- Ut liberer ab incredulis in Iudea, et ut
ministerium meum quod suscipio erga Ierusalem
acceptum sit sanctis; - That I may be delivered from them that
do not believe in Judaea; and that my service
which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of
the saints; - Ut cum gaudio veniam ad vos per
voluntatem Dei, unique vobiscum refociller. - That I may come unto you with joy by
the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. - Dens autem pacts sit cure omnibus vobis.
Amen.^464 - Now the God of peace be with you all.
Amen.
30.Now I beseech you, etc. It is well known from many passages how much ill-will prevailed
against Paul in his own nation on account of false reports, as though he taught a departure from
Moses. He knew how much calumnies might avail to oppress the innocent, especially among those
who are carried away by inconsiderate zeal. Added also to this, was the testimony of the Spirit,
recorded in Acts 20:23; by which he was forewarned, that bonds and afflictions awaited him at
Jerusalem. The more danger then he perceived, the more he was moved: hence it was, that he was
so solicitous to commend his safety to the Churches; nor let us wonder, that he was anxious about
his life, in which he knew so much danger to the Church was involved.
He then shows how grieved his godly mind was, by the earnest protestation he makes, in which
he adds to the name of the Lord, the love of the Spirit, by which the saints ought to embrace one
another. But though in so great a fear, he yet continued to proceed; nor did he so dread danger, but
that he was prepared willingly to meet it. At the same time he had recourse to the remedies given
him by God; for he solicited the aid of the Church, so that being helped by its prayers, he might
find comfort, according to the Lord’s promise, —
“Where two or three shall assemble in my name, there in the midst of them am I,” (Matthew
18:20;)
and,
“Whatsoever they agree in on earth, they shall obtain in heaven,” (Matthew 18:19.)
And lest no one should think it an unmeaning commendation, he besought them both by Christ
and by the love of the Spirit. The love of the Spirit is that by which Christ joins us together; for it
is not that of the flesh, nor of the world, but is from his Spirit, who is the bond of our unity.
Since then it is so great a favor from God to be helped by the prayers of the faithful, that even
Paul, a most choice instrument of God, did not think it right to neglect this privilege, how great
must be our stupidity, if we, who are abject and worthless creatures, disregard it? But to take a
handle from such passages for the purpose of maintaining the intercessions of dead saints, is an
instance of extreme effrontery.^465
That ye strive together with me,^466 etc.Erasmus has not given an unsuitable rendering, “That
ye help me laboring:” but, as the Greek word, used by Paul, has more force, I have preferred to
(^464) The word “Amen,” is regarded as spurious: Griesbach and other have left it out. — Ed.
(^465) Scott quotes the following from Whitby, — “If Paul, saith Estius, might desire the prayers of the Romans, why might not
the Romans desire the prayers of Paul? I answer, they might desire his prayers, as he did theirs, by a letter directed to him to
pray for them. He adds, If they might desire his prayers for them when living, why not when dead and reigning with Christ? I
answer, Because they could direct no epistle to him, or in any other way acquaint him with their mind.” — Ed.
(^466) “Ut concertetis mihi,” μ ; “ut mecum certetis — that ye strive with me,” — Beza; “ut mecum laboretis — that ye
labor with me,” — Tremelius, from the Syriac. Literally it is, “that ye agonize with me.” It is an allusion, says Grotius, to Jacob’s