Romans 9-16 Week Thirteen

Romans 15

Romans 15 ESV

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” 22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 15:1-7 (ESV)

Verse 1-2:

"We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."

The Strong and the Weak: Here, "strong" refers to Christians who possess a mature understanding of Christian freedom, particularly in relation to Jewish dietary laws and sacred days. The "weak" are believers who, often due to their Jewish background or a less mature faith, feel obligated to observe these laws.

Obligation: The term indicates a moral duty, not merely a suggestion. Paul emphasizes the strong’s responsibility to support the weak rather than pursuing their own desires or freedoms.Building Up: The goal stated is edification, a principle that suggests actions should contribute positively to the spiritual growth of others, enhancing community and individual faith.

Verse 3:

"For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.'"

Christ’s Example: Paul uses Christ as the ultimate model of selflessness. The quotation from Psalm 69:9 illustrates how Christ took upon Himself the reproaches aimed at God, highlighting His sacrificial love.

Application: This serves as an exhortation to the Romans to emulate Christ's attitude of self-sacrifice and concern for others, especially within their community.

Verse 4:

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Role of Scripture: Paul asserts the timeless relevance of Scripture, emphasizing its role in teaching and offering encouragement.

Endurance and Hope: These virtues are cultivated through the Scriptures, suggesting that persistent faith amidst trials is integral to the Christian experience.

Verse 5-6:

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Prayer for Harmony: Paul transitions to a prayer, invoking God’s nature as a source of endurance and encouragement to inspire unity among the believers.

Unified Worship: The aim of this harmony is collective worship that glorifies God, indicating that unity in the community enhances their worship's effectiveness and sincerity.

Verse 7:

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

Welcome One Another: This invitation mirrors the acceptance Christ has shown to each believer, regardless of background or personal weakness.

For God’s Glory: The ultimate purpose of welcoming and bearing with one another is the glorification of God, which aligns personal interactions with divine intention.

This portion of Paul’s letter explains how Jesus Christ serves as a minister to both Jews and Gentiles, promoting unity among them, fulfilling God's promises, and encouraging the inclusion of the Gentiles into the community of God's people.

Romans 15:8-13 (ESV)

Verse 8:

"For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,"

Christ the Servant: The term "servant" reflects Jesus' role as one who fulfills God's will. His ministry primarily targeted the "circumcised" (Jews) to affirm God's fidelity to His ancient promises made to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob).Confirmation of Promises: Christ's coming confirms the promises God made in the Old Testament, demonstrating God's unchanging faithfulness and plan.

Verse 9:

"and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, 'Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.'"

Inclusion of the Gentiles: The second purpose of Christ's ministry extends beyond the Jewish people to include the Gentiles. This inclusion is meant to elicit praise for God's mercy from non-Jews.Scriptural Support: Paul quotes from the Psalms (Psalm 18:49), emphasizing that the outreach to Gentiles fulfills scripture, suggesting this was always part of God’s plan.

Verse 10-12:

"And again it is said, 'Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.' And again, 'Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.' And again Isaiah says, 'The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.'"

Repeated Affirmations: Paul continues to support his point with various Old Testament references (Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117:1, Isaiah 11:10), showing that the inclusion of the Gentiles was consistently prophesied.Root of Jesse: This reference to Isaiah identifies the Messiah (Christ) as a descendant of Jesse (David’s father), destined to be a leader for both Jews and Gentiles. The prophecy emphasizes hope placed in Christ by all people.

Verse 13:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Benediction: Paul concludes this segment with a prayerful wish. He names God as the "God of hope," linking the themes of joy, peace, and belief—all enabled by the Holy Spirit.Abounding in Hope: The verse emphasizes that belief in God’s promises through Christ leads to a life characterized by hope, undergirded by the Holy Spirit's power.

Conclusion

In Romans 15:8-13, Paul bridges the narratives of Jewish heritage and Gentile inclusion under Christ’s ministry. This unification is pivotal in understanding the fulfillment of God’s promises and the universal scope of the gospel. Paul stresses scriptural validation for Gentile inclusion and highlights the resulting praise to God from all peoples, culminating in a prayer for hope and unity.

Continuing with our exegesis, we explore Romans 15:14-21 from the English Standard Version (ESV). This segment of Paul's letter to the Romans focuses on Paul's ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles and his philosophy of evangelism, emphasizing his desire to preach where Christ was not already known, to avoid building on another’s foundation.

Romans 15:14-21 (ESV)

Verse 14:

"I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another."

Commendation: Paul begins by expressing his confidence in the Roman Christians' maturity in goodness, knowledge, and mutual instruction. This suggests a well-established community capable of self-edification.

Verse 15-16:

"But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."

Role as Apostle: Paul clarifies that his boldness in addressing certain issues stems from his divine commission as an apostle to the Gentiles. His ministry is described in priestly terms, likening the Gentiles' conversion to a holy offering made acceptable through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 17-18:

"In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,"

Pride in Ministry: Paul expresses pride, not in personal achievements, but in what Christ has accomplished through him. His focus is on tangible outcomes in bringing Gentiles to faith, emphasizing both his preaching and his actions.

Verse 19:

"by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ."

Scope of Ministry: He details the geographical reach of his mission, from Jerusalem to Illyricum (modern-day Balkans), underscoring the expansive and successful spread of the gospel facilitated by miraculous signs and the Holy Spirit's power.

Verse 20-21:

"And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written, 'Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.'"

Philosophy of Evangelism: Paul explains his strategic approach to mission work: to preach in regions where Christ was not known to avoid redundancy in evangelistic efforts. He supports this strategy with a quote from Isaiah 52:15, highlighting his commitment to fulfilling prophecy by reaching the unreached.

Conclusion

In Romans 15:14-21, Paul provides a reflection on his role and strategy as an apostle to the Gentiles. He emphasizes his efforts to extend the gospel to areas without prior exposure to Christ, framing his work as part of a divine mandate that includes miraculous signs and the Holy Spirit’s active involvement. This passage not only underscores the apostolic mission's expansiveness but also Paul's theological rationale for targeting new territories for evangelism.