Theophylact of Ohrid, on Rom 16:5

“And the church which is in their house. Salute Epenetus, my beloved: who is the firstfruits of Asia in Christ.”

“So virtuous were they that all their household members became believers, for he called them a church. He also called them this on account of their hospitality, for a house is called a church when exemplary piety and virtue are found in it. Let those leading a married life understand that the marital union is no hindrance to virtue for them. A great thing it is to be beloved of Paul, who knew how to love with discernment and not without reason. He calls Epaenetus a firstfruit either because he was the first to believe, becoming the beginning and the door to faith for all the people, or because he showed in himself greater piety, which is why it is said: "who is the firstfruit for Christ," that is, not in worldly things, but in that which pertains to Christ.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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