Romans 16:2
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 succourer of many, and of myself also. 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 succourer of many, and of myself also.
Phoebe was a servant of the church at Cenchrea who was commended to the believers. The church at Rome was to receive her in the Lord in a manner fitting for saints, as a fellow believer. They were to assist her in whatever business she had need of them. The reason given was that she had been a supporter and helper of many people, including Paul himself.
She entertained Paul and entertained the apostles. In a marked manner she cared for strangers who were in need of someone to care for them. Her example of hospitality is one for churches to follow.
The verse teaches a general duty for believers to care for the interests of their brothers and sisters by so receiving fellow Christians in the Lord as saints and assisting them in whatever business they need, because they have been succourers of many. Such receiving includes freely entertaining brothers and sisters with simple food and loving attention without charging pay. Such hospitality binds heart to heart, causes covetousness to die, and follows God's free bounty and Christ's self-giving. The verse requires those for whom missionaries labor to entertain those who travel from place to place, making a home for them even at considerable sacrifice.
A succourer in the sense of the verse is one raised up by God to help the needy and to strengthen and uphold His servants called into the field. Such a one is wrenched by the Lord from Satan's grasp and power when Satan presses sore to take his life, and is raised up still to act for God and to walk out on faith. God in providence lifts him above dependence and want so his testimony and influence are not crippled by dependence, and stays him on the right hand and on the left so he does not go to extremes. God inspires confidence in the hearts of the remnant to confide in his integrity and judgment.