Romans 16:5, commentary and pictures

Likewise the greeting is to the church that meets in the house of Aquila and Priscilla, with a salute to the wellbeloved Epaenetus as the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. It stands among Paul's mentions of women as laborers with him in the gospel, showing that the Lord has a work for women as well as for men to do when they learn meekness in the school of Christ, bear Christ's name and possess His Spirit, walk even as He walked with souls purified from defilement, and benefit others by presenting the all-sufficiency of Jesus. The household itself is a church set apart from the world, where family members help and refine and uplift one another and so prove to be the Lord's living agents.

Right where he is, each child of God is to be a blessing first in his own home life by becoming well acquainted with wife and children and uniting with them to have a little church in his own house. Forming that home church means consecrating soul, body, and spirit to God's glory by doing duty to self, improving in understanding and adaptability, studying plans, and putting to use every mental and physical ability in talents differing in numbers to make a success even when there is very poor chance to obtain a livelihood. The whole duty belonging to the church in the house is to teach children lessons of Christian politeness, patience and kindness, to improve the government of the home, to not neglect children, to discipline self in order to be worthy of the respect of children, to have Christ abiding in the heart, to keep the way of the Lord, and then to require obedience from children in everything.

The father who is thoroughly acquainted with the Word of the Lord and renders willing obedience to God's law is prepared to be the priest and house-band of his family, enabled by striving for perfect self-control to reveal the grace of patience, to deal justly, and to keep his spirit free from anger, while the father who has not learned to restrain childish outbursts of temper is not prepared to discipline or train his children. Keeping that home church requires refusing chosen association with the wicked and their evil ways condemned by God's law, because such association deteriorates character and brings the truth into condemnation. Following natural inclination toward pleasure-loving amusements weakens love for the pure and holy and imparts the spirit and love of the world, while time is precious and cannot be squandered on trifling vanities and pleasures without great loss.