Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 16:15
Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
15. Philologus ] A Greek name.
Julia ] Possibly the wife of Philologus. The name may (as in the case of Junia: see note on Rom 16:7😉 be really Julias, i.e., Julianus; a masculine name. But the mention just after of “Nereus and his sister” weighs, however lightly, in the other direction. So Meyer.
Nereus ] A Greek name; that of a minor sea-god, tutelar of the Mediterranean under Poseidon. See second note on Rom 16:1.
Olympas ] A Greek masculine name.
the saints which are with them ] See last note on Rom 16:14.
At the close of this long roll of names we cannot but remark on it as a noble and beautiful illustration of the “family-affection of Christianity.” It is often observed that a peculiar charm attaches to successions of names,
“Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore;”
and such a rhythmical charm is not absent here. But far above it is the charm of the pure intense spiritual intimacy of hearts, an intimacy created by the possession of “one Lord, one Hope,” and which with the advent of the Gospel touched the weary world as a new and unknown visitor from heaven. We might quote many parallels from later Christian literature; but one will be enough the dying farewell to his flock of a man who had no small measure of the holy love and zeal of St Paul Felix Neff, the “Apostle of the Hautes Alpes.” Two days before his death (April, 1829,) “being scarcely able to see, he traced the following lines at different intervals, in large and irregular characters, which filled a page: ‘Adieu, dear friend Andr Blanc; Antoine Blanc; the Pelissiers, whom I dearly love; Franois Dumont and his wife; Isaac and his wife; Aim Deslois; Emilie Bonnet, &c., &c., Alexandrine, and their mother all, all the brethren and sisters at Mens Adieu, adieu. I am departing to our Father ( je monte vers notre Pre) in perfect peace. Victory, victory, victory, by Jesus Christ. Felix Neff.’ ” ( Vie, Toulouse, 1875.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 15. Salute Philologus, c.] Of these several persons, though much has been conjectured, nothing certain is known. Even the names of some are so ambiguous that we know not whether they were men or women. They were persons well known to St. Paul, and undoubtedly were such as had gone from different places where the apostle had preached to sojourn or settle at Rome. One thing we may remark, that there is no mention of St. Peter, who, according to the Roman and papistical catalogue of bishops, must have been at Rome at this time if he were not now at Rome, the foundation stone of Rome’s ascendancy, of Peter’s supremacy, and of the uninterrupted succession, is taken away, and the whole fabric falls to the ground. But if Peter were at Rome at this time, Paul would have sent his salutations to him in the first place; and if Peter were there, he must have been there, according to the papistical doctrine, as bishop and vicar of Jesus Christ; but if he were there, is it likely that he should have been passed by, while Andronicus and Junia are mentioned as of note among the apostles, Ro 16:7, and that St. Paul should call on the people to remedy the disorders that had crept in among themselves; should not these directions have been given to Peter, the head of the Church? And if there were a Church, in the papistical sense of the word, founded there, of which Peter was the head, is it likely that that Church should be in the house of Priscilla and Aquila, Ro 16:5. But it is a loss of time to refute such ridiculous and groundless pretensions. It is very likely that Peter, so far from being universal bishop at Rome, never saw the city in his life.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Julia; probably the wife of Philologus.
Olympas; this is thought to be the name of a man, rather than of a woman.
All the saints which are with them; that are in their several families: see Rom 16:14. There were, doubtless, many more Christians in the church of Rome, but either they were of no great note, or else not known to the apostle: and indeed it is matter of admiration, that he, who was never at Rome, should know the name and proper characters of so many there. And because he sendeth salutations to so many brethren at Rome, and makes no mention of Peter, it may be rationally inferred, that Peter was not there at the writing of this Epistle. It is questionable whether ever he were there at all; but it is without question, that he came not thither in the beginning of Claudiuss reign, and in the forty-fifth year of our Lord, as the Romanists report; nor was he bishop there for the space of five and twenty years, as they affirm.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Salute Philologus, and Julia,…. The first of these is a Greek name, and the name of a man, and signifies a lover of learning. This name Atteius assumed to himself, which Eratosthenes had done before him, because of his great learning y; this man is reckoned among the seventy disciples, and is said to be bishop of Sinope: [See comments on Lu 10:1]. Julia is a woman’s name, and Roman, probably the wife of the former; one of Stephens’s copies read, “Junia”:
Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them; who all dwelt together also in one family; and were saints, by separation, imputation, and the effectual calling; were called to be saints, and lived as such, and had a place in the apostle’s affections on that account: Nerio, or Neriene, according to Gellius z, was a name with the Sabines, signifying “strength”, from whence came Nero; and Olympas is the same with Olympius, said to be of the seventy disciples, and a Roman martyr; [See comments on Lu 10:1]. It deserves some notice, that among all the persons here mentioned by name, known by the apostle to be at Rome, that he takes no notice of Peter; which surely he would have done, had he been, as the Papists say, bishop of Rome, and resided there.
y Suetonius de illustr. Gram. c. 10. z Noct. Attic, l. 13. c. 22.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Philologus (). Another common slave name.
Julia (). The commonest name for female slaves in the imperial household because of Julius Caesar. Possibly these two were husband and wife.
Nereus (). Found in inscriptions of the imperial household. But the sister’s name is not given. One wonders why.
Olympas (). Possibly an abbreviation for Olympiodorus.
All the saints that are with them ( ). Possibly another church in the house. These unnamed, the “and others,” constitute the great majority in all our churches.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Salute Philogus and Julia,” (aspasasthe philologon kai loulian) “You all greet Philologus and Julia;” These were perhaps husband and wife or a brother and sister laboring in the same church. The name Philalogus means “lover of learning.”
2) “Nereus, and his sister,” (Nerea kai ten adelphen auton) “Nereus and his sister also;”
3) “And Olympus,” (kai Olumpan) “And greet Olympus;- five named brothers and sisters in the Lord, all of whom may have been in the same family as well as in the church together.
4) “And all the saints which are with them,” (kai tous sun autois pantas hagious) “And all the saints in close affinity or colleague with them”; This too appears to be another church or worshipping congregation in the area of Rome, to whom this letter is also addressed. Remember that the phrase “the saints” refers, not merely to children of God, but to a church, those who have engaged with others as baptized believers to carry on a program of worship and service for the Lord, among the Gentiles, Eph 4:10-12; Jud 1:3 or to devout Jewish believers committed to a program of Hebrew worship and service.
For if a saint or the saints were mere believers in Jesus Christ, and “the faith” was delivered to “the saints,” then the believers universally would constitute the church, See? But it is not true! only saved baptised believers under covenant for fellowship, worship, and service to Christ, constitute the church. No sinner is made a saint by mere faith, trust or belief in Christ Jesus. It takes more to be a saint than merely being saved, Jud 1:3; Eph 4:10-16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
15. We have here two couplets, probably of husband and wife and of brother and sister, heading another Church group.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
Philologus and Julia were probably husband and wife. Julia’s name suggests a connection with Caesar’s household, as a slave or freedwoman. The name Philologus is also found connected with Caesar’s household. Nereus and his sister may have been their children. The name Nereus is also connected with Caesar’s household. He may never have received information about the sister’s name, but only have known that they had had a baby girl. They too had a church meeting in their house, which suggests some level of wealth, and Paul greets its members. Olympas was seemingly the only one of the members known to him. He was possibly a Christian household servant.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rom 16:15. And all the saints, &c. Dr. Calvin and many others observe, as before hinted, that had St. Peter been now at Rome, he would undoubtedly have been named, since no one in this numerous catalogue was of a dignity and eminence by any means comparable to him;and yet if he were not there at this time, the whole tradition of the Romish bishops, as that church delivers it, fails in the most fundamental article of all.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
Ver. 15. And Olympas ] Viri, nomen, non mulieris. The name not of a woman, but of a man, saith Beza.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rom 16:15 . Philologus and Julia, as connected here, were probably husband and wife; or, as in the next pair, brother and sister. Both, especially the latter, are among the commonest slave names. There are Acts of Nereus and Achilleus in the Acta Sanctorum connected with the early Roman Church. “The sister’s name is not given, but one Nereis was a member of the [imperial] household about this time, as appears from an inscription already quoted” (Lightfoot, loc. cit. , p. 177). Olympas is a contraction of Olympiodorus. : see on last verse. The may suggest that a larger number of persons is to be included here.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Philologus, &c. These names Occurs only here. “Nereus” was a sea-god of the Aegean, and this convert may have retained his original pagan name.
saints. Like the “brethren” of Rom 16:14, known to God, bat not to Paul by name.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rom 16:15
Rom 16:15
Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas,-Nothing is known of any of these Christians except their names.
and all the saints that are with them.-Possibly these, with others named in this verse, met together and worshiped. The number here mentioned that he had known in other places, with the fewness of the disciples in Rome when he reached the city, indicates that there had been a preconcerted movement among the Christians in Achaia, Macedonia, and Asia Minor for a large number of devoted men and women to go to Rome for the purpose of making a united effort to teach the people there the gospel. Paul would go by way of Jerusalem, thence to Rome and into Spain. Others went directly to Rome to engage in the work. [It is highly probable that some of these beloved brethren formed a part of the two bands who, some three years later, went out on the Appian Way-the one thirty miles to The Three Taverns, and the other forty miles to The Market of Appius-to meet the beloved apostle, now coming to them as Christs ambassador in chains. It was natural that when he saw the little throng of Christians he should thank God and take courage from this proof of their affection and devotion, and that here at length his soul was filled with joy and his tired spirit found rest.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
and all: Rom 16:2, Rom 1:7, Isa 60:21, Eph 1:1, 1Pe 1:2
Reciprocal: 1Co 16:19 – the church
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rom 16:15. Julia; probably the wife of Philologus.
Olympas is the name of a man.
All the saints, etc. In any case pointing to a numerous body of Christians.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Vv. 15. Julia (for such is the true reading) is undoubtedly the wife of Philologus.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them. [These apostolic salutations are addressed to twenty-five individuals. Not a large group for one as widely known as Paul in a city as large as Rome, yet when we consider the limited circulation of news and the meager means of communication afforded in that day, it shows the deep affection of the apostle that he knew the whereabouts of so many of his brethren. Note also the women workers named in this small group. It was evidently only to Corinth, and not to Rome, that Paul wrote, “Let your women keep silence”– 1Co 14:34; comp Phi 4:3]