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Selected Verse: Romans 16:23 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ro 16:23 |
King James |
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Gaius mine host, and--the host
of the whole church--(See Act 20:4). It would appear that he was one of only two persons whom Paul baptized with his own hand (compare Jo3 1:1). His Christian hospitality appears to have been something uncommon.
Erastus the chamberlain--"treasurer."
of the city--doubtless of Corinth. (See Act 19:22; Ti2 4:20).
and Quartus a brother--rather, "the" or "our brother"; as Sosthenes and Timothy are called (Co1 1:1; Co2 1:1, Greek). Nothing more is known of this Quartus. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Gaius mine host - Who has received me into his house, and shown me hospitality. The word "host" means one who entertains another at his own house without reward.
And of the whole church - Who has opened his house to entertain "all" Christians; or to show hospitality to them all. He was baptized by Paul himself at Corinth Co1 1:14; and was so highly esteemed by the church that John wrote an epistle to him; Jo3 1:1. He was probably a wealthy citizen of Corinth, who freely opened his house to entertain Christians, and for the purpose of religious worship.
Erastus - Erastus is mentioned Act 19:22 as having been sent by Paul with Timothy into Macedonia. He is also mentioned Ti2 4:20 as having resided at Corinth.
The chamberlain - A chamberlain is properly an officer who has charge of a chamber, or of chambers. In England, the lord chamberlain is the sixth officer of the crown, and has charge of the king's lodgings, and wardrobe, etc. He has also an important rank on days of public solemnities, as the coronation day, etc. The word used here is commonly in the New Testament translated "steward." It properly means one who has charge of domestic affairs, to provide for a family, to pay the servants, etc. In this place it means one who presided over the pecuniary affairs of the "city," and should have been translated "the treasurer; the city treasurer;" an once of trust and of some importance, showing that, "all" who were converted at Corinth were not of the lowest rank. This is implied in Co1 1:26, "Not many wise men, not many mighty, not many noble, are called," implying that there were some such.
Quartus a brother - A fellow-Christian. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Gaius
See Act 19:29; Act 20:4; Co1 1:14. Possibly the same in all three references.
Chamberlain (οἰκονόμος)
See on Luk 16:1. The word appears in the New Testament in two senses: 1. The slave who was employed to give the other slaves their rations. So Luk 7:42. 2. The land-steward, as Luk 16:1. Probably here the administrator of the city lands. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
The chamberlain of the city - Of Corinth. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Gaius mine host - Gaius in Greek is the same as Caius in Latin, which was a very common name among the Romans. St. Luke (Act 19:29) mentions one Gaius of Macedonia, who was exposed to much violence at Ephesus in the tumult excited by Demetrius the silversmith against St. Paul and his companions; and it is very possible that this was the same person. He is here called not only the host ξενος, the entertainer of St. Paul, or Tertius, (if he wrote this and the following verse), but also of the whole Church: that is, he received and lodged the apostles who came from different places, as well as the messengers of the Churches. All made his house their home; and he must have been a person of considerable property to be able to bear this expense; and of much piety and love to the cause of Christ, else he had not employed that property in this way.
Erastus the chamberlain of the city - Treasurer of the city of Corinth, from which St. Paul wrote this epistle. This is supposed to be the same person as is mentioned Act 19:22. He was one of St. Paul's companions, and, as appears from Ti2 4:20, was left about this time by the apostle at Corinth. He is called the chamberlain οικονομος, which signifies the same as treasurer; he to whom the receipt and expenditure of the public money were intrusted. He received the tolls, customs, etc., belonging to the city, and out of them paid the public expenses. Such persons were in very high credit; and if Erastus was at this time treasurer, it would appear that Christianity was then in considerable repute in Corinth. But if the Erastus of the Acts was the same with the Erastus mentioned here, it is not likely that he now held the office, for this could not at all comport with his travelling with St. Paul. Hence several, both ancients and moderns, who believe the identity of the persons, suppose that Erastus was not now treasurer, but that having formerly been so he still retained the title. Chrysostom thought that he still retained the employment.
Quartus a brother - Whether the brother of Erastus or of Tertius we know not; probably nothing more is meant than that he was a Christian - one of the heavenly family, a brother in the Lord. |
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.