Romans 16:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“Gaius, my host,” ξενος, “and the host of the whole Church greets you.” Do you notice what crown the Apostle wove for him, bearing witness to such great hospitality and gathering the whole Church into his house?

By the word ξενος he here means a host. When you hear that Gaius received Paul in his house, admire not only Gaius’s generosity, but also his strict life.

If Gaius had not been worthy of Paul’s virtues, Paul would not have gone to his house.

Striving to fulfill many of Christ’s commandments beyond what they prescribed, the Apostle would not have transgressed the law that commanded one first to inquire about those who receive guests, and to stay in the houses of the worthy.

“Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you.” That is, he received me in his house. Furthermore, it is great praise that Gaius received the whole Church and Paul himself. Paul would not have gone to him if he had not found him worthy. “Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and Quartus the brother.” That is, Erastus was the steward and treasurer of the city of Corinth. He mentions him so that you may know that neither wealth nor rank is an obstacle to anyone in faith and right living.

This is the same Gaius, I think, to whom the Apostle John wrote (3 Jn 1:1-16), rejoicing in the love with which he treated the brethren, being ready to share in their needs.

“Gaius, my host and the host of the whole Church, greets you.” This too is the strongest testimony serving for praise: to open one’s house to the children of the faith, and together with all others to serve the teacher of the whole world himself.

Gaius was a Corinthian, and the divine Apostle informs us of this in the Epistle to the Corinthians, where he says, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,” 1 Cor 1:14.

“Erastus the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus the brother.” He calls Erastus a treasurer not of the Church, but of the city, because some responsibility had evidently been entrusted to him.

He mentions him also in the Epistle to Timothy, saying, “Erastus remained at Corinth; Trophimus I left ill at Miletus,” 2 Tim 4:20.

“Gaius the host.” In the Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor 1:14), the Apostle says that he baptized Gaius, but whether this is the same man is unknown. In the book of Acts (Acts 19:29), Gaius the Macedonian is mentioned among Paul’s companions. Quartus is a brother, certainly by faith and not by flesh. According to Holy Tradition, all the men mentioned in this chapter are included among the Seventy Apostles (Lk 10:1), though most of them were undoubtedly called to faith in Christ by the Apostles.

The persons from whom the Apostle sends greetings to the Romans were as renowned as those greeted by name. Thus, for example, Timothy was one of the Seventy Apostles, the well-known disciple of the Apostle Paul, who later served as bishop in Ephesus. To him the Apostle Paul later wrote two epistles.

Lucius was one of the Seventy Apostles, bishop of Cyrene. His commemoration is kept on January 4 and September 10.

Sosipater was one of the Seventy Apostles, who suffered under Nero. His memory is blessed on January 4, April 28, and November 10.

Jason was the man who, at risk to his own life, took the Apostle Paul under his protection in Thessalonica during the uprising. Later he was bishop in Tarsus. His memory is celebrated on April 28.

“Gaius, my host.” “Do you see what crown the Apostle wove for him, bearing witness to such hospitality and gathering the whole Church into his house?

When we hear that Gaius received Paul in his house, admire not only Gaius’s generosity, but also his strict life.

For if Gaius had not been worthy of Paul’s virtues, Paul would not have gone to his house.

Striving to fulfill more than was prescribed by many of Christ’s commandments, the Apostle certainly did not transgress the law that commanded one first to examine those who receive guests, and to stay in the houses of the worthy,” says Saint Chrysostom.