, of two in Rome (so Hofmann), according to which view by the brethren with them would be meant the remaining persons taking part in these assemblies, for the most part doubtless unknown to him. It is possible also that some other Christian associations unknown to us (Fritzsche and Philippi think of associations of trade and commerce) are intended. We have no knowledge on this point. Reiche thinks of two mission-societies . But , Rom 16:15 , points to a considerable number, and there is no trace in the Book of Acts of so formal and numerous mission-societies; they were doubtless still foreign to that period. Probably also Paul would have given some thoughtful indication or other of this important characteristic point.
The whole of the names in Rom 16:14-15 are found in Gruter and elsewhere.
Julia appears to have been the wife of Philologus; the analogy of the following . makes it less probable that the name denotes a man ( Julias , comp. on Rom 16:7 ).
[46] The critical discussions as to this work, quite recently conducted by Zahn, and Lipsius in particular, have no bearing here.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
Ver. 14. Salute Asyncritus, &c. ] Nothing is said of these; for haste perhaps, or else because they were (as one saith of Jesse, the father of David) Viri, probi et honesti, minus tamen clari, Good honest men, but not much noted. Or, lastly, for that the apostle had no very good opinion of them, as he seems not to have had of Demas, Col 4:14 , 2Ti 4:10 , who yet would needs be one in the apostle’s register there; a place he will have, though it be the last place. Hermas here mentioned was reputed by some of the ancients to be the author of that Apocryphal Book called “Pastor;” wherein he dealt not so fairly and faithfully in relating what he had received from the apostles, being sublatae fidei auctor. source of the elevated faith.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
14. ] These Christians of whom we have only the names, seem to be persons of less repute than the former. Hermas (= Hermodorus, Grot.) is thought by Origen (in loc. “Puto, quod Hermas iste sit scriptor libelli istius qui Pastor appellatur”), Eus [126] H. E. iii. 3, and Jerome, Catal. script, eccl., c. x., vol. ii., p. 846, to be the author of the ‘Shepherd.’ But this latter is generally supposed to have been the brother of Pius, bishop of Rome, about 150 A.D.
[126] Eusebius, Bp. of Csarea, 315 320
The of Rom 16:14 , and of Rom 16:15 , have been taken by De W. and Reiche to point to some separate associations of Christians, perhaps (De W.) assemblies as in Rom 16:5 ; or (Reiche) unions for missionary purposes.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Rom 16:14 . Of Asyncritus, Phlegon and Hermes nothing is known. Patrobas (or Patrobius) may have been a dependant of a famous freedman of the same name in Nero’s time, who was put to death by Galba (Tac., Hist. , i., 49, ii., 95). Hermas has often been identified with the author of The Shepherd, but though the identification goes back to Origen, it is a mistake. “Pastorem vero nuperrime temporibus nostris in urbe Roma Herma conscripsit sedente cathedra urbis Rom ecclesi Pio eps. fratre ejus ”: these words of the Canon of Muratori forbid the identification. indicates that the persons named, and some others designated in this phrase, formed a little community by themselves perhaps an .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Asyncritus, &c. Five Greek masc names. Only here. See Act 14:12.
Hermas. Not to be identified with the author of “The Shepherd of Hermas”, written about 120 A.D.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
14.] These Christians of whom we have only the names, seem to be persons of less repute than the former. Hermas (= Hermodorus, Grot.) is thought by Origen (in loc. Puto, quod Hermas iste sit scriptor libelli istius qui Pastor appellatur), Eus[126] H. E. iii. 3, and Jerome, Catal. script, eccl., c. x., vol. ii., p. 846, to be the author of the Shepherd. But this latter is generally supposed to have been the brother of Pius, bishop of Rome, about 150 A.D.
[126] Eusebius, Bp. of Csarea, 315-320
The of Rom 16:14, and of Rom 16:15, have been taken by De W. and Reiche to point to some separate associations of Christians, perhaps (De W.) assemblies as in Rom 16:5; or (Reiche) unions for missionary purposes.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Rom 16:14. , …, Asyncritus, etc.) Paul joins those together, among whom there was a peculiar tie of relationship, neighbourhood, etc. The salutation offered by name to the more humble, who were perhaps not aware that they were so much as known to the apostle, could not but greatly cheer their hearts.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Rom 16:14
Rom 16:14
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas,-Nothing whatever is known of any of these persons.
and the brethren that are with them.-This indicates that the Christians in Rome were separated into different bands, probably laboring in different points of the city to build up the Lords work.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
and: Rom 8:29, Col 1:2, Heb 3:1, 1Pe 1:22, 1Pe 1:23
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
SOME PROPER NAMES
Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes.
Rom 16:14
The chapter which contains these names, and a great number more just as lifeless and unsuggestive as these, is in our Bible. It is sometimes read to us as the second lesson in church. When you hear these names read out, what thought do they suggest to you? Do you even take the trouble to ask, Why are we called upon to listen to these names which are only noises, and tell us no more than an auctioneers old catalogue might tell? Or do you fail even to care what is read, even to miss from your lesson its usual teaching or inspiration? Is it much the same to you whether the clergyman reads out, The God of all comforts comfort you, or Philologos, Julias, Nereus and his sister.
If so, this is a lesson which the catalogue teaches; a serious and alarming lesson: a warning and exposure. But if you have noticed this apparent waste of force, you may have gone on to observe that what it suggests is part of a much greater question, Why is the Bible written as it is?
I. The Bible does not aim chiefly at making sound theologians, but holy men and women.Theology it does teach; but only because theology helps life; and only so far as it helps life, including in life emotion as well as behaviour.
II. Therefore your Bible gives you, not theories, doctrines stated so as learned books define them, but the active, working, practical side of truth, truth actually applied to the errors of ancient Rome and Corinth, not because these very errors would be constant (though it is wonderful how small the variety in human error really is), not for this, but in order to exhibit the truth at work as it ought to be at work in us. And again, it shows us truth grappling with the very failings and vices which assail us, and shall assail men to the end of timeidleness and indulgence, pride and intellectual scorn.
III. St. Pauls love for Christ kept his heart fresh for all honest love.Some good old woman, of whom we know nothing, not even her name, was kind to him, nursed him perhaps in illness, or soothed him when his heart was breaking; and he remembers, and writes, Salute Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. And mine! After so many centuries one reads all that he ever wrote with more hearty real human interest for the sake of that most exquisite touch.
IV. These names also remind us what his work was like, for what cause he endured so much. He founded churches, we say. Yes, truly; but his churches consisted of living men and women whom he loved. They were builded, according to the Russian proverb, not of beams but of ribs. And what this chapter tells us, most of all, is the value of obscure lives, of tradespeople, perhaps of runaway slaves, like Onesimus, for whose sake St. Paul wrote a canonical epistle. Asyncritus and Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, and Hermesit is a mere guess whether there survive one intellectual effort, and that not very intellectual, of one of them. Only their names are left, and this, that they loved the great Apostle, and he loved them: that they lived holy lives, though silent, obscure, uncultivated, save with the rich culture of souls which are taught of Christ.
Bishop G. A. Chadwick.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
-15
Rom 16:14-15. The works of reference that I have seen do not know much about these persons, other than to ascribe to them an active interest in the Lord’s work.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rom 16:14. The numerous group here referred to was probably intimately associated, and less known to the Apostle.
Hormes, Patrobas, Hermas is the order of the best authorities. The last named person can scarcely be the author of the Shepherd of Hermas, since that work was probably not written before the middle of the second century.
The brethren who are with them. Comp. Rom 16:15. The two phrases may refer to household churches, or to associations of Christians for business purposes. The former seems more probable. In that case five assemblies are indicated.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Vv. 14, 15. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren which are with them. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
The personages whose names follow are not designated by any epithet of distinction; but it was honor enough to be marked out, were it only by name, to the respectful attention of the whole church of Rome.
The last words of both of the Rom 16:14-15 : and the brethren who are with them, prove that the persons just named are so, not simply as believers, but as directors of a whole assembly which is accustomed to meet around them. They lived, no doubt, in different quarters, and formed, besides the group which met in the house of Aquilas, two distinct assemblies.
Hermas was regarded by Origen as the author of the work famous in the primitive church, entitled the Pastor of Hermas. But it seems now established by the Fragment of Muratori that this writing dates only from the second half of the second century, and that Hermas is a wholly different person from the man who is here saluted by the apostle.
Olympas (perhaps an abbreviation of Olympiodorus) is certainly here a man’s name.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren that are with them. [“With them” indicates another section of the church meeting in the homes of these men. Comp. Rom 16:5; Rom 16:15]