Romans 16:5

and salute the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ.

'the church that is in their house' -this expression is also found in (1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). Most commentators take the expression as referring to the Christians that meet for worship in the house provided by this couple. And yet this isn't the only view:

'The church in one's house, i.e. the company of Christians belonging to. person's family; others less aptly understand the phrase of the Christians accustomed to meet for worship in the house of some one..' (Thayer p. 196)

Points to Note:

1. The word "house" often refers to one's "household" (Acts 10:2; Acts 10:30; Acts 11:14; 1 Corinthians 16:15).

2. In certain passages, the interpretation, 'congregation which meets in their home', doesn't fit. In Colossians 4:16 we find that one "church" (congregation) existed in Laodicea. And yet in Romans 4:15 two groups are greeted. The brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. Is Paul greeting the local congregation twice? In this verse, 'church that is in her house', seems to refer better to the Christians who were members of Nympha's family.

3. 'It is possible that there were other Christians and teachers belonging to their household that constituted the nucleus of. church wherever they went.' (Lipscomb p. 272)

'Prisca and Aquila lived. curiously nomadic and unsettled life. Aquila himself had been born in Pontus in Asia Minor (Acts 18:2). We find them resident first in Rome, then in Corinth, then in Ephesus, then back in Rome, and then finally back in Ephesus; but wherever we find them, we find that their home is. center of Christian fellowship and service..' (Barclay p. 229)

Point to Note:

Many commentators speculate as to why Paul places the wife's name before her husbands. Normally the husbands name would come first. 'Both Luke and Paul generally put Prisca before Aquila, her husband; this may have been due to her having the more impressive personality of the two, although some have inferred that her social rank was superior to his. She may have belonged by birth or manumission to the 'gens Prisca',. noble Roman family.' (F.F. Bruce p. 270)

Barclay speculates on. 'Romantic possibility': 'There is just the possibility that..Prisca herself was..a great lady, actually. member by birth of the Acilian family. It may be that at some meeting of the Christians this great Roman lady met Aquila the humble Jewish tentmaker, that the two fell in love..and that these two, the Roman aristocrat and the Jewish artisan, were joined for ever in Christian love and Christian service.' (pp. 230-231)

'The rest of the names here...... Most of them seem to be those of slaves or freedmen; but these men and women, not recognized by the world, have attained glory enough by being known through all the passing centuries as friends of Paul and followers of Christ.' (Erdman p. 169)

'Epaenetus' -(eh PEE nee tus) (praiseworthy)

'my beloved' -Paul knew him well. Little is said about this man, but what is said, it more than enough!

'who is the firstfruits of Asia unto Christ' -'the first convert to Christ from Asia' (NASV). As the household of Stephanas had been the first ones converted in Achaia (Greece) (1 Corinthians 16:15), so this man was Paul's first success in Asia Minor.