Verse 5 is a continuation of the Greek sentence begun in verse 3. As this verse indicates, the first Christian places of worship were the private homes of those persons who were fortunate enough to own houses.

It may be difficult to speak in some languages of “greeting a church.” One may, however, “greet the members of a church” or “greet the believers who meet as a church in their house.”

Epaenetus is mentioned only here in the New Testament. Who was the first man in the province of Asia to believe in Christ translates a Semitic expression (“who is the first fruit of Asia for Christ”) which is understood by all commentators in the same sense as in the Good News Translation. A similar phrase is used in 1 Corinthians 16.15.

Since the term first designates a prior event, it may be most naturally translated in some languages as “who, before anyone else in the province of Asia, believed in Christ” or “who believed in Christ when no one else in the province of Asia had believed in Christ.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .