Romans 16:4

4 which under-putted [which under-put] their necks for my life; to whom not I alone do thankings, but also all the churches of heathen men.

Romans 16:4 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 16:4

Who for my life laid down their necks
That is, exposed themselves to great danger to save the apostle's life: the allusion is to the manner of executions by beheading, and to one person's laying down his head, and offering his neck to the executioner the room of another: this we are not to suppose was literally done; but the design of the expression is, that in some shape or another they risked their own lives for the apostle's; which might be done either at the insurrection in Corinth against Paul, when the Jews dragged him to the judgment seat of Gallio, and beat Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue before him; or the uproar in Ephesus by Demetrius and the craftsmen, when Paul and his companions were in great danger; at both which times and places these two persons were, and being very zealous, were no doubt active to preserve the apostle, and which he acknowledges with thankfulness:

unto whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the
Gentiles;
both for the care they took of him, and the danger they exposed themselves to on his account; which the apostle expresses his sense of gratitude for, and which all the Gentile churches were under obligations to do likewise, since they had a common share in his labours and usefulness, he was the apostle of them all; and also for their help and assistance in carrying on the work of the Lord in all the churches of the Gentiles.

Romans 16:4 In-Context

2 that ye receive her in the Lord worthily to saints, and that ye help her in whatever cause she shall need of you. For she hath helped many men, and myself.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, mine helpers in Christ Jesus,
4 which under-putted [which under-put] their necks for my life; to whom not I alone do thankings, but also all the churches of heathen men.
5 And greet ye well their household church [And greet ye well their home-church]. Greet well Epaenetus, loved to me, that is the first of Asia in Christ Jesus.
6 Greet well Mary, the which hath travailed much in us. [Greet well Mary, that hath travailed much in us.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.