The church -- Any number of the living church assembled together in any
place may properly be called the church of that place. R1893:5
The church may be considered as counting a part as though it were the
whole. R1893:5
The early churches were "associations" rather than "organizations"; bound
together with love and truth, not creeds and traditions. R984:1
In thy house -- The congregations of the primitive church were small,
and usually met in private houses. R2941:6, 984:2
By thee, brother -- The apostles addressed or referred to one another
simply by name or else as brother; and all the church were similarly
greeted--as brothers and sisters in Christ. F230, R1523:5
I beseech thee -- A letter of introduction (verses 10-17) as a safeguard
against "false brethren" and "wolves in sheep's clothing" was the custom
of the primitive church, practiced by the apostles. (Matt. 7:15) R1707:1
Receive him -- In introducing brethren to the churches, force and
authority are ignored, while the liberty of all is respected even by the
apostles, who write not commandingly but entreatingly, not arbitrarily,
but giving the reasons why those commended should be held in esteem.
R1822:2
Season -- Greek, hora; same word as for "hour" in Rev. 17:12. HG22:4
A brother -- A common term of greeting in the early church. See comment
on verse 7. F230; R1523:5
Receive him -- See verse 12.
As myself -- Probably a letter of commendation from St. Paul would have
had a greater influence than if from some others, simply because of the
unbounded confidence of the churches in his judgment and carefulness of
their interests. R1822:2