Annotations on Chap. XVI.
[ a] * 1.1 V. 1. Servant of the Church] What 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to minister, signifies in the New Testament hath formerly been noted at large (see Lu. 8. a.) viz. to relieve the poor, either out of the stock of the Church, as admi∣nistrators and dispensers of others liberality and almes, or, as hospitable charitable persons, out of their own substance. So the women that administred to Christ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 out of their own estates, and so Phoebe here,* 1.2 who is therefore called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a reliever, or patroness, of many, see Lu. 8. a. and of Paul himself,* 1.3 ver. 2. and in all probability is the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 1 Cor. 9. 5. the sister, or believing Christian woman, which either did, or, if Paul would have ac∣cepted it, would have helped him and Barnabas to eat and drink, ver. 4. without labouring with their hands v. 6. Such as she accompanying the Apostles in their journies to preach the Gospel (as of her it appears by S. Paul's sending this Epistle from Corinth to Rome by her, as 'tis in the subscription) and furnishing them with all things, which they wanted, from whence they are said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to labour in the Lord v.* 1.4 6, and 12. whereupon saith the Scholiast, that the Apostles carried about with them some matrons of good report 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that made provision for their necessary uses, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that the Apo∣stles being free from those cares might be at leisure for preaching only; and Theophylact, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, rich women follow∣ed the Apostles, and provided them necessaries, and eased them of all that care, &c. See note on 1 Tim. 5. a.
[ b] * 1.5 V. 7. Apostles] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Apostle signifies primari∣ly that office whereunto the Twelve were set apart by Christ immediately, and so that of S. Paul and Bar∣nabas, sent immediately by appointment of the holy Ghost, Act. 13. 2. Secondarily it belongs to some others after, that received the like Commission from the Twelve, or from S. Paul; thus is James the Bishop of Hierusalem often called an Apostle. And so saith Theodoret of those first times, that those which were after called Bishops, were then called Apostles. So, saith he, Epaphroditus is called Apostle of the Philip∣pians, Phil. 2. 5. because he was their Bishop. So Cle∣mens Romanus is by Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom. l. 4. called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Clemens the Apostle. So Ignatius is by S. Chrysostome called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Apostle and Bishop. So of Timothy, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Apostle Timotheus was made Bishop of Ephesus, saith an anonymous writer in* 1.6 Photius. So that Thaddaeus, that was sent by Thomas to the King of Edessa, is styled in Eusebius l. 1. c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Apostle Thaddaeus. So Mark in Epipha∣nius, Haer. 51. and in Eusebius l. 2. c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So Luke also by Epiphanius Haer. 51. And if it be he which is mention'd 2 Cor. 8. 18. in the style of who is praised for the Gospel, or for preaching through all the Churches (as Ignatius affirms, Ep. to the Ephes. and though Ba∣ronius affirm it to be Silas and* 1.7 Theodoret, Barnabas, yet Titus Bostrensis on Luke 1. p. 763. C. and S. Jerom on 2 Cor. 8. and from him others have general∣ly