While almost all of the works in this vault use Victorian translations, due to the English translations of this commentary being in copyright, it was machine-translated (by Claude, 2026) from the public-domain Latin. It has not been checked by a human translator.
Commentary on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, long printed among the works of Ambrose. Its author, whom Erasmus first called “Ambrosiaster”, wrote at Rome while Damasus was bishop there (366–384). Chapter 16 of the Epistle; the verse numbers are the Benedictine editors’.
(Verses 1–2.) I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is in the ministry of the church which is at Cenchrea: that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a helper of many, and of myself also. He commends Phoebe on her coming as a sister to them all, that is, one from the Law. And to commend her deservedly, he says that she is a minister of the church at Cenchreae; and since she has been a help to many, he says that she is rightly to be helped, because she is a stranger in a foreign land. And to persuade them to receive her without delay, and to assist her in need if she should arrive, he testifies that she has stood by him too; so as to show that, the more exalted his own person is than the rest, the more the service owed should be rendered to her through charity.
(Verses 3–5.) Greet Prisca and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. These were from the Jews, and, having become believers, were made partners in the Apostle’s labour; and they had believed so rightly that they even exhorted others to the right faith. Thus Apollos, though he was well versed in the Scriptures, was nevertheless instructed by them more perfectly in the way of the Lord. Therefore he calls them partners in his labour, but in Christ Jesus; for they were his fellow workers in the Gospel of God. Aquila is the husband of Priscilla; and it is plain that they had not come to Rome idly, for they were the more forward in devotion to God; for all those whom he greets are understood to have been among those who came to strengthen the Romans. Hence he says that not only he, but all the churches of the Gentiles too, give them thanks; touching the Romans as well, that they should obey those whom they hear labouring for the advancement of the Gentiles in exhorting them to faith in Christ. He praises them so highly as men who did not refuse to suffer dangers for him; for they did not shrink from incurring the enmity both of the Jews and of false brethren, provided they could help the Apostle by their services and their love. Those were false brethren who, while believing in Christ, yet said that the Law must be kept, thinking that Christ did not suffice for the full effect of salvation. This the Apostle was overthrowing, and for this reason he suffered persecutions from them. He greets also their household and their home-born servants, whom he calls a church, because they were the disciples of holy men in the faith. Salute my wellbeloved Epenetus, who is the firstfruits of Asia unto Christ. He does not pass over in silence even the present dignity of this Epaenetus; so as to show that men of rank too believe, and to invite the chief men of the Romans to the faith, or at least so that the humble might grow. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on you. He reminds them, by the name of Mary — who, we understand, laboured very earnestly in exhorting them — to give her thanks.
(Verse 7.) Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ Jesus before me. He calls these kinsmen both according to the flesh and according to the spirit, as the angel too said to Mary: Behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, and so on (Luke 1:36). He declares with his own testimony that they had followed the earlier apostles, and had suffered a captivity like his own for the faith’s sake; and that they are therefore to be honoured the more fully.
(Verse 8.) Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. This man he greets as a friend, but a friend in the Lord; not, however, one who had shared in his labour or his captivity.
(Verse 9.) Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ Jesus. He says not only that this man was his own helper, but that he had also been a partner of the others in exhorting to belief. And Stachys my beloved. Though he calls this Stachys beloved, yet he places him after Urbanus, a sharer in the work of the Gospel.
(Verse 10.) Salute Apelles approved in Christ. This Apelles he greets not as his friend, or as a sharer in the work, but because he was proved by temptations and found faithful in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household. This Aristobulus is understood to have been one who gathered brethren together in Christ; and he so approves his deed as to mark out those whom he gathered as worthy of his greeting.