Romans 15
15
Patience and Self-Denial. 1We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves;#14:1–2. 2let each of us please our neighbor for the good, for building up.#14:1, 19; 1 Cor 9:19; 10:24, 33. 3For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written,#Ps 69:10. “The insults of those who insult you fall upon me.”#Liberation from the law of Moses does not make the scriptures of the old covenant irrelevant. Much consolation and motivation for Christian living can be derived from the Old Testament, as in the citation from Ps 69:10. Because this psalm is quoted several times in the New Testament, it has been called indirectly messianic. 4For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.#4:23–24; 1 Mc 12:9; 1 Cor 10:11; 2 Tm 3:16. 5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony#Think in harmony: a Greco-Roman ideal. Not rigid uniformity of thought and expression but thoughtful consideration of other people’s views finds expression here. with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus,#12:16; Phil 2:2; 4:2. 6that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s Fidelity and Mercy.#True oneness of mind is found in pondering the ultimate mission of the church: to bring it about that God’s name be glorified throughout the world and that Jesus Christ be universally recognized as God’s gift to all humanity. Paul here prepares his addressees for the climactic appeal he is about to make. 7Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.#14:1. 8For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs,#Mt 15:24 / Mi 7:20; Acts 3:25. 9but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles
and sing praises to your name.”#11:30 / 2 Sm 22:50; Ps 18:50.
10And again it says:#Dt 32:43.
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”#Paul’s citation of Dt 32:43 follows the Greek version.
11And again:
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him.”#Ps 117:1.
12And again Isaiah says:
“The root of Jesse shall come,
raised up to rule the Gentiles;
in him shall the Gentiles hope.”#Is 11:10; Rev 5:5; 22:16.
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.#5:1–2.
VII. CONCLUSION
Apostle to the Gentiles. 14#Paul sees himself as apostle and benefactor in the priestly service of the gospel and so sketches plans for a mission in Spain, supported by those in Rome. I myself am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness,#Full of goodness: the opposite of what humanity was filled with according to Rom 1:29–30. filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another. 15But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you, because of the grace given me by God#1:5; 12:3. 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the holy Spirit.#11:13; Phil 2:17. 17In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast in what pertains to God. 18For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,#Acts 15:12; 2 Cor 12:12. 19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit [of God], so that from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum#Illyricum: Roman province northwest of Greece on the eastern shore of the Adriatic. I have finished preaching the gospel of Christ. 20Thus I aspire#I aspire: Paul uses terminology customarily applied to philanthropists. Unlike some philanthropists of his time, Paul does not engage in cheap competition for public acclaim. This explanation of his missionary policy is to assure the Christians in Rome that he is also not planning to remain in that city and build on other people’s foundations (cf. 2 Cor 10:12–18). However, he does solicit their help in sending him on his way to Spain, which was considered the limit of the western world. Thus Paul’s addressees realize that evangelization may be understood in the broader sense of mission or, as in Rom 1:15, of instruction within the Christian community that derives from the gospel. to proclaim the gospel not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on another’s foundation,#2 Cor 10:13–18. 21but as it is written:#Is 52:15.
“Those who have never been told of him shall see,
and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”#The citation from Is 52:15 concerns the Servant of the Lord. According to Isaiah, the Servant is first of all Israel, which was to bring the knowledge of Yahweh to the nations. In Rom 9–11 Paul showed how Israel failed in this mission. Therefore, he himself undertakes almost singlehandedly Israel’s responsibility as the Servant and moves as quickly as possible with the gospel through the Roman empire.
Paul’s Plans; Need for Prayers. 22That is why I have so often been prevented from coming to you. 23But now, since I no longer have any opportunity in these regions and since I have desired to come to you for many years,#1:10–13; Acts 19:21–22. 24I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain and to be sent on my way there by you, after I have enjoyed being with you for a time.#1 Cor 16:6. 25#Paul may have viewed the contribution he was gathering from Gentile Christians for the poor in Jerusalem (cf. 2 Cor 8–9) as a fulfillment of the vision of Is 60:5–6. In confidence that the messianic fulfillment was taking place, Paul stresses in Rom 14–16 the importance of harmonious relationships between Jews and Gentiles. Now, however, I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the holy ones.#Acts 19:21; 20:22. 26For Macedonia and Achaia#Achaia: the Roman province of southern Greece. have decided to make some contribution for the poor among the holy ones in Jerusalem;#1 Cor 16:1; 2 Cor 8:1–4; 9:2, 12. 27they decided to do it, and in fact they are indebted to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to serve them in material blessings.#9:4 / 1 Cor 9:11. 28So when I have completed this and safely handed over this contribution to them, I shall set out by way of you to Spain; 29and I know that in coming to you I shall come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.
30I urge you, [brothers,] by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in the struggle by your prayers to God on my behalf,#2 Cor 1:11; Phil 1:27; Col 4:3; 2 Thes 3:1. 31that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Judea, and that my ministry for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the holy ones, 32so that I may come to you with joy by the will of God and be refreshed together with you. 33The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.#16:20; 2 Cor 13:11; Phil 4:9; 1 Thes 5:23; 2 Thes 3:16; Heb 13:20.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Romans 15
15
Please Others and Not Yourself
1If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. 3#Ps 69.9. Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” 4#1 Macc 12.9; 2 Macc 15.9. And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Good News Is for Jews and Gentiles
7Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you. 8I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came, 9#2 S 22.50; Ps 18.49. so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them. It is just as the Scriptures say,
“I will tell the nations
about you,
and I will sing praises
to your name.”
10 #
Dt 32.43. The Scriptures also say to the Gentiles, “Come and celebrate with God's people.”
11 #
Ps 117.1. Again the Scriptures say,
“Praise the Lord,
all you Gentiles.
All you nations, come
and worship him.”
12 # Is 11.10 (LXX). Isaiah says,
“Someone from David's family
will come to power.
He will rule the nations,
and they will put their hope
in him.”
13I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Paul's Work as a Missionary
14My friends, I am sure that you are very good and that you have all the knowledge you need to teach each other. 15But I have spoken to you plainly and have tried to remind you of some things. God treated me with undeserved grace! 16He chose me to be a servant of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles and to do the work of a priest in the service of his good news. God did this so that the Holy Spirit could make the Gentiles into a holy offering, pleasing to him.
17Because of Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my service for God. 18In fact, all I will talk about is how Christ let me speak and work, so that the Gentiles would obey him. 19Indeed, I will tell how Christ worked miracles and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have preached the good news about him all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum. 20But I have always tried to preach where people have never heard about Christ. I am like a builder who doesn't build on someone else's foundation. 21#Is 52.15 (LXX). It is just as the Scriptures say,
“All who haven't been told
about him
will see him,
and those who haven't heard
about him
will understand.”
Paul's Plan To Visit Rome
22 #
Ro 1.13. My work has always kept me from coming to see you. 23Now there is nothing left for me to do in this part of the world, and for years I have wanted to visit you. 24So I plan to stop off on my way to Spain. Then after a short, but refreshing, visit with you, I hope you will quickly send me on.
25-26 #
1 Co 16.1-4. I am now on my way to Jerusalem to deliver the money that the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia collected for God's needy people. 27#1 Co 9.11. This is something they really wanted to do. But sharing their money with the Jews was also like paying back a debt, because the Jews had already shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles. 28After I have safely delivered this money, I will visit you and then go on to Spain. 29And when I do arrive in Rome, I know it will be with the full blessings of Christ.
30My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me. 31Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing. 32Ask God to let me come to you and have a pleasant and refreshing visit. 33I pray that God, who gives peace, will be with all of you. Amen.
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