Romans 15:14-33

The latter half of this chapter, we see more into Paul’s missionary plans and desires. Paul was not aimless in his mission. He was not just waiting for the Lord to send him somewhere. Paul was going. Ultimately, Paul desired to go to Spain, which was the ends of the earth he knew. Nonetheless, we get to see his mind and confidence in the Roman church in this part of chapter 15.

Verses 14-17

First, Paul expresses his confidence in the Roman church. He speaks very personally of them and how he thinks they are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

There can be an issue within churches who have a strong leader where the church is dependent on that strong leader. And so, in that leader’s absence, the church will struggle having no confidence that the Lord can work without that man.

The Roman church had only heard of Paul, never met him, but yet still built some dependence on him in a sense. They likely heard about how Paul had visited all these other churches and stayed with them for sometimes years. In this time, Paul would equip the saints for the work of ministry and raise up leaders within the church. He would then move on to another place, as that church would be able to sustain itself.

And so, Paul expresses to the Roman church how confident he is in them. They have God’s goodness in them. They have the knowledge of God in them. They are able to instruct one another without Paul. They can continue to survive even if Paul never shows up.

Next, Paul reminds them why he is writing: to remind [them] more boldly on some points….

Paul was already made aware of how solid this church was. He knew their leadership, as we will see in chapter 16, and knew they were teaching sound doctrine. And so, this sixteen chapter letter was written simply to solidify their doctrinal strength as a church. Once again, Paul wanted them to be a home base for his missions in Spain. They needed to be strong.

Within this, Paul says this is his reason for writing because of the grace given to [him] by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. This is an interesting way we see Paul refer to his own position as an Apostle and minister. Paul calls himself:

Minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles

Paul is making sure to point out his ministry to the Gentiles. This was no little designation. This was discussed amongst the Apostles in their missions. Paul and Barnabas would go after the Gentiles and Peter and James would go after the Jews.

Priest of the Gospel of God

Calling himself a priest here is referring to his ministry to Jews as well. Is Paul’s official title “priest”? Not quite. Christ is our Great High Priest and so we no longer need priests. We can talk to God ourselves. But Paul is using an OT Jewish title to show that he still cares for the Jews.

Not only this, but Paul goes on to use more OT imagery saying God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Once again, Paul is trying to emphasize his ministry being, namely, to the Gentiles. He is showing them that they are not less than spiritually, but that they are acceptable sacrificial offerings to God, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Because these things are true, Paul says he ha[s] reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God.

If anyone has room to boast in the Lord, it was Paul. He was standing front row in awe of all the great work God was doing in the Church, especially amongst the Gentiles, who were far off but now have been brought near.

Verses 18-21

Expounding further on his boasting in God’s Work, Paul specifies something very important: I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. Let’s break this down.

Paul does not dare speak out of term

Being an Apostle and a minister is no little position. It is a high and dangerous calling. We, like Paul, cannot have any words leave our mouths that are our own. We dare not speak on behalf of Christ lies or our own opinion. It is imperative that our His words are ours and ours are His.

Rather, Paul will speak of the the work Christ has accomplished through him for the Gentiles.

Paul specifies that the work that the work that has been done has only been done by the Spirit’s power.

Again, he is taking all fame and glory off of him and giving it all to God. He did not do anything in his own strength or power, but only in God’s strength and God’s power.

The result of God’s great work through Paul is that the Gospel has been preached fully from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

This is a vast distance that Paul has traveled sharing the Gospel in full. But this was not event he end of his journey as he still desired to venture further. He expresses this in the next verse:

My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation

He sought to build his own foundation, that is Christ, in those who had never heard His name before.

Paul then uses Isaiah 52 to reinforce this.

Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.

Paul sought to fulfill this prophecy.

Verses 22-29

Now we hear of Paul’s desired travel plans, and his great desire to reach Rome and visit them. Paul believes that because of his effectiveness in fulfilling Isaiah 52, the enemy has prevented him from reaching Rome.

Paul explains that his plan was to visit Rome on his way to Spain, be assisted in his journey to Spain by the Roman church, and simply to enjoy their company.

Paul found true fellowship and enjoyment in meeting and doing life with other churches, even churches he himself didn’t plant. This is because his connection with them is Christ and Christ alone.

Then Paul speaks of his current travels.

Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem to serve the saints, because Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

Paul is going back to Jerusalem to deliver a contribution, or money, to the Judean church from the Macedonian and Achaian churches. This is how the early church worked, and how the church should work.

The Judean church was struggling and suffering through great persecution and hardships, and other churches were made aware of this. So they took up money and sent it to the struggling church to support them.

What is fascinating about this is that a predominantly Jewish church is being supported financially by predominately Gentile churches!

Thus is why Paul says For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs.

The Gentile believers greatly benefit from the Jewish believers faith, as they have more knowledge of the OT. Therefore, it is fitting the Gentile churches materially support the Jewish church.

And Paul finishes by speaking of his future travel plans to actually reach Rome. So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will visit you on the way to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Paul intends to visit Rome and, we know from the final chapters of Acts, that Paul would make it to Rome! He likely did not make it to Spain, however, as he would be imprisoned and beheaded in Rome.

Verses 30-33

Paul closes this chapter with yet another benediction to the Roman believers. Here are a few notes on what we see in Paul’s benediction:

Paul appeals to the church to strive with him in prayer for himself

It should be common for the church to be praying for missionaries who are doing the good Gospel work in dangerous places. Paul calls them praying for him, them striving with him. Though the church is not out there doing the work with Paul, they are funding it and spiritually supporting it as well. Therefore, they are there for Paul.

Paul namely sought prayer for help from the Judean unbelievers. The unbelievers in Judea were especially vicious and vile towards Christians, martyring many of them and displacing them.

Paul asks they pray for his ministry to Jerusalem

With all of the heavy persecution in Judea, ministry work would be very difficult. So, Paul pleads for prayer that his ministry may be acceptable to the saints.

Notice he does not demand they accept his ministry, but prays it is acceptable. This is how we must be as ministers. We cannot fix those we minister to, but we must, in a healthy sense, adjust to them. I do not mean to compromise truth by any means. For example, we cannot expect them to love our method of teaching (short or long, illustrative or straight-forward, sporadic or organized); rather, we should learn what is the most effective way to teach them. Let your ministry be acceptable to the saints.

Paul asks they pray he may make it to them

It was very important to Paul to see the Roman church. These are like his children that he longed to see and spend time with. He calls them (the overall church) elsewhere his glory and crown. And so, he desired they too be praying he can make it to them.

Then he closes with a common closing from Paul: May the God of Peace be with all of you. Amen.

In the meantime, in his absence, Paul prays God be with them. Paul finds comfort knowing that his great God is with this church that he cannot be with.