Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

Therefore because she is a minister of the Church at Cenchrea, even thereby he commandeth she should be received in the Lord. And when he addeth, as it is meet for the saints, he inferreth that it were unmeet for the servants of Christ, if they should show no honour nor bountifulness towards her. And surely seeing it becometh us to embrace all the members of Christ, then ought we to embrace them which bear some public office in the Church, and to reverence them, & to love and honour them in a special manner. Secondly, as she was alway officious towards all, so he commandeth that she should be holpen now again in her affairs. For it is a point of humanity, not to forsake him, who by nature is ready to do good, if at any time he stand in need of the help of others. But to the end he might the rather move their minds, he reckoneth himself also among them, to whom she did good. Finally, this ministry of the which he speaketh,¹ of what sort it was he teacheth in another place. For as the poor were maintained out of the common treasury: so they were looked unto by a public office. And unto this charge were widows chosen, who being loose from domestical cares, and hindered with no children, did covet to consecrate themselves wholly unto God by the duties of charity: therefore they were received into this function, as though they were bound & tied: as he that setteth his labour, ceaseth to be free and at his own pleasure. Whereupon the Apostle chargeth them to have violated their faith, who afterward did renounce the office they had once taken upon them. And because they were to live a single life,² he forbiddeth them to be chosen under threescore years: namely, because he saw that the perpetual vow of single life was dangerous, yea pernicious, to such as were under that age. That holy office and profitable for the church,³ the estate of things waxing worse, did degenerate into the idle order of Nuns: which order albeit it was corrupt even from his first original, and contrary to the word of GOD, yet now it is so fallen from that beginning; that there is no less difference then between some holy place of chastity and a stews.

Therefore because shee is a minister of the Church at Cenchrea, euen thereby hee commaundeth shee should bee receiued in the Lorde. And when he addeth, as it is meete for the saints, hee inferreth that it were vnmeete for the seruants of Christ, if they should shewe no honour nor bountifulnesse towardes her. And surely seeeing it becommeth vs to imbrace all the members of Christe, then ought we to imbrace them which beare some publique office in the Church, and to reuerence them, & to loue and honour them in a speciall manner. Secondly, as shee was alway officious towardes all, so he commandeth that she should be holpen now againe in her affaires. For it is a point of humanitie, not to forsake him, who by nature is readie to doe good, if at any time he stand in neede of the helpe of others. But to the ende hee might the rather moue their mindes, he reckoneth himselfe also among them, to whome she did good. Finally, this ministerie of the which he speaketh,