Romans 15:1
Ὀφείλομεν δὲ, ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ, τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν, καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν.
Now we, the able, ought the weaknesses of the unable to carry and not to please ourselves.
Paraphrase: Well then, dearly beloved, let us be ready always to walk in the way of love (Romans 14:15) with those who differ from us on the lesser important matters of our faith. Yes, their understanding of our faith may be weak and misguided; but for all that, we who understand better should not stand over them in contemptuous pride. No, we should be quick to lay aside our right to act in a certain way if we know it will grieve our weaker brother. Our goal is not to stand on our rights but…
Comments:
For ἑαυτοῖς, see the very bottom here.
Romans 15:2
ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω, εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν, πρὸς οἰκοδομήν.
Let each of us please our neighbor for good towards upbuilding.
Paraphrase: …to edify and build up our brothers and sisters in our most holy faith.
Comments:
Romans 15:3
καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν, ἀλλὰ καθὼς γέγραπται· Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσαν ἐπ’ ἐμέ.
For even Christ did not please Himself but even as it is written: “The insults of those insulting you fell on Me.”
Paraphrase: What reason can I give for calling you to act in this way? Well, consider the example that our Savior Himself set for us. Do you remember what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 69? He writes there: “The reproaches of those who have reproached You have fallen on me. (Psalm 69:9) Now isn’t this exactly what happened to Jesus? He too was constantly insulted and slandered (Matthew 11:19; 26:65; 27:39; John 8:48) because of His devotion to the mission which God had given Him. Clearly then, Jesus did not come to earth to please Himself; He did not come to earth to stand on His own rights. On the contrary, He laid aside His equality with God (Philippians 2:5-8) and came on a mission of suffering and even death. (Mark 10:45) Well then, brothers and sisters, like Master, like servants. He suffered, and we too should be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Comments:
Romans 15:4
ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν ἐγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν, τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν.
For however much was written before, for our instruction it was written in order that through endurance and through consolation of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
Paraphrase: Now all Scripture was written to teach us how to live in the kingdom of God. Psalm 69 too was written so that we might avoid a self-absorbed lifestyle that only cares about my rights and my satisfaction. From this Psalm, we learn to patiently endure and tolerate in love the weaknesses of our fellow believers and not to cause them any unnecessary anxiety. This is the consolation and encouragement that these Bible passages provide us so that we can live in hope of a better time when there will be no suffering, insults, or even weaknesses in our understanding of the faith.
Comments:
Romans 15:5
Ὁ δὲ Θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως, δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις, κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν,
Now the God of endurance and of consolation give to you to think the same thing with one another according to Christ Jesus.
Paraphrase: This is my prayer for all of you, that the same God, who enables us to persevere by comforting and encouraging us in our walk of faith, would also give you grace in your hearts such that you would make the unity of the body of Christ a top priority. My prayer is that you would stubbornly refuse to let any of these lesser issues divide you one from the other even as our Lord Himself has taught us so to walk.
Comments:
Romans 15:6
ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν, ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι, δοξάζητε τὸν Θεὸν καὶ Πατέρα τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
So that with a single mind and with one mouth, you might glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paraphrase: Yes, then your worship is so honoring to God. When all of you are united around a single passion and are resolved to move forward shoulder to shoulder and arm in arm, then your worship services are so sweet smelling to God. He is honored and is enthroned on the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3)
Comments:
Romans 15:7
Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς, εἰς δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Wherefore, take to yourself one another even as also Christ took you to Himself for the glory of God.
Paraphrase: So then, roll out the welcome mat to all believers. Embrace them in Christian love when you come together for worship; welcome them into your homes, not to quarrel about non-essentials or so that you can straighten out their thinking, but so that you can encourage each other and glorify God together. Remember, that Christ welcomed you even when you were sunk in sin so that He might bring glory to God. You should do likewise.
Comments:
Romans 15:8
λέγω γὰρ, Χριστὸν διάκονον γεγενῆσθαι περιτομῆς ὑπὲρ ἀληθείας Θεοῦ, εἰς τὸ βεβαιῶσαι τὰς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων,
For I say Christ to become the Servant of circumcision on behalf of the faithfulness of God in order that the promises of the fathers might be established.
Paraphrase: Again, I would set before you the mission of Jesus Christ. He taught us that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45) This He did in two ways, first to His own people and second, to the gentiles. For His own people, He made good on the promises which He had made to the fathers of our people, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God had promised them the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7), descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens (Genesis 12:2; 15:5), and that they would be a source of blessing to all the families of the earth. (Genesis 12:3) Now Jesus made good on these promises by giving the Jewish people a place in His kingdom which is the promised land and a new Israel. (Matthew 5:5; Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:22; 13:14) Furthermore, He made atonement for the sins of everyone who puts their trust in Him; and thus, everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham. The number of these children is more than the sand of the sea and the stars of heaven. (Revelation 7:9-10; 19:1-6) Finally, Abraham is a source of blessing to all the nations because Jesus was a descendant of Abraham and He opened up the way of a free justification by faith to all the nations. (Galatians 3:8)
Comments:
See §2022 and principle 23 for γεγενῆσθαι.
For βεβαιῶσαι, see BBG 32.15.2.
Romans 15:9
τὰ δὲ ἔθνη, ὑπὲρ ἐλέους, δοξάσαι τὸν Θεόν, καθὼς γέγραπται· Διὰ τοῦτο ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι ἐν ἔθνεσιν, καὶ τῷ ὀνόματί σου ψαλῶ.
And the gentiles, for mercies, might glorify God even as it is written: “On account of this, I will confess You among the gentiles and to Your Name, I will sing praise.
Paraphrase: Second, He came to earth and served the gentiles by calling them out of their darkness and gave them too a place in His kingdom. (Isaiah 56:5) As a result, they glorify God for His mercies shown to them. We read of this several times in Scripture. Consider this verse: Because you have done so much for me, I will take a stand before all the nations of the earth and declare that You alone are the Great Creator of heaven and earth and that You alone are the Great Sovereign who rules over all things. Yes, and before all the gentile nations, I will sing songs of praise to Your Name! (Psalm 18:49) Brothers and sisters, note how the psalmist joyfully resolves to confess the Name of God before all the nations of the earth; and as a result of this, the gentiles too will be called out of their darkness and into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Comments:
Romans 15:10
Καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Εὐφράνθητε ἔθνη, μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ.
And again, he says: “Be glad! oh nations, with His people!
Paraphrase: Then consider these words from Deuteronomy: “Rejoice and shout for joy, all you nations of the earth. Come and join yourself to God’s people and be glad for His salvation!” Note in this passage how the nations are invited to come and join with God’s people and to experience all the blessings of salvation which God’s people enjoy. This shows us that God also intends to save gentile people as well as Jewish.
Comments:
Romans 15:11
Καὶ πάλιν· Αἰνεῖτε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, τὸν Κύριον· καὶ ἐπαινεσάτωσαν αὐτὸν, πάντες οἱ λαοί.
And again, “Exalt the Lord, all nations, and let all the peoples praise Him.”
Paraphrase: And another verse from the Psalms: “Oh nations of the earth! Come and worship YHWH, the Great King! Yes, everyone is invited to come and to rejoice in God our Savior!” Here we have the same idea as in the previous verse from Deuteronomy. God is inviting and calling the gentile nations to participate in His worship. The verse explicitly says let all the peoples praise Him.
Comments:
Romans 15:12
Καὶ πάλιν, Ἠσαΐας λέγει· Ἔσται ἡ ῥίζα τοῦ Ἰεσσαί, καὶ ὁ ἀνιστάμενος ἄρχειν ἐθνῶν· ἐπ’ αὐτῷ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν.
And again, Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will be, even the One standing up to rule the nations, on Him the nations will hope.
Paraphrase: Finally, we have the testimony of Isaiah. “The root of Jesse,” he writes, “is the One who will stand to rule the nations. In Him, the nations will hope.” This means that our Lord Jesus Christ will stand up and call His His sheep out of all nations. He will draw them to Himself, and they will come and bow before Him as their king. They will pin all their hopes on Him. They will rejoice to be counted among the sheep of the Good Shepherd.
Comments:
Romans 15:13
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.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing in order that you might abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paraphrase: Now brothers and sisters, it is my earnest hope and prayer that the God, who gives us hope, would fill you to overflowing with joy and peace as you live the life of faith. My purpose with this prayer is that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you would have a well grounded and immovable hope of eternal life which would strengthen you and encourage you in all your trials.
Comments:
Romans 15:14
Πέπεισμαι δέ, ἀδελφοί μου, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ περὶ ὑμῶν, ὅτι καὶ αὐτοὶ μεστοί ἐστε ἀγαθωσύνης, πεπληρωμένοι πάσης τῆς γνώσεως, δυνάμενοι καὶ ἀλλήλους νουθετεῖν.
But I am persuaded, my brothers, even I myself, concerning you that even you yourselves are able being full of goodness of all knowledge, being able even one another to counsel.
Paraphrase: Now brothers and sisters, even as I write this, it is a great comfort to me to know that you already know these things. You’re going to say that I’m preaching to the choir, and you are correct in that. I know you well enough to know that you have that a sincere heart of compassion and sympathy for those who are weak in the faith and that you work hard to build them up in their faith and to tolerate their weaknesses in love. Furthermore, you have the knowledge and tact needed to speak wise words to those in the church who need direction so they can move out of their weakness and be strong in their faith.
Comments:
Romans 15:15
τολμηρότερον δὲ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, ἀπὸ μέρους, ὡς ἐπαναμιμνήσκων ὑμᾶς, διὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ
But I wrote to you more boldly, on some parts as reminding you on account of the grace being given to me by God.
Paraphrase: Nevertheless, I still chose to address these matters in this letter, not to teach you these things for the first time, but rather to bring them back to your mind. We so quickly forget these truths because we always default to selfish living. But Christ did not come to please Himself (Romans 15:3) and neither are we here to please ourselves. Therefore, let us recommit ourselves to a life of service. This is the life God gave to me (Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 1:25; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18) and now I am calling you to embrace the same.
Comments:
Romans 15:16
εἰς τὸ εἶναί με λειτουργὸν Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, ἱερουργοῦντα τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἵνα γένηται ἡ προσφορὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν εὐπρόσδεκτος, ἡγιασμένη ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ.
In order that I might be a priest of Christ Jesus to the nations, laboring for the gospel of God as a priest in order that the sacrifice of the nations might be acceptable, being cleansed by the Holy Spirit.
Paraphrase: Yes, God gave me this ministry in order that I might be Christ’s priest (Deuteronomy 10:8; Hebrews 10:11) to the gentile nations. Let me explain. First, I am following a liturgy. The liturgy I follow is the gospel which sets forth a righteousness which is a gift of God and is received by faith and which brings us a full forgiveness of all our sin. (Romans 1:16-17) I am the priest, and the sacrifice I offer is the gentile people. These people respond to the gospel by coming to Christ and offering themselves up to God, which is holy and acceptable to Him, and is their spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1) All this takes place, not by my own power or eloquence, but by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within them and us alike.
Comments:
Calvin (p527):
And doubtless this is the priesthood of the Christian pastor, that is, to sacrifice men, as it were, to God, by bringing them to obey the gospel, and not, as the Papists have hitherto haughtily vaunted, by offering up Christ to reconcile men to God.
Romans 15:17
Ἔχω οὖν τὴν καύχησιν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν.
Romans 15:18
οὐ γὰρ τολμήσω τι λαλεῖν, ὧν οὐ κατειργάσατο Χριστὸς δι’ ἐμοῦ, εἰς ὑπακοὴν ἐθνῶν, λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ,
Romans 15:19
ἐν δυνάμει σημείων καὶ τεράτων, ἐν δυνάμει Πνεύματος [θεοῦ]· ὥστε με ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ, καὶ κύκλῳ μέχρι τοῦ Ἰλλυρικοῦ, πεπληρωκέναι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
Paraphrase:
Comments:
Romans 15:20
οὕτως δὲ φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγελίζεσθαι οὐχ ὅπου ὠνομάσθη Χριστός, ἵνα μὴ ἐπ’ ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον οἰκοδομῶ.
Romans 15:21
ἀλλὰ, καθὼς γέγραπται· Ὄψονται, «οἷς οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη περὶ αὐτοῦ»· καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἀκηκόασιν συνήσουσιν.
Romans 15:22
Διὸ καὶ ἐνεκοπτόμην τὰ πολλὰ τοῦ ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
Therefore, even I was prevented many times to come to you.
Paraphrase: As a result of my evangelistic work (Romans 15:19), I simply could not make the trip to Rome. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to fit such a trip into my plans, but there was just too much work to be done here.
Comments:
Louw & Nida’s lexicon says that διο is an emphatic marker of a result, usually denoting that the inference is self-evident.
Romans 15:23
Νυνὶ δὲ, μηκέτι τόπον ἔχων ἐν τοῖς κλίμασι τούτοις, ἐπιποθίαν δὲ ἔχων τοῦ ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ ἱκανῶν ἐτῶν,
But now, no longer having place in these regions, now having an intense desire to come to you from many years.
Paraphrase: Now, however, things are starting to change. My sense is that my work here is drawing to a close, and it is time for me to move to new frontiers. (Romans 15:20) My earnest desire to visit you all, which I have had for many years, can now be satisfied.
Comments:
Romans 15:24
ὡς ἂν πορεύωμαι εἰς τὴν Σπανίαν ἐλπίζω γὰρ διαπορευόμενος θεάσασθαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ὑφ’ ὑμῶν προπεμφθῆναι ἐκεῖ, ἐὰν ὑμῶν πρῶτον ἀπὸ μέρους ἐμπλησθῶ.
Whenever I go into Spain, for I hope, while passing through, to see you and by you to be escorted there when by you first in part I am satisfied.
Paraphrase: My plan is to preach the gospel in Spain; and on the way there, I hope to stop in and see you all. My hope is that you will agree to be my sending church and to provide me with some support for my mission to Spain. If you are willing to do this, I would be so pleased.
Comments:
Moulton & Milligan list ἀπὸ μέρους as an adverbial phrase. (p399)
Note the anacoluthon; see Bullinger or Smyth §3005.
The support of the churches for ministry work is a common theme: Acts 15:3; 17:14; 20:38; 21:5; 1 Corinthians 16:6, 11; 3 John 6.
Romans 15:25
Νυνὶ δὲ πορεύομαι εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ, διακονῶν τοῖς ἁγίοις.
But now, I go to Jerusalem serving the saints.
Paraphrase: Before I start out for Spain, however, I need to deliver the money the churches collected (1 Corinthians 16:1-4) for the suffering saints in Jerusalem. (Acts 24:17)
Comments:
Romans 15:26
εὐδόκησαν γὰρ Μακεδονία καὶ Ἀχαΐα κοινωνίαν τινὰ ποιήσασθαι εἰς τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῶν ἁγίων τῶν ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ.
For Macedonia and Acaia were pleased to make some contribution for the poor of the saints, the ones in Jerusalem.
Paraphrase: This gift came from the saints in both north and southern Greece. They had heard of the suffering of the believers in Jerusalem and were eager to send a gift to help them.
Comments:
The cities Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Neapolis, Amphipolis, and Apollonia would have been in the north while Athens, Corinth, and Cenchrea were in the south.
Romans 15:27
εὐδόκησαν γάρ, καὶ ὀφειλέται εἰσὶν αὐτῶν. εἰ γὰρ τοῖς πνευματικοῖς αὐτῶν ἐκοινώνησαν τὰ ἔθνη, ὀφείλουσιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς σαρκικοῖς λειτουργῆσαι αὐτοῖς.
For they were pleased and are their debtors. For if in their spiritual things the gentiles shared, they ought even in the carnal things to serve.
Paraphrase: Yes, they were eager to help and why shouldn’t they have been? It was the beloved saints at Jerusalem who first taught the people in Rome (Acts 2:10) to seek after God and to receive from Him all the blessings of salvation. For this, they are forever indebted to them. Now having been so blessed spiritually, why should they not do what they can to relieve the physical needs of their brothers and sisters who are in so much hardship?
Comments:
Romans 15:28
Τοῦτο οὖν ἐπιτελέσας καὶ σφραγισάμενος αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπὸν τοῦτον, ἀπελεύσομαι δι’ ὑμῶν εἰς Σπανίαν.
Therefore, completing this and sealing to them this fruit, I will set out, through you, to Spain.
Paraphrase: So once I have delivered to the saints in Jerusalem the result of the generosity of the Grecian believers, I will head west. I need to make this delivery myself to ensure that it is delivered in its entirety and without any tampering. Then, I will turn west and head for Rome. I so look forward to meeting you all; then, onwards to Spain!
Comments:
What was being sealed here? Murray says the love of the Christian donors is sealed. Calvin (p536) that Paul’s own integrity is sealed. Diessmann (p238) that the correctness of the contents is guaranteed.
Romans 15:29
οἶδα δὲ ὅτι ἐρχόμενος πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἐν πληρώματι εὐλογίας Χριστοῦ ἐλεύσομαι.
Now I know that, coming to you, I will come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ.
Paraphrase: Now you can be sure of this. When I finally do arrive in Rome, I will bring with me all the fullness of the blessings that we have by our union with Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) You should prepare to receive these (Romans 1:11) because we know that our God loves to lavish all these on us (Ephesians 1:6-8) when we humbly turn to Him and ask for His grace. (Luke 11:9-13)
Comments:
Interpreting this verse in light of Romans 1:11, blessing would be the blessings which Christ gives to His people in the gospel.
- εὐλογίας is a genitive of apposition; the fullness which is the blessing
- Χριστοῦ is a subjective genitive; the blessing which Christ gives.
Romans 15:30
Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ Πνεύματος, συναγωνίσασθαί μοι ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν,
Now I exhort you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to struggle with me in prayers for me to God.
Paraphrase: Now, brothers, I beg you to join me in my wrestling before God in prayers. When I think of all that Christ has done for us (Galatians 3:13) and all what He has promised us (Matthew 28:20), then I must pray on. When I think of all that the Holy Spirit does for us before the throne of God (Romans 8:26), then I am encouraged to pray on. Please join me, brothers; we never know what a day will bring forth. Pray that God will keep us faithful (Jude 24-25; Philippians 1:9-11 ) and that His word might bear fruit amongst the nations. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
Comments:
Romans 15:31
ἵνα ῥυσθῶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀπειθούντων ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ, καὶ ἡ διακονία μου, ἡ εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ, εὐπρόσδεκτος τοῖς ἁγίοις γένηται,
In order that I might be rescued from the disobedient in Judea and that my ministry, the one to Jerusalem, might be well-received by the saints.
Paraphrase: Pray that I might be rescued from the hands of those who would do me harm. There are so many of my countrymen who do not obey the gospel of Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8) and are determined to silence me by any means. Pray that the gift I am bringing to Jerusalem would reach them safely and that it would be acceptable to them.
Comments:
Romans 15:32
ἵνα ἐν χαρᾷ, ἐλθὼν πρὸς ὑμᾶς διὰ θελήματος Θεοῦ, συναναπαύσωμαι ὑμῖν.
In order that in joy, coming to you through the will of God, I might be refreshed with you.
Paraphrase: Pray that I would safely reach you in Rome and that, by the good pleasure of our God and in His time, I might embrace you and rejoice with you together. Together, we can take courage in God and be refreshed by His mercies. (1 Samuel 30:6)
Comments:
Romans 15:33
Ὁ δὲ Θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν. ἀμήν.
Now the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
Paraphrase: Now may God be with you all; the same God who has reconciled all things to Himself, making peace by the blood of the cross. (Colossians 1:20 Ephesians 2:14)
Comments: