So then we who are strong have a duty to bear with the
weaknesses of those who are not strong, rather than to
please ourselves.
Paul makes this statement in reference to his last
statement of the previous chapter regarding those who
are weak in the faith and cannot see that it is lawful to
eat meat that God has created to be eaten. But the
statement is a principle that should not be lost to the
example given. People who are called to the faith are
from all walks of life and have all sorts of scruples. One
who is strong should think first about how his actions
will affect these weak ones and seek to do what will
further their being rooted in the faith rather than to
please himself for the moment.
This does not mean that we are never to speak of
differences for fear of offending others. There are ways
of bringing truth to a person's attention without
offending. Of course, we have all tried to "grace" people
with the truth when they were not ready to receive it. I
suppose the best way to learn truth is when it is taught
and the person who needs to change realizes that the
teacher does not even know about them or their
misunderstanding. Some few people can change when
initiating a question and receiving an answer. But the
majority of people will resist truth if they perceive it as a
rebuff, for they feel they are being rejected.
The word <bear> is understood in the sense of bearing
with. In other words, it is a burden to carry when people
don't understand the truth and one has to hold back, in
living according to his accustomed way, when around
such people. There is a resistance in such relationships
and the person who is right has to give-in to the person
who is wrong. And in most cases, the person who is
wrong will never know that he is placing a burden on his
brother.
The word <infirmities> means error arising from
weakness of mind. In other words, only a person with a
weak mind could come to the conclusion that it is not OK
to eat a tender well-cooked steak! All one has to do is
look at the many OT references requiring the priests to
eat meat. One is given below, for example. God
commanded that the priests eat the meat and declared
that it was <holy>. It is obvious that only a weak-minded
person could continue to believe that it was wrong to eat
such meat after reading God's word on the matter.
Lev 6:25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law
of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed
shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place
shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when
there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt
wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,
and not to please ourselves.
Let each one of us strive to please his neighbor for his
edification to righteousness.
Here Paul further admonishes us to put the other person
first! In other words, we are the servants. We are to
seek to do whatever it takes to build up and bring him
eventually to the point of seeing and doing from the
heart what is right.
Our object should not be to just let him be ignorant to
the truth, but to be very careful how we approach the
subject so that he will eventually embrace the truth. The
word <good> here means upright and honorable. The
word <edification> means to build up. It is obvious that
this person is <weak> and needs to be strengthened.
Only when one is strong can he do what is right and
honorable. But this usually must be accomplished by an
inspirational approach toward the weaker brother. A
light is turned on in his head and he realizes that he has
been wrong and he changes.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to
edification.
For even the Christ did not please Himself; but as it is
written, The insults that were hurled at you have fallen
on me.
Psalms 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the
reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
Paul says that even the Messiah did not seek to please
Himself. He was the Master! He is the one we are to
follow. It is obvious that if He had sought to please
Himself, He would have never submitted to being hung
on the tree. But through His suffering we can be set free
from all our sins and weaknesses.
At this point, Paul used a reference from Psalms, and it
shows the fulfillment of this prophecy as well as
illustrates Paul's point. As John puts it, "they hated Him
without a cause" and He bore it so that we might live.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled
that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. (Ps 69:
4)
As fleshly beings, we don't like for our peers to put us
down. We don't take it well when we are wrongly treated
because we know that we are in the same category as all
other humans. But here we see that the Messiah, who
was in a category above us, bore ill treatment from those
on a lower level! Surely we can bear up with such
treatment from the same level. And even though He was
from a higher level, He forgave their lack of
understanding, even when it was translated into beating,
spitting, and death for Him!
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The
reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
For, whatever was written in former days was written for
our doctrine, that through the endurance and comfort of
the scriptures we might have hope.
Here Paul seems to be giving a reason why he used
scriptures from the OT to prove his point. Paul's usage
is not always crystal clear when he quotes such OT
scriptures to prove or enhance his point. Sometimes
there is a bare essence, in the scripture used, to prove
his point; but it lends inspiration to the statement or
instruction at hand.
Paul says that what was "written aforetime" was written
for our learning, instruction, or doctrine. This was a
colorful way of saying that what was written in the
Scriptures, which at that time included the OT Scriptures
only - was for our doctrine today! This word <learning>
#1319 is used only 21 times in the NT and the KJV
translators chose to translate it as <doctrine> 19 times!
Why not here? That which was written in the Old
Testament must be used for our doctrine as well as what
is written in the NT.
And the reason for this doctrine is so that we can see
that these scriptures have endured (patience). We are
then comforted from them and this results in hope. In
other words, we look at the scriptures of the OT and see
that God's words have endured throughout all time and
are found to be true. They comfort us, for we know that
they are true and this gives us hope for the future. We
can see that God is on time with His schedule and will
not fail to bring it to pass.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope.
Now the God of patient endurance and encouragement
grant you to think like Him one toward another by
following the example of Joshua, the Messiah.
Here Paul appeals to God, who patiently continues to
endure and encourage His people, to grant to His people
the capacity to think like Him in regards to how we see
one another. We do this be following in the footsteps of
the Messiah.
The words: "to be <846> likeminded <5426> (5721)" bear
studying. The word #846 primarily means <him>. The
word #5426 means <think>. To translate literally Paul
would be asking God to grant you to <Him think>. In
other words, to think like <him> and the <him> here is
God! Therefore, Paul is not saying that we are to think
like one another independently of God, but we are to
think like God one toward another.
*******************************************************
846 autov autos ow-tos'
from the particle au [perhaps akin to the base of 109
through the idea of a baffling wind] (backward);; pron
AV-him 1952, his 1084, their 318, he 253, her 242, they
121, same 80, himself 58, misc 1679; 5787
1) himself, herself, themselves, itself
2) he, she, it
3) the same
*******************************************************
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be
likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
So that you with one mind and one mouth may glorify
God, even the Father of our Master - Joshua, the
Messiah.
Paul explains his statement in the previous verse. We
are to have one mind and one mouth so that we may
glorify God. Now it is obvious that if this is true, it can
only happen if we think like God toward each other.
The word #3661 (with one mind) is interesting in the
Greek language. Notice what Online Bible says about
this word:
"A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament
occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand
the uniqueness of the Christian community.
Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to
"rush along" and "in unison". The image is almost
musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while
different, harmonise in pitch and tone. As the
instruments of a great concert under the direction of a
concert master, so the Holy Spirit (My Note: God through
His holy spirit) blends together the lives of members of
Christ's church."
God through His holy spirit blends together the lives of
the members of the body of the Christ much as a concert
master directs and blends together the instruments of a
great orchestra. It is the Father who does the
orchestration. We become instruments to praise and
glorify God when we yield to His direction.
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For this reason then receive one another, as the Christ
also received us, for the glory of God.
So then, if we believe and understand that God is our
Master and we are to respond to His direction we ought
to be friends one to another! The word <receive>
denotes the sense of being friends. For after all, the
Messiah received us as friends. If we are brothers, we
are friends. And the reason we respond to one another
as friends is for the glory of God!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not
what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I
have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to
the glory of God.
For I tell you that Joshua, the Messiah was a servant of
the circumcision (the Jews) to show God's truthfulness,
by confirming the promises made to the fathers.
The Messiah came as a servant to the Jews. Paul
explains the reasons for this. God was shown to be true
to His word because He promised a Messiah to the
fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and now He had
fulfilled that promise. Paul is not saying here that the
Jews recognized the fulfillment of this promise of God,
but that this is the reason for the Messiah coming as a
servant. For the promises required that the Messiah die
the first time in order to ransom man from the world and
to reconcile his sins.
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for
the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
And so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His
mercy. As it is written, Therefore (for this cause) I will
praise you among the Gentiles (heathen), and sing
praises to your name.
Psalms 18:49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD,
among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Paul continues from the previous verse, the Messiah also
came as a servant so that a way could be made for the
Gentiles so that they too could glorify or praise God for
His mercy toward them. This was also a fulfillment of the
prophecy of Psalms 18:49, which showed that God would
be praised among the Gentiles and songs of praise for
Him would be raised among them as well as among the
Jews.
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is
written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles,
and sing unto thy name.
And again the scriptures say, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with
His people.
Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he
will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to
his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his
people.
The prophecy of Deuteronomy showed that a time would
come when the Gentiles would rejoice before God with
the people of God - the Israelites. Of course, by the time
the Messiah came only the Jews were being nominally
faithful to Him and had come to be known as God's
people. But Paul is showing from these scriptures that
God had planned all along that the Gentiles would
become a part of His salvation.
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
And again the scriptures say, Praise the Lord all you
Gentiles; and laud Him all you people.
Psalms 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye
people.
Another prophecy from the Psalms showed that God
wanted all peoples of the earth to praise Him and look to
Him for His way of life and ultimate salvation.
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye
people.
And again, Isaiah says, A descendant of Jesse will
appear; He will come to lead the Gentiles and they shall
trust in Him.
Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which
shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek:
and his rest shall be glorious.
Paul pulls still another prophecy from the OT. This time
he takes a reference from Isaiah. The Greek and Hebrew
are very close in these two verses. The Messiah was a
descendant of Jesse. He became an ensign or standard
bearer for the people, including the Gentiles. And the
Gentiles, the thrust of Paul's teaching here, would come
to trust in Him. Apparently most of the problems among
the believers in Rome were between Gentiles and Jews.
Some of the Gentiles thought one should not eat meat,
or drink wine. And the Jews thought that certain days
should be included in the "Church Calendar". Both sides
had wrongs and Paul was showing the Jews that God
had prophesied that the Gentiles would be brought into
His plan of salvation. The Jews were stronger in some
areas, but the Gentiles were not always wrong because
sometimes the Jews allowed their culture to get in the
way of what was important. They were to all be friends
as believers of the faith so that all could eventually come
to the fullness of the stature of the Messiah who came to
die for both the Jews and the Gentiles.
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he
that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles
trust.
May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and
peace in faith that you may abound in hope through the
power of the holy spirit.
Paul brings several thoughts to this sentence. He shows
that God is a God of hope. God makes good things
happen and He can be relied on to always do the right
thing and never fail. God can and will fill us with joy and
peace in the faith. There are three thoughts in that one
statement. God is the source of joy. God is the source
of peace. God is the one who can keep us in the faith.
And another thought, God will fill us with joy and peace
only so long as we continue in the faith. This is not
some organization that Paul is referring to, but a way of
life that understands and abides by the covenant that
God binds upon us at baptism.
And what is the purpose of all this? That we may abound
or overflow with hope. And this is all made possible by
the power of the holy spirit. God's hope overflows
through the holy spirit into our lives to fill us with joy and
peace in the faith.
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
I personally am convinced, my brothers, that you also are
full of goodness, filled with knowledge, and able also to
counsel one another.
Personally, Paul had come to the point that he believed
that those at Rome were ready and willing to do the right
and kind thing toward their brothers. That they had
ample knowledge to make the right decisions and were
stable enough to counsel one another to do the kind and
right thing.
Paul is appealing to the noble side of their character,
realizing that they had the holy spirit, if they were indeed
brothers, and could proceed to do the kind and right
thing toward their brothers in these matters of food,
drinks, and days.
If we have the holy spirit, and the Bible, we should be
able to discern the right action we are called to make in
all aspects of our life. We have the resources within and
from above.
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye
also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to
admonish one another.
But, brethren, I have written quite boldly about certain
subjects, as a reminder. I have been bold because of the
privilege God has given me, that I should be a servant of
Joshua, the Messiah to the Gentiles. I am a servant of
the gospel of God, in order that the Gentiles may be an
offering acceptable to God, dedicated to Him in the holy
spirit.
Paul continued that even though they had adequate
knowledge he was taking this opportunity to write to
them in a bold manner about certain problems they were
having, to remind them how they ought to respond to
one another and before God.
Paul's boldness was because God had called him for the
purpose of being an apostle to the Gentiles and he was
not slack in his duties of teaching them the correct
manner of living. God had given Paul this privilege. God
had favored him with this commission; and he was
making sure that he did his part as the helper of their
salvation. He wanted to remind them of certain things
and give them several new perspectives on the matters
that were troubling them so they could make a good
decision.
Paul was a servant of the Messiah. For the Messiah had
called him to this service. And Paul told the Romans that
in a way he was standing as a priest of the Old Covenant
who was offering to them the gospel of God and in turn
that when the Gentiles were offered up to God they
would be found acceptable to Him. That they would be
found to be dedicated to God. And this would be made
possible because of the indwelling of the holy spirit of
God.
The word <ministering> is used of a priest in the temple
who carried out the duties of the temple as God had
foreordained. God had made Paul a servant or minister
of the gospel. He was carrying out his duties as he had
been instructed. It was left up to the Romans to make
sure they took advantage of his teachings so that their
salvation would be sure.
*******************************************************
2418 ierourgew hierourgeo hee-er-oorg-eh'-o
from a compound of 2411 and the base of 2041; TDNT-3:
251,349; v
AV-minister 1; 1
1) to minister in the manner of a priest, minister in
priestly service
1a) of those who defend the sanctity of the law by
undergoing a violent death
1b) of the preaching of the gospel
*******************************************************
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you
in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is
given to me of God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles
might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
In this section we have seen that the strong should be
willing to suffer so as not to offend the weak. But we are
not to leave the weak brother in a vacuum. We are to
help him to see the right as a friend. Paul gives the
Messiah as our example who bore shame and sorrows
for our cause. Even as the Messiah was our friend, even
so are we to be friends to each other. We are to do what
we do for the glory of God. Paul then goes into several
OT scriptures to show that God had made promises to
the Gentiles as well as the Jews and that the Messiah
came to fulfill promises made to both of these peoples.
He shows that God is the God of hope and we must
receive joy and peace in the faith through the power of
the holy spirit. Paul appealed to the noble side of their
character to be kind and do the right thing as God
supplied them with His power. But he also let them know
that he had been given a job to preach the right way of
life to them and had been bold to do so. For Paul's
commission was from God and for their good, and he
had no inclination to shirk his duty to God.
In Joshua, the Messiah, then, I have legitimate reason to
glory in what I have accomplished concerning the things
of God.
In verses 15-16 Paul upheld his ministry. Here he
continues to show that he has a legitimate reason to
glory in his ministry. He gives all the glory to God for he
acknowledges that it is "in Messiah, Joshua," that he has
been able to accomplish the work given to him. As long
as we give God the glory for what He accomplishes in us
we cannot go wrong. It is when man begins to project
himself as the important element that he begins to go
wrong. God can raise up stones to do His ministry. God
does give gifts to the believers according to His good
will. And we should all be able to glory in what God is
doing through us. Then when we have accomplished
things concerning God we too can glory in God knowing
that it is only because He made of us living stones to
accomplish His will and for His glory.
17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in
those things which pertain to God.
I will be bold and speak only about what the Messiah has
done through me to lead the Gentiles to obey God.
Paul says that he will not lack in boldness or in other
words he would be bold to speak about or declare what
the Messiah had done through him. In other words, all
that Paul had accomplished, worth talking about, was
through God and according to His will. Anything Paul
had done on his own was better left without saying.
What interested Paul was how that God through him had
led the Gentiles to obey God.
Here again we have the word <obedient> or <obey>. The
covenant that God makes with us is to obey His ten
commandments. Paul was not against this obedience. In
fact Paul's whole mission was to bring the Gentiles into
obedience of the ten commandments. They had been
without the knowledge of the law and now they were also
being brought to the light of God's requirements. The
law is a lamp to our paths. The Gentiles had been
walking in darkness. Now the light of the law was
shining on the path for them just as it had for the Jews.
In fact, the light of the law was much greater for them
because the Jews had allowed themselves to be
sidetracked by the temple rituals to the point that they
were receiving only the glow of reflected light. They
were unwilling to leave the light of the moon for the light
of the sun. But, through Paul's teaching the Gentiles
were allowing the bright light of the law to shine on the
paths of their lives so they could clearly see how to walk
in righteousness.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ
hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word
and deed,
My teaching has been accompanied with mighty signs
and wonders, made possible by the power of the spirit of
God. So, in my travels from Jerusalem to Illyricum, I
have fully proclaimed the gospel of the Messiah.
Paul says that mighty signs and wonders had
accompanied his teaching efforts. This would cause us
to recall the man who fell from the window and was
dead. Paul prayed for him and he was raised to life
again. We would remember the time the poisonous
serpent bit Paul and he shook it off and nothing came of
the bite. The time Paul and Silas were in jail and they
began singing and the locks on the jail doors fell off and
the doors swung open. Paul's work was filled with
miracles. And of course, all of these miracles were
accomplished by the power of God's spirit.
Paul says that Jerusalem and Illyricum are the two points
of the extremities of his ministry at the time of this
writing. We are all familiar with Jerusalem, but we may
not be so familiar with Illyricum. Illyricum was a country
to the northwest of Macedonia, on the eastern shores of
the Adriatic Sea. It was apparently a Roman province at
the time of Paul's writing. This was the most distant
district that Paul had gone preaching the gospel at the
time of writing the book of Romans. If Paul had been to
Rome, it could be that as he was writing to the Romans
he did not include Rome in this area.
Paul said that he had <fully> preached the gospel of the
Messiah. There is probably more in this statement than
at first meets the eye. Paul not only means that he has
relayed the full truth about the coming of the Messiah
and His mission and what it meant to the Gentiles as well
as the Jews, but he also means that the ministry was well
received by many people and they had responded to his
ministry. He could claim many children in the Lord as he
had established many assemblies in the landmass from
Jerusalem to Illyricum. Not that Paul had established any
groups of believers in Jerusalem, but that these two
points were the extremities of his efforts.
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of
God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have
fully preached the gospel of Christ.
I have been ambitious to preach the gospel, in places
where the Messiah has not been heard of, so as not to
build on a foundation laid by someone else.
Paul was not lazy in his approach to preach the gospel.
He had a great ambition to make known the message of
the Messiah who had entered into the world. He wanted
to tell them about His mission and especially what it
meant to those other than the Jews. He mainly taught in
areas where others had not been. Paul was willing to go
out into the areas of the world full of dangers - to those
who would bring in a strange new religion. He felt the
urge to stretch the limits of the world at that time, to
cultivate in a garden full of stumps and rocks in order to
preach the gospel into all the world.
Today many are trying to build on the foundation of the
past. Some will be bold enough to step out into areas
where the true gospel is not yet known. The ministry of
others will be in the area of trying to support those who
knew the truth but are groping in the fog of error that is
rising up around them. God through His holy spirit will
lead each of us with the gifts He has given us to fulfill His
will.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ
was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
As the scripture says, They shall see who have never
been told of Him, and they shall understand who have
never heard.
Isaiah 52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut
their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall
they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
In other words, Paul was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah
52:15 by not laying on the foundation of others. He was
preaching the gospel about the Messiah to those who did
not even know about the law, to those who had never
owned a copy of the Old Testament. They had not had
the opportunity to read about or hear about the coming
Messiah until Paul's ministry came to them.
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall
see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
This is the reason why I have often been hindered from
coming to visit you.
At this point, Paul begins to speak about his desire to
visit the believers in Rome. It is possible that Paul had
never been in Rome at this point in his life. If so, he is
writing this letter to them to make up for not having been
there in person to give them the words of life. If Paul had
not been to Rome, then it is obvious that others had
been in Rome. And one reason Paul might have been
holding back could have been that he would have then
been "laying on another's man's foundation". Therefore,
this could also be the reason Paul had not gone to
Rome. Further, because of his ambition in preaching the
gospel, in areas where it had not yet been preached, he
could not go to Rome. Every time he would think about
going to Rome, Paul would be inspired to go over to
another village and open the gospel to them. Paul was
ambitiously following the lead of the holy spirit to get the
message out, and the fields were so ripe for harvest, that
he could not let go of the reaping tools long enough to
go to Rome.
Another approach is that Paul may have been to Rome,
for he would not build on another foundation where
others had worked. There are pros and cons throughout
the book of Romans concerning this subject. I have
endeavored to not take sides on this issue for that is not
the central purpose of my writing at this time. I have
wished to explore the core message of the book instead.
22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming
to you.
But now that I have finished my work in these regions
and since I have been wanting for so many years to come
to see you, I hope to do so now. I would like to see you
on my way to Spain, and be helped by you to go there,
after I have enjoyed visiting you for a while.
Paul's work was now completed in the areas where he
had gone. It seems that his ministry was in a lull,
perhaps the reason he had time to write this letter to the
Romans. And as he had wanted for years to visit Rome,
he was full of hope that now was the time. His plans
were to eventually go to Spain. It is doubtful that he ever
completed that ambition. He was hoping that the
Romans would help him in that endeavor after he had
enjoyed visiting them for a while.
23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great
desire these many years to come unto you;
24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for
I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way
thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
For the present, however, I am going to Jerusalem to
bring relief for God's people there.
Paul explained to the Romans in this letter that he was
going to Jerusalem to take some contributions of relief to
the believers there. This could have been the trip that
Paul made where he was captured and eventually sent to
Rome for the first time as a prisoner. If this is the case,
Paul must have considered that although a church had
been established at Rome by someone else and he would
be building on their foundation that there was too much
left undone that needed to be finished.
25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and
Achaia to make some contribution for the poor among
the saints of Jerusalem.
Now this is an interesting turn of events. God in His
wisdom had allowed poverty to come to the Jews in
Jerusalem. They had looked upon the Gentiles as sub-
human before their conversion and after their conversion
they still felt superior to the Gentiles. But circumstances
had brought poverty to the Jewish believers and here the
Gentiles of Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make
up a contribution for the relief of the poor saints at
Jerusalem.
Imagine how this affected the Jewish believers at
Jerusalem. Imagine how their hearts were softened
toward these Gentiles who were coming to their rescue
in their time of need. After acts of this kind, one begins
to have a change of mind toward those to whom he once
felt superior. Sometimes we wonder why we must suffer
loss. God in His wisdom brings us through riches and
poverty to make of us vessels that are well developed in
godly love.
26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a
certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
It has pleased the Macedonians and Achaians to do this,
and they are in debt to them, for since the Jews shared
their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles, the Gentiles
ought to use their material blessings to help the Jews.
Paul shows another side of the coin. The Macedonians
and Achaians really had a debt of love to the Jews. God
had given the truth to the Jews. The Messiah was
Himself a Jew. And a few of the Jews had been willing to
break rank and carry the gospel to the Gentiles. So, the
Gentiles could now return that love by sharing their
material blessings to help the Jews!
27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the
Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their
duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
Therefore, when I have completed this mission, and have
delivered to them what has been raised, I shall leave for
Spain and visit you on my way there.
So, Paul's intentions were to take the collection, perhaps
of money, to the poor and needy saints in Jerusalem.
Once he had turned this collection over to the Jews, it
was his intentions to leave Jerusalem for Spain. But he
fully intended to stop at Rome on his way to Spain and
visit the believers at Rome. If this was the time of Paul's
capture in Jerusalem, it is obvious that he did not get to
fulfill his intentions further than his trip to Jerusalem.
After that he went to Rome by an appeal to Caesar and
probably never made it on into Spain.
28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them
this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
And I know that when I come to you, I shall come with a
full measure of the blessing <of the gospel> of the
Messiah.
The words <of the gospel> are missing in most of the
manuscripts. If the words are suppose to be included, it
is obvious that Paul was confident that he would be able
to expound the gospel of the Messiah to their full benefit
when he arrived. Of course, if the words are left out, we
see an even greater fullness possible. The full measure
of the blessing of the Messiah would include the blessing
of the gospel, but it would also include the blessing of
miracles. Either way, it is obvious that Paul fully
expected that his ministry would be rich with converts
and an establishment of the assembly in gifts and
understanding of the good news about the Messiah who
was the Savior of the world.
29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the
fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Brethren, I beseech you, by our Master, Joshua, the
Messiah, and by the love of the spirit, that you join me in
fervent prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be
delivered from the unbelievers in Judea. And that God’s
people there may graciously receive my mission of relief
to Jerusalem. So that by the will of God I may then come
to you with joy, and may be refreshed in your company.
Paul appealed to the Romans through their mutual love
for God, and His Son, made possible by the indwelling of
the holy spirit that they would pray fervently to God on
his behalf. He wanted to be able to visit Jerusalem and
deliver the collection from the Gentiles to the Jewish
believers at Jerusalem without having to suffer harm
from the unbelieving Jews. Paul knew he had enemies at
Jerusalem and that they would not hesitate to kill him for
having turned against Judaism. This certainly indicates
that this was just before Paul's capture in Jerusalem and
his subsequent voyage to Rome as a prisoner. Paul also
had concern that the believers in Jerusalem might be too
proud to accept help from the hands of the Gentiles. So
he asked the Romans to pray for that as well. The end
results he hoped for was that he would be able to
accomplish his mission without harm and to at last be on
his way to Spain, in which he would stop by and be
refreshed in the company of the Roman believers.
30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake,
and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your
prayers to God for me;
31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea;
and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of
the saints;
32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may
with you be refreshed.
May the God of peace be with all of you. So be it.
This seems to be the end of the "letter-proper" from Paul
to the Romans although we still have another chapter
with the salutation. Paul sent a blessing their way from
God. May the God of peace be with all of you. In other
words, may you have peace from the One, who is able to
give you peace. So may it be. This was Paul's desire for
the believers at Roman.
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Paul is winding down his letter to the Romans. He had
reason to be joyful at this point that God had made
converts from Jerusalem to Illyricum through his
ministry. He was careful to give God the glory and not
take it to himself. He basically taught where others had
not gone. This caused the gospel to be spread more
rapidly as many were not bold enough to take on the
then known Roman world outside their own small world.
Some seem to think that Paul definitely had not yet been
to Rome. This seems to go against his point of not
laying on the foundation of others. If Paul had never
been to Rome, who carried the gospel to the Romans?
How did Paul become connected with the Romans? Why
did Paul decide to break with his past principle of not
laying on another man's foundation? And yet, it sounds
like Paul had never yet been taken prisoner at
Jerusalem. Was he dreading to go to Jerusalem because
of his past capture there, or did he dread to go just
because he knew he had enemies there. Perhaps with
the study of all of Paul's writings and the book of Acts
this would become clear.
It is clear that Paul's work had come to a close in the
regions he had been working in at the time of this
writing. He was ready to push out further. He had
dreams of going to Spain and spreading the gospel
there. His plans were to take a collection made among
the Gentiles to the believers at Jerusalem who had hit on
hard times and then to leave Jerusalem and travel by way
of Rome to Spain. This does cause one to believe that
his plans were interrupted because he was taken
prisoner and he did indeed go to Rome, but perhaps
never reached Spain.
It is obvious that Paul was worried about his trip into
Jerusalem and he asked the Romans in his letter to pray
for his safety and that the Jewish believers would
graciously receive the gift collected among the Gentiles
at Macedonia and Achaia.
Home
Commentaries
Chapter:
One
Two
Three
Four
Four Continued
Five
Six
Seven
Seven Continued
Eight
Eight Continued
weaknesses of those who are not strong, rather than to
please ourselves.
Paul makes this statement in reference to his last
statement of the previous chapter regarding those who
are weak in the faith and cannot see that it is lawful to
eat meat that God has created to be eaten. But the
statement is a principle that should not be lost to the
example given. People who are called to the faith are
from all walks of life and have all sorts of scruples. One
who is strong should think first about how his actions
will affect these weak ones and seek to do what will
further their being rooted in the faith rather than to
please himself for the moment.
This does not mean that we are never to speak of
differences for fear of offending others. There are ways
of bringing truth to a person's attention without
offending. Of course, we have all tried to "grace" people
with the truth when they were not ready to receive it. I
suppose the best way to learn truth is when it is taught
and the person who needs to change realizes that the
teacher does not even know about them or their
misunderstanding. Some few people can change when
initiating a question and receiving an answer. But the
majority of people will resist truth if they perceive it as a
rebuff, for they feel they are being rejected.
The word <bear> is understood in the sense of bearing
with. In other words, it is a burden to carry when people
don't understand the truth and one has to hold back, in
living according to his accustomed way, when around
such people. There is a resistance in such relationships
and the person who is right has to give-in to the person
who is wrong. And in most cases, the person who is
wrong will never know that he is placing a burden on his
brother.
The word <infirmities> means error arising from
weakness of mind. In other words, only a person with a
weak mind could come to the conclusion that it is not OK
to eat a tender well-cooked steak! All one has to do is
look at the many OT references requiring the priests to
eat meat. One is given below, for example. God
commanded that the priests eat the meat and declared
that it was <holy>. It is obvious that only a weak-minded
person could continue to believe that it was wrong to eat
such meat after reading God's word on the matter.
Lev 6:25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law
of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed
shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place
shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when
there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt
wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,
and not to please ourselves.
Let each one of us strive to please his neighbor for his
edification to righteousness.
Here Paul further admonishes us to put the other person
first! In other words, we are the servants. We are to
seek to do whatever it takes to build up and bring him
eventually to the point of seeing and doing from the
heart what is right.
Our object should not be to just let him be ignorant to
the truth, but to be very careful how we approach the
subject so that he will eventually embrace the truth. The
word <good> here means upright and honorable. The
word <edification> means to build up. It is obvious that
this person is <weak> and needs to be strengthened.
Only when one is strong can he do what is right and
honorable. But this usually must be accomplished by an
inspirational approach toward the weaker brother. A
light is turned on in his head and he realizes that he has
been wrong and he changes.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to
edification.
For even the Christ did not please Himself; but as it is
written, The insults that were hurled at you have fallen
on me.
Psalms 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the
reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
Paul says that even the Messiah did not seek to please
Himself. He was the Master! He is the one we are to
follow. It is obvious that if He had sought to please
Himself, He would have never submitted to being hung
on the tree. But through His suffering we can be set free
from all our sins and weaknesses.
At this point, Paul used a reference from Psalms, and it
shows the fulfillment of this prophecy as well as
illustrates Paul's point. As John puts it, "they hated Him
without a cause" and He bore it so that we might live.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled
that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. (Ps 69:
4)
As fleshly beings, we don't like for our peers to put us
down. We don't take it well when we are wrongly treated
because we know that we are in the same category as all
other humans. But here we see that the Messiah, who
was in a category above us, bore ill treatment from those
on a lower level! Surely we can bear up with such
treatment from the same level. And even though He was
from a higher level, He forgave their lack of
understanding, even when it was translated into beating,
spitting, and death for Him!
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The
reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
For, whatever was written in former days was written for
our doctrine, that through the endurance and comfort of
the scriptures we might have hope.
Here Paul seems to be giving a reason why he used
scriptures from the OT to prove his point. Paul's usage
is not always crystal clear when he quotes such OT
scriptures to prove or enhance his point. Sometimes
there is a bare essence, in the scripture used, to prove
his point; but it lends inspiration to the statement or
instruction at hand.
Paul says that what was "written aforetime" was written
for our learning, instruction, or doctrine. This was a
colorful way of saying that what was written in the
Scriptures, which at that time included the OT Scriptures
only - was for our doctrine today! This word <learning>
#1319 is used only 21 times in the NT and the KJV
translators chose to translate it as <doctrine> 19 times!
Why not here? That which was written in the Old
Testament must be used for our doctrine as well as what
is written in the NT.
And the reason for this doctrine is so that we can see
that these scriptures have endured (patience). We are
then comforted from them and this results in hope. In
other words, we look at the scriptures of the OT and see
that God's words have endured throughout all time and
are found to be true. They comfort us, for we know that
they are true and this gives us hope for the future. We
can see that God is on time with His schedule and will
not fail to bring it to pass.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope.
Now the God of patient endurance and encouragement
grant you to think like Him one toward another by
following the example of Joshua, the Messiah.
Here Paul appeals to God, who patiently continues to
endure and encourage His people, to grant to His people
the capacity to think like Him in regards to how we see
one another. We do this be following in the footsteps of
the Messiah.
The words: "to be <846> likeminded <5426> (5721)" bear
studying. The word #846 primarily means <him>. The
word #5426 means <think>. To translate literally Paul
would be asking God to grant you to <Him think>. In
other words, to think like <him> and the <him> here is
God! Therefore, Paul is not saying that we are to think
like one another independently of God, but we are to
think like God one toward another.
*******************************************************
846 autov autos ow-tos'
from the particle au [perhaps akin to the base of 109
through the idea of a baffling wind] (backward);; pron
AV-him 1952, his 1084, their 318, he 253, her 242, they
121, same 80, himself 58, misc 1679; 5787
1) himself, herself, themselves, itself
2) he, she, it
3) the same
*******************************************************
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be
likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
So that you with one mind and one mouth may glorify
God, even the Father of our Master - Joshua, the
Messiah.
Paul explains his statement in the previous verse. We
are to have one mind and one mouth so that we may
glorify God. Now it is obvious that if this is true, it can
only happen if we think like God toward each other.
The word #3661 (with one mind) is interesting in the
Greek language. Notice what Online Bible says about
this word:
"A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament
occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand
the uniqueness of the Christian community.
Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to
"rush along" and "in unison". The image is almost
musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while
different, harmonise in pitch and tone. As the
instruments of a great concert under the direction of a
concert master, so the Holy Spirit (My Note: God through
His holy spirit) blends together the lives of members of
Christ's church."
God through His holy spirit blends together the lives of
the members of the body of the Christ much as a concert
master directs and blends together the instruments of a
great orchestra. It is the Father who does the
orchestration. We become instruments to praise and
glorify God when we yield to His direction.
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For this reason then receive one another, as the Christ
also received us, for the glory of God.
So then, if we believe and understand that God is our
Master and we are to respond to His direction we ought
to be friends one to another! The word <receive>
denotes the sense of being friends. For after all, the
Messiah received us as friends. If we are brothers, we
are friends. And the reason we respond to one another
as friends is for the glory of God!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not
what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I
have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to
the glory of God.
For I tell you that Joshua, the Messiah was a servant of
the circumcision (the Jews) to show God's truthfulness,
by confirming the promises made to the fathers.
The Messiah came as a servant to the Jews. Paul
explains the reasons for this. God was shown to be true
to His word because He promised a Messiah to the
fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and now He had
fulfilled that promise. Paul is not saying here that the
Jews recognized the fulfillment of this promise of God,
but that this is the reason for the Messiah coming as a
servant. For the promises required that the Messiah die
the first time in order to ransom man from the world and
to reconcile his sins.
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for
the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
And so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His
mercy. As it is written, Therefore (for this cause) I will
praise you among the Gentiles (heathen), and sing
praises to your name.
Psalms 18:49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD,
among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Paul continues from the previous verse, the Messiah also
came as a servant so that a way could be made for the
Gentiles so that they too could glorify or praise God for
His mercy toward them. This was also a fulfillment of the
prophecy of Psalms 18:49, which showed that God would
be praised among the Gentiles and songs of praise for
Him would be raised among them as well as among the
Jews.
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is
written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles,
and sing unto thy name.
And again the scriptures say, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with
His people.
Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he
will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to
his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his
people.
The prophecy of Deuteronomy showed that a time would
come when the Gentiles would rejoice before God with
the people of God - the Israelites. Of course, by the time
the Messiah came only the Jews were being nominally
faithful to Him and had come to be known as God's
people. But Paul is showing from these scriptures that
God had planned all along that the Gentiles would
become a part of His salvation.
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
And again the scriptures say, Praise the Lord all you
Gentiles; and laud Him all you people.
Psalms 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye
people.
Another prophecy from the Psalms showed that God
wanted all peoples of the earth to praise Him and look to
Him for His way of life and ultimate salvation.
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye
people.
And again, Isaiah says, A descendant of Jesse will
appear; He will come to lead the Gentiles and they shall
trust in Him.
Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which
shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek:
and his rest shall be glorious.
Paul pulls still another prophecy from the OT. This time
he takes a reference from Isaiah. The Greek and Hebrew
are very close in these two verses. The Messiah was a
descendant of Jesse. He became an ensign or standard
bearer for the people, including the Gentiles. And the
Gentiles, the thrust of Paul's teaching here, would come
to trust in Him. Apparently most of the problems among
the believers in Rome were between Gentiles and Jews.
Some of the Gentiles thought one should not eat meat,
or drink wine. And the Jews thought that certain days
should be included in the "Church Calendar". Both sides
had wrongs and Paul was showing the Jews that God
had prophesied that the Gentiles would be brought into
His plan of salvation. The Jews were stronger in some
areas, but the Gentiles were not always wrong because
sometimes the Jews allowed their culture to get in the
way of what was important. They were to all be friends
as believers of the faith so that all could eventually come
to the fullness of the stature of the Messiah who came to
die for both the Jews and the Gentiles.
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he
that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles
trust.
May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and
peace in faith that you may abound in hope through the
power of the holy spirit.
Paul brings several thoughts to this sentence. He shows
that God is a God of hope. God makes good things
happen and He can be relied on to always do the right
thing and never fail. God can and will fill us with joy and
peace in the faith. There are three thoughts in that one
statement. God is the source of joy. God is the source
of peace. God is the one who can keep us in the faith.
And another thought, God will fill us with joy and peace
only so long as we continue in the faith. This is not
some organization that Paul is referring to, but a way of
life that understands and abides by the covenant that
God binds upon us at baptism.
And what is the purpose of all this? That we may abound
or overflow with hope. And this is all made possible by
the power of the holy spirit. God's hope overflows
through the holy spirit into our lives to fill us with joy and
peace in the faith.
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
I personally am convinced, my brothers, that you also are
full of goodness, filled with knowledge, and able also to
counsel one another.
Personally, Paul had come to the point that he believed
that those at Rome were ready and willing to do the right
and kind thing toward their brothers. That they had
ample knowledge to make the right decisions and were
stable enough to counsel one another to do the kind and
right thing.
Paul is appealing to the noble side of their character,
realizing that they had the holy spirit, if they were indeed
brothers, and could proceed to do the kind and right
thing toward their brothers in these matters of food,
drinks, and days.
If we have the holy spirit, and the Bible, we should be
able to discern the right action we are called to make in
all aspects of our life. We have the resources within and
from above.
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye
also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to
admonish one another.
But, brethren, I have written quite boldly about certain
subjects, as a reminder. I have been bold because of the
privilege God has given me, that I should be a servant of
Joshua, the Messiah to the Gentiles. I am a servant of
the gospel of God, in order that the Gentiles may be an
offering acceptable to God, dedicated to Him in the holy
spirit.
Paul continued that even though they had adequate
knowledge he was taking this opportunity to write to
them in a bold manner about certain problems they were
having, to remind them how they ought to respond to
one another and before God.
Paul's boldness was because God had called him for the
purpose of being an apostle to the Gentiles and he was
not slack in his duties of teaching them the correct
manner of living. God had given Paul this privilege. God
had favored him with this commission; and he was
making sure that he did his part as the helper of their
salvation. He wanted to remind them of certain things
and give them several new perspectives on the matters
that were troubling them so they could make a good
decision.
Paul was a servant of the Messiah. For the Messiah had
called him to this service. And Paul told the Romans that
in a way he was standing as a priest of the Old Covenant
who was offering to them the gospel of God and in turn
that when the Gentiles were offered up to God they
would be found acceptable to Him. That they would be
found to be dedicated to God. And this would be made
possible because of the indwelling of the holy spirit of
God.
The word <ministering> is used of a priest in the temple
who carried out the duties of the temple as God had
foreordained. God had made Paul a servant or minister
of the gospel. He was carrying out his duties as he had
been instructed. It was left up to the Romans to make
sure they took advantage of his teachings so that their
salvation would be sure.
*******************************************************
2418 ierourgew hierourgeo hee-er-oorg-eh'-o
from a compound of 2411 and the base of 2041; TDNT-3:
251,349; v
AV-minister 1; 1
1) to minister in the manner of a priest, minister in
priestly service
1a) of those who defend the sanctity of the law by
undergoing a violent death
1b) of the preaching of the gospel
*******************************************************
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you
in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is
given to me of God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles
might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
In this section we have seen that the strong should be
willing to suffer so as not to offend the weak. But we are
not to leave the weak brother in a vacuum. We are to
help him to see the right as a friend. Paul gives the
Messiah as our example who bore shame and sorrows
for our cause. Even as the Messiah was our friend, even
so are we to be friends to each other. We are to do what
we do for the glory of God. Paul then goes into several
OT scriptures to show that God had made promises to
the Gentiles as well as the Jews and that the Messiah
came to fulfill promises made to both of these peoples.
He shows that God is the God of hope and we must
receive joy and peace in the faith through the power of
the holy spirit. Paul appealed to the noble side of their
character to be kind and do the right thing as God
supplied them with His power. But he also let them know
that he had been given a job to preach the right way of
life to them and had been bold to do so. For Paul's
commission was from God and for their good, and he
had no inclination to shirk his duty to God.
In Joshua, the Messiah, then, I have legitimate reason to
glory in what I have accomplished concerning the things
of God.
In verses 15-16 Paul upheld his ministry. Here he
continues to show that he has a legitimate reason to
glory in his ministry. He gives all the glory to God for he
acknowledges that it is "in Messiah, Joshua," that he has
been able to accomplish the work given to him. As long
as we give God the glory for what He accomplishes in us
we cannot go wrong. It is when man begins to project
himself as the important element that he begins to go
wrong. God can raise up stones to do His ministry. God
does give gifts to the believers according to His good
will. And we should all be able to glory in what God is
doing through us. Then when we have accomplished
things concerning God we too can glory in God knowing
that it is only because He made of us living stones to
accomplish His will and for His glory.
17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in
those things which pertain to God.
I will be bold and speak only about what the Messiah has
done through me to lead the Gentiles to obey God.
Paul says that he will not lack in boldness or in other
words he would be bold to speak about or declare what
the Messiah had done through him. In other words, all
that Paul had accomplished, worth talking about, was
through God and according to His will. Anything Paul
had done on his own was better left without saying.
What interested Paul was how that God through him had
led the Gentiles to obey God.
Here again we have the word <obedient> or <obey>. The
covenant that God makes with us is to obey His ten
commandments. Paul was not against this obedience. In
fact Paul's whole mission was to bring the Gentiles into
obedience of the ten commandments. They had been
without the knowledge of the law and now they were also
being brought to the light of God's requirements. The
law is a lamp to our paths. The Gentiles had been
walking in darkness. Now the light of the law was
shining on the path for them just as it had for the Jews.
In fact, the light of the law was much greater for them
because the Jews had allowed themselves to be
sidetracked by the temple rituals to the point that they
were receiving only the glow of reflected light. They
were unwilling to leave the light of the moon for the light
of the sun. But, through Paul's teaching the Gentiles
were allowing the bright light of the law to shine on the
paths of their lives so they could clearly see how to walk
in righteousness.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ
hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word
and deed,
My teaching has been accompanied with mighty signs
and wonders, made possible by the power of the spirit of
God. So, in my travels from Jerusalem to Illyricum, I
have fully proclaimed the gospel of the Messiah.
Paul says that mighty signs and wonders had
accompanied his teaching efforts. This would cause us
to recall the man who fell from the window and was
dead. Paul prayed for him and he was raised to life
again. We would remember the time the poisonous
serpent bit Paul and he shook it off and nothing came of
the bite. The time Paul and Silas were in jail and they
began singing and the locks on the jail doors fell off and
the doors swung open. Paul's work was filled with
miracles. And of course, all of these miracles were
accomplished by the power of God's spirit.
Paul says that Jerusalem and Illyricum are the two points
of the extremities of his ministry at the time of this
writing. We are all familiar with Jerusalem, but we may
not be so familiar with Illyricum. Illyricum was a country
to the northwest of Macedonia, on the eastern shores of
the Adriatic Sea. It was apparently a Roman province at
the time of Paul's writing. This was the most distant
district that Paul had gone preaching the gospel at the
time of writing the book of Romans. If Paul had been to
Rome, it could be that as he was writing to the Romans
he did not include Rome in this area.
Paul said that he had <fully> preached the gospel of the
Messiah. There is probably more in this statement than
at first meets the eye. Paul not only means that he has
relayed the full truth about the coming of the Messiah
and His mission and what it meant to the Gentiles as well
as the Jews, but he also means that the ministry was well
received by many people and they had responded to his
ministry. He could claim many children in the Lord as he
had established many assemblies in the landmass from
Jerusalem to Illyricum. Not that Paul had established any
groups of believers in Jerusalem, but that these two
points were the extremities of his efforts.
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of
God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have
fully preached the gospel of Christ.
I have been ambitious to preach the gospel, in places
where the Messiah has not been heard of, so as not to
build on a foundation laid by someone else.
Paul was not lazy in his approach to preach the gospel.
He had a great ambition to make known the message of
the Messiah who had entered into the world. He wanted
to tell them about His mission and especially what it
meant to those other than the Jews. He mainly taught in
areas where others had not been. Paul was willing to go
out into the areas of the world full of dangers - to those
who would bring in a strange new religion. He felt the
urge to stretch the limits of the world at that time, to
cultivate in a garden full of stumps and rocks in order to
preach the gospel into all the world.
Today many are trying to build on the foundation of the
past. Some will be bold enough to step out into areas
where the true gospel is not yet known. The ministry of
others will be in the area of trying to support those who
knew the truth but are groping in the fog of error that is
rising up around them. God through His holy spirit will
lead each of us with the gifts He has given us to fulfill His
will.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ
was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
As the scripture says, They shall see who have never
been told of Him, and they shall understand who have
never heard.
Isaiah 52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut
their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall
they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
In other words, Paul was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah
52:15 by not laying on the foundation of others. He was
preaching the gospel about the Messiah to those who did
not even know about the law, to those who had never
owned a copy of the Old Testament. They had not had
the opportunity to read about or hear about the coming
Messiah until Paul's ministry came to them.
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall
see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
This is the reason why I have often been hindered from
coming to visit you.
At this point, Paul begins to speak about his desire to
visit the believers in Rome. It is possible that Paul had
never been in Rome at this point in his life. If so, he is
writing this letter to them to make up for not having been
there in person to give them the words of life. If Paul had
not been to Rome, then it is obvious that others had
been in Rome. And one reason Paul might have been
holding back could have been that he would have then
been "laying on another's man's foundation". Therefore,
this could also be the reason Paul had not gone to
Rome. Further, because of his ambition in preaching the
gospel, in areas where it had not yet been preached, he
could not go to Rome. Every time he would think about
going to Rome, Paul would be inspired to go over to
another village and open the gospel to them. Paul was
ambitiously following the lead of the holy spirit to get the
message out, and the fields were so ripe for harvest, that
he could not let go of the reaping tools long enough to
go to Rome.
Another approach is that Paul may have been to Rome,
for he would not build on another foundation where
others had worked. There are pros and cons throughout
the book of Romans concerning this subject. I have
endeavored to not take sides on this issue for that is not
the central purpose of my writing at this time. I have
wished to explore the core message of the book instead.
22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming
to you.
But now that I have finished my work in these regions
and since I have been wanting for so many years to come
to see you, I hope to do so now. I would like to see you
on my way to Spain, and be helped by you to go there,
after I have enjoyed visiting you for a while.
Paul's work was now completed in the areas where he
had gone. It seems that his ministry was in a lull,
perhaps the reason he had time to write this letter to the
Romans. And as he had wanted for years to visit Rome,
he was full of hope that now was the time. His plans
were to eventually go to Spain. It is doubtful that he ever
completed that ambition. He was hoping that the
Romans would help him in that endeavor after he had
enjoyed visiting them for a while.
23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great
desire these many years to come unto you;
24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for
I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way
thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
For the present, however, I am going to Jerusalem to
bring relief for God's people there.
Paul explained to the Romans in this letter that he was
going to Jerusalem to take some contributions of relief to
the believers there. This could have been the trip that
Paul made where he was captured and eventually sent to
Rome for the first time as a prisoner. If this is the case,
Paul must have considered that although a church had
been established at Rome by someone else and he would
be building on their foundation that there was too much
left undone that needed to be finished.
25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and
Achaia to make some contribution for the poor among
the saints of Jerusalem.
Now this is an interesting turn of events. God in His
wisdom had allowed poverty to come to the Jews in
Jerusalem. They had looked upon the Gentiles as sub-
human before their conversion and after their conversion
they still felt superior to the Gentiles. But circumstances
had brought poverty to the Jewish believers and here the
Gentiles of Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make
up a contribution for the relief of the poor saints at
Jerusalem.
Imagine how this affected the Jewish believers at
Jerusalem. Imagine how their hearts were softened
toward these Gentiles who were coming to their rescue
in their time of need. After acts of this kind, one begins
to have a change of mind toward those to whom he once
felt superior. Sometimes we wonder why we must suffer
loss. God in His wisdom brings us through riches and
poverty to make of us vessels that are well developed in
godly love.
26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a
certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
It has pleased the Macedonians and Achaians to do this,
and they are in debt to them, for since the Jews shared
their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles, the Gentiles
ought to use their material blessings to help the Jews.
Paul shows another side of the coin. The Macedonians
and Achaians really had a debt of love to the Jews. God
had given the truth to the Jews. The Messiah was
Himself a Jew. And a few of the Jews had been willing to
break rank and carry the gospel to the Gentiles. So, the
Gentiles could now return that love by sharing their
material blessings to help the Jews!
27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the
Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their
duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
Therefore, when I have completed this mission, and have
delivered to them what has been raised, I shall leave for
Spain and visit you on my way there.
So, Paul's intentions were to take the collection, perhaps
of money, to the poor and needy saints in Jerusalem.
Once he had turned this collection over to the Jews, it
was his intentions to leave Jerusalem for Spain. But he
fully intended to stop at Rome on his way to Spain and
visit the believers at Rome. If this was the time of Paul's
capture in Jerusalem, it is obvious that he did not get to
fulfill his intentions further than his trip to Jerusalem.
After that he went to Rome by an appeal to Caesar and
probably never made it on into Spain.
28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them
this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
And I know that when I come to you, I shall come with a
full measure of the blessing <of the gospel> of the
Messiah.
The words <of the gospel> are missing in most of the
manuscripts. If the words are suppose to be included, it
is obvious that Paul was confident that he would be able
to expound the gospel of the Messiah to their full benefit
when he arrived. Of course, if the words are left out, we
see an even greater fullness possible. The full measure
of the blessing of the Messiah would include the blessing
of the gospel, but it would also include the blessing of
miracles. Either way, it is obvious that Paul fully
expected that his ministry would be rich with converts
and an establishment of the assembly in gifts and
understanding of the good news about the Messiah who
was the Savior of the world.
29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the
fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Brethren, I beseech you, by our Master, Joshua, the
Messiah, and by the love of the spirit, that you join me in
fervent prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be
delivered from the unbelievers in Judea. And that God’s
people there may graciously receive my mission of relief
to Jerusalem. So that by the will of God I may then come
to you with joy, and may be refreshed in your company.
Paul appealed to the Romans through their mutual love
for God, and His Son, made possible by the indwelling of
the holy spirit that they would pray fervently to God on
his behalf. He wanted to be able to visit Jerusalem and
deliver the collection from the Gentiles to the Jewish
believers at Jerusalem without having to suffer harm
from the unbelieving Jews. Paul knew he had enemies at
Jerusalem and that they would not hesitate to kill him for
having turned against Judaism. This certainly indicates
that this was just before Paul's capture in Jerusalem and
his subsequent voyage to Rome as a prisoner. Paul also
had concern that the believers in Jerusalem might be too
proud to accept help from the hands of the Gentiles. So
he asked the Romans to pray for that as well. The end
results he hoped for was that he would be able to
accomplish his mission without harm and to at last be on
his way to Spain, in which he would stop by and be
refreshed in the company of the Roman believers.
30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake,
and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your
prayers to God for me;
31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea;
and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of
the saints;
32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may
with you be refreshed.
May the God of peace be with all of you. So be it.
This seems to be the end of the "letter-proper" from Paul
to the Romans although we still have another chapter
with the salutation. Paul sent a blessing their way from
God. May the God of peace be with all of you. In other
words, may you have peace from the One, who is able to
give you peace. So may it be. This was Paul's desire for
the believers at Roman.
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Paul is winding down his letter to the Romans. He had
reason to be joyful at this point that God had made
converts from Jerusalem to Illyricum through his
ministry. He was careful to give God the glory and not
take it to himself. He basically taught where others had
not gone. This caused the gospel to be spread more
rapidly as many were not bold enough to take on the
then known Roman world outside their own small world.
Some seem to think that Paul definitely had not yet been
to Rome. This seems to go against his point of not
laying on the foundation of others. If Paul had never
been to Rome, who carried the gospel to the Romans?
How did Paul become connected with the Romans? Why
did Paul decide to break with his past principle of not
laying on another man's foundation? And yet, it sounds
like Paul had never yet been taken prisoner at
Jerusalem. Was he dreading to go to Jerusalem because
of his past capture there, or did he dread to go just
because he knew he had enemies there. Perhaps with
the study of all of Paul's writings and the book of Acts
this would become clear.
It is clear that Paul's work had come to a close in the
regions he had been working in at the time of this
writing. He was ready to push out further. He had
dreams of going to Spain and spreading the gospel
there. His plans were to take a collection made among
the Gentiles to the believers at Jerusalem who had hit on
hard times and then to leave Jerusalem and travel by way
of Rome to Spain. This does cause one to believe that
his plans were interrupted because he was taken
prisoner and he did indeed go to Rome, but perhaps
never reached Spain.
It is obvious that Paul was worried about his trip into
Jerusalem and he asked the Romans in his letter to pray
for his safety and that the Jewish believers would
graciously receive the gift collected among the Gentiles
at Macedonia and Achaia.
Home
Commentaries
Chapter:
One
Two
Three
Four
Four Continued
Five
Six
Seven
Seven Continued
Eight
Eight Continued
| Chapter 15 |
| Romans ! |
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