Romans 16:1-7

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (2) 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 succorer of many, and of myself also. (3) Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: (4) 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. (5) Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. (6) Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us. (7) Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

I do not think it necessary, in a work of this kind, to amplify the pages, in dwelling upon the characters Paul hath here given testimony to, of their faith in Christ. Much no doubt might be said, of honor to them, and of profit to ourselves. But I must forego that pleasure. One point at the close of those verses, I would beg the Reader to notice, in order to guard against any misapprehension; I mean, when speaking of some which were of note among the Apostles, he saith: who also were in Christ before me. By which we are to understand, that they were brought into a saving acquaintance with Christ before that Paul was. Nothing more can be implied than this. For as to the being in Christ, and the well-being in Christ, the whole Church were so together, and that before all worlds. Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world, Acts 15:18. It forms one of the most blessed of all truths, that the Church was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4. And, from that moment in eternity, be that moment called by whatsoever name it may, in which to the infinite mind of Jehovah Christ stood up, as the Head, and Husband of his Church; every individual member of his mystical body, as the body and spouse of Christ, must have stood up with him. So that, in the secret decree, fore-knowledge, and fore-appointment of God, all Christ's members were alike in Christ together; as his seed, his children, his offspring, Proverbs 8:22. All alike at one time given by the Father. All alike covenanted for, and engaged for, by God the S on. And all equally beloved in Christ by God the Spirit, from the beginning; though his great work of regeneration, remained to be accomplished, in the several ages of the Church, as appointed. The being in Christ therefore before Paul, was in allusion to the time of this glorious act of regeneration wrought in their being quickened who were before in the Adam - nature of a fallen state dead in trespasses and sins. And in this sense, it was a blessed thing to be early called; and to be brought from darkness and the shadow of death. Thousands of transgressions are thereby cut short. And Paul was ready to give them the birth-right of honor. No doubt it melted his heart to consider, how the Lord had distinguished them with this sweet grace of conversion, when he was blaspheming and causing the Lord to serve with his sins, and wearying him with his iniquities. All this was cause for blessing the Lord for his distinguishing mercy. But, in relation to an union with Christ, and being in Christ, here there could be no precedency. The first sinner awakened by grace, whether Adam, Eve, or Abel; and the last sinner of the Adam race, which is yet unborn in nature, and consequently unborn in grace; were all alike secretly in Christ, chosen in Christ, beloved in Christ, and interested in all that belongs to Christ, as the Christ of God, and Head of his body the Church, from the beginning, and before all worlds.