Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”

“And again, Esaias saith-- (Isa 11:10). There shall be a--"the" root of Jesse--meaning, not "He from whom Jesse sprang," but "He that is sprung from Jesse" (that is, Jesse's son David)--see Re 22:16.”

I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs…

“For I will not dare to speak of any--"to speak aught" of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me--a modest, though somewhat obscure form of expression, meaning, "I will not dare to go beyond what Christ hath wrought by me"--in which form accordingly…”

by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God.

“I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, &c.--rather, "Yet making it my study (compare 2Co 5:9; 1Th 4:11, Greek) so to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was [already] named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation: but (might act) as…”

That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

“(See on Ro 1:9-11.) 23, 24. But now having no more place--"no longer having place"--that is, unbroken ground, where Christ has not been preached. and having a great desire--"a longing" these many years to come unto you--(as before, see on Ro 1:9-11).”

I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.

“Those who think our apostle was never at large after his first imprisonment at Rome will of course hold that it never was; while those who are persuaded, as we are, that he underwent a second imprisonment, prior to which he was at large for…”

For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

“For, &c.--better, "For Macedonia and Achaia have thought good to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints which are at Jerusalem." (See Ac 24:17).”

They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them…

“Ga 6:6; and see Lu 7:4; When therefore I have . . . sealed--that is, delivered over safely to them this fruit--of the faith and love of the Gentile converts I will come--"come back," or "return" by you into Spain--(See on Ro 15:24).”

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

“And I am sure--"I know" that . . . I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ--Such, beyond all doubts, is the true reading, the words "of the gospel" being in hardly any manuscripts of antiquity and authority.”

The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

“(4) Formidable designs against the truth and the servants of Christ should, above all other ways of counteracting them, be met by combined prayer to Him who rules all hearts and controls all events; and the darker the cloud, the more resolutely should all to…”

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who have risked their lives for me.

“Salute Priscilla--The true reading here is "Prisca" (as in 2Ti 4:19), a contracted form of Priscilla, as "Silas" of "Silvanus."”

Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

“Salute my well beloved Epænetus, who is the first-fruits--that is, the first convert of Achaia unto Christ--The true reading here, as appears by the manuscripts, is, "the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ"--that is, Proconsular Asia (see Ac 16:6).”

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

“And of course, if "Junia" is to be taken for a woman, this latter must be the meaning. who also were in Christ before me--The apostle writes as if he envied them this priority in the faith.”

Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

“Amplias--a contracted form of "Ampliatus." my beloved in the Lord--an expression of dear Christian affection. Urbane--rather, "Urbanus." It is a man's name. our helper--"fellow labourer" in Christ.”

Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

“Salute Apelles approved--"the approved" in Christ--or, as we should say, "that tried Christian"; a noble commendation.”

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.

“Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord--two active women. Salute the beloved Persis--another woman. which laboured much in the Lord--referring probably, not to official services, such as would fall to the deaconesses, but to such higher Christian labors--yet within the sphere competent to…”

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.

“In this case, supposing the elder of the two to have departed to be with Christ ere this letter was written, or to have been residing in some other place, and Rufus left alone with his mother, how instructive and beautiful is the testimony here…”

Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.

“The direction as to both is, first, to "mark" such, lest the evil should be done ere it was fully discovered; and next, to "avoid" them (compare 2Th 3:6, 14), so as neither to bear any responsibility for their procedure, nor seem to give them…”

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ--"our Lord Christ" appears to be the true reading. but their own belly--not in the grosset sense, but as "living for low ends of their own" (compare Php 3:19).”

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen--The "Amen" here has no manuscript authority. What comes after this, where one would have expected the epistle to close, has its parallel in Php 4:20, &c., and being in fact common in epistolary writings…”

I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

“But this Tertius would have the Romans to know that, far from being a mere scribe, his heart went out to them in Christian affection; and the apostle, by giving his salutation a place here, would show what sort of assistants he employed.”

Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.

“It would appear that he was one of only two persons whom Paul baptized with his own hand (compare 3Jo 1). His Christian hospitality appears to have been something uncommon. Erastus the chamberlain--"treasurer." of the city--doubtless of Corinth.”

“The grace, &c.--a repetition of the benediction precisely as in Ro 16:20, save that it is here invoked on them "all."”