Romans 15:1-13 study

Romans 15:1-13, My Translation

Verses 1-3

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition Chapter 15

15.1 Ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν, καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν. 2 ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν· 3 καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν· ἀλλὰ καθὼς γέγραπται· Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσαν ἐπʼ ἐμέ.

1 Now we who are capable ought to bear the weaknesses of those who are incapable, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, for edification; 3 for even Christ did not please Himself, but just as it is written, “The insults of those who are insulting You fell upon Me.”[1]

[1]Psalm 69:9

NOTES:

The Christian life is a life of love, which is others-focused, not self-focused.

Bearing weaknesses of others — see Gal 6:1-2.

Neighbor — the use of this word in v. 2 calls to mind the command to love our neighbor as ourselves in Lev 19:18, quoted already in Romans 13:9.

Whatever suffering we endure in giving up our rights for the sake of other believers pales in comparison to the suffering of Christ (v. 3)

Verses 4-7

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition Chapter 15

4 ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν ἐγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. 5 ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, 6 ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 7 Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς, εἰς δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.

4 For whatever things were written beforehand, for our instruction they were written, in order that through patient endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patient endurance and encouragement grant to you to think the same thing among one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 in order that unanimously with one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, for the glory of God.

NOTES:

v. 4 especially underscores the continuing relevance of the OT.

God chose to have His Word recorded for our benefit — to instruct us, and to give us patience and encouragement and hope.

v. 5 we are to have the mind of Christ (see Phil 2:5-11)

God is glorified when His children get along. (I think how good it makes me feel when people say how well behaved my children are — my reputation is affected by how my children behave)

It’s important for me to seek to get along with other believers in order to display God’s glory, because such behavior reflects the attitude and actions of Christ.

Romans–Galatians Comment

While Scripture has its import for the times and places first intended, it is written for successive generations too, since God’s wisdom and Spirit transcend localities and times. The Spirit who first inspired Scripture renews its message in subsequent generations.

Verses 8-10

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition Chapter 15

8 λέγω γὰρ Χριστὸν διάκονον γεγενῆσθαι περιτομῆς ὑπὲρ ἀληθείας θεοῦ, εἰς τὸ βεβαιῶσαι τὰς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων, 9 τὰ δὲ ἔθνη ὑπὲρ ἐλέους δοξάσαι τὸν θεόν· καθὼς γέγραπται· Διὰ τοῦτο ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι ἐν ἔθνεσι, καὶ τῷ ὀνόματί σου ψαλῶ. 10 καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Εὐφράνθητε, ἔθνη, μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ.

8 For I say that Christ has become a minister to the circumcision on behalf of God’s truth, in order to confirm[2] the promises to the fathers, 9 and in order that the Gentiles should glorify God for His mercy, just as it is written, “Because of this I will praise You among the Gentiles, and to Your name I will sing psalms.”[3] 10 And again it says, “Rejoice, Gentiles, with His people.”[4]

[2]Or to show the truthfulness of, or to make good on (that is, to fulfill).

[3]Psalm 18:49; 2 Samuel 22:50

[4]Deuteronomy 32:43

NOTES:

Christ’s first coming not only fulfills the promises God made to Israel, but also opens the way for the Gentiles to join His people in the worship and praise of God.

Verses 11-13

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition Chapter 15

11 καὶ πάλιν· Αἰνεῖτε, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, τὸν κύριον, καὶ ἐπαινεσάτωσαν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ λαοί. 12 καὶ πάλιν Ἠσαΐας λέγει· Ἔσται ἡ ῥίζα τοῦ Ἰεσσαί, καὶ ὁ ἀνιστάμενος ἄρχειν ἐθνῶν· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν. 13 ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ἐλπίδος πληρώσαι ὑμᾶς πάσης χαρᾶς καὶ εἰρήνης ἐν τῷ πιστεύειν, εἰς τὸ περισσεύειν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἐλπίδι ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος ἁγίου.

11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise[5] Him.”[6] 12 And again Isaiah says, “There will be the Root of Jesse, even the One who arises to rule the Gentiles; on Him the Gentiles will set their hope.”[7] 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you keep trusting Him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

[5]Two distinct verbs in this verse both have the connotation of praise.

[6]Psalm 117:1

[7]Isaiah 11:1, 10; 42:4; once again in this section, Paul has cited from the Law, Prophets, and Writings to demonstrate that all of Scripture attests to the inclusion of the Gentiles with God’s people and their worship of Him.

NOTES:

The consistent testimony of the entire OT is that all along God planned to include all nations in His plan of redemption through the seed of the woman.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 15

the worship of God is his ultimate aim in salvation history.

Romans–Galatians Response

when God’s grace and mercy extended to sinners do not translate into analogous grace and mercy extended to each other by the church’s sinful members (= every single soul belonging to the church), the church is failing at a crucial point of appropriating the gospel message.