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Romans Chapter Fifteen

                             

I. Content of the Chapter

 

Conditions that Believers Should Have Among Them

A.  We should bear with the weakness of one another (v.1-4).

B.  We should be like-minded toward one another (v.5-6).

C.  We should receive one another (v.7-13).

 

The Fellowship in the End

A.  Paul described his ministry:

1.  Be a minister ministering the gospel of God to the Gentiles (v.14-19);

2.  Be unwilling to build on another man's foundation (v.20-21).

B.  Paul foreshowed his journey:

1.  He desired to go to Spain through Rome (v.22-24, 28-29).

2.  He now went to Jerusalem to minister to the saints (v.25-27).

3.  He requested for prayers for his whereabouts (v.30-33).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Rom. 15:1 “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

   YLT: “And we ought -- we who are strong -- to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves;”

Meaning of Words:strong”: powerful; “bear”: carry, take up, lift;

Literal Meaning: “we who are strong”, it refers those who think “they may eat all things” in the previous chapter (Rom. 14:2). “We”, the word indicates that Paul lists himself into them, for he “knows and is convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself” (Rom. 14:14).

  “Ought to bear with the scruples of the weak”, “bear”, it means “bearing” the burdens of others (Gal. 6:2) ---- it is not only patience and longsuffering, but support and service in love furthermore (Gal. 5:13). “The weak”, it refers to those who are weak in faith ---- they eat vegetables only (Rom. 14:1-2).

  “Not to please ourselves”, one is not self-centered and does not live for his own favor or profit.

  Paul uses three “for”s to explain why we do not please ourselves in verse two to four, but the first “for” in verse two and the last one in verse four are missed in Chinese Union Version :

1)     “For” let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification (v.2).

2)     “For even Christ did not please Himself; but as what is written in the Scriptures (v.3).

3)     “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (v.4).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    If one has not stooped down himself first, he can not bear with the scruples of others. If he who is strong in faith is always too proud to be unwilling to humble himself, he cannot bear with the weakness of others.

2)    If one desires to bear with others, he must put down the burden of himself in him (to give up his own ideas) and does not seek others to do anything for him, but only seeks to lower his shoulder.

    

Rom. 15:2 “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.”

   YLT: “for let each one of us please the neighbor for good, unto edification,”

Literal Meaning: “let each of us please his neighbor for his good”, “neighbor” refers to those who are near. Here, it is brothers and sisters in the church.

  “Leading to edification”, when believers get along with each other in the church, everyone should not cause others to fall, but seek to edify others.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The life of Christians is a life of sacrificing oneself but benefiting others. The goal of Christian’s life is not exalting oneself, but perfecting the whole body.

2)    The building of the church is in love, not in knowledge, and by life, not by methods (Eph. 4:15-16).

 

Rom. 15:3 “For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." ”

   YLT: “for even the Christ did not please himself, but, according as it hath been written, `The reproaches of those reproaching Thee fell upon me;'”

Literal Meaning: “for even Christ did not please Himself”, Christ fell on the earth and was completely misunderstood, mocked and despised by man, but He still took the good will of God as His satisfaction (Matt. 11:26). He said, “The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). Before going to the cross, He still prayed, “nevertheless not as I will, but as You will (Matt. 26:39). He did not please Himself at all.

  “As it is written”, the following Scriptures are quoted from the Book of Psalm (69:9).

  “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me”, “You” refers to God; “Me” relates to the righteous in affliction, here is Christ. Paul quotes this Old scripture to explain that how willing the Lord Jesus is to endure the enmity of men towards God. This is the proof of His not pleasing Himself.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The nature of the flesh is always seeking to please oneself ---- to walk according to one’s own ideas and habits and lust for one’s own gain. The nature of Christ is “not pleasing Himself” ---- give up his own ideas, and not insist on his own interest and disregard his own gain and etc.

2)    Those who live according to the principle of pleasing themselves, they will naturally judge and stumble one another. Those who do not live for pleasing themselves, they will naturally “edify one another” (v.2) and be “like-minded toward one another” (v.5), and “receive one another” (v.7). Therefore, whether the condition of a church is normal is decided by whether the whole members are willing to live in the principle of Christ.

 

Rom. 15:4 “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

   YLT: “for, as many things as were written before, for our instruction were written before, that through the endurance, and the exhortation of the Writings, we might have the hope.”

Meaning of Words: “comfort”: encouragement;

Literal Meaning: “for whatever things were written before were for our learning”, it explains that why Paul quotes words in the Old Testament to prove Christ does not please Himself, because what were written in the Scriptures were examples for us in the last days (1Cor. 10:6, 11). The value of the Scriptures is to reveal we Christians what life we should lead.

  “That we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”, it suggests that we shall learn to imitate the example of Christ’s patience and suffering from the teachings in the Scriptures so that we shall obtain comfort and have hope for Christ and future.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Tim. 3:16-17).

2)    Tribulations works patience and comfort, and patience and comfort finally bring about hope (see Rom. 5:3-4; 2Cor. 1:4, 10).

3)    The one who lives for others and denies himself more seems to be afflicted, but he really rejoices, for he will obtain hope before God finally. On the contrary, he who profits himself more but lets others suffer loss seems to be glad, but is really troubled, for he loses hope.

 

Rom. 15:5 “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,”

   YLT: “And may the God of the endurance, and of the exhortation, give to you to have the same mind toward one another, according to Christ Jesus;”

Meaning of Words: “comfort”: encouragement;

Literal Meaning: “may the God of patience and comfort”, our patience and comfort produced from the Scriptures are of God.

  “Grant you to be like-minded toward one another”, it shows that the oneness of believers is of God (John 17:11, 21-23; Eph. 4:3).

  “According to Christ Jesus”, it is not according to reasons or knowledge, but taking Christ Jesus as the example of the church life and minding what is also in Christ Jesus.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    If we believers want to be like-minded toward one another, we should overcome the difficulty resulted from the dissimilarities. It needs patience and comfort, and patience and comfort are of God.

2)    “Be like-minded toward one another”, it is not say believers should not have different ideas about knowledge and things, but should consider others in love instead of insisting on their views ---- this is according to Christ Jesus.

 

Rom. 15:6 “that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

   YLT: “that with one accord -- with one mouth -- ye may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Literal Meaning: you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God”, “one mind”: have the same mind inside; “one mouth”: speak the same word in mouth. If we want to have one mouth, we should firstly have one mind. If we want to have one mind, we should firstly mind what Christ Jesus minds (see v.5; Phil. 2:5).

“And Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”, “Father” particularly emphasizes that God is the origin of life. Through the Lord Jesus, we can obtain His life and disposition.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The best testimony of the church in the world is “one mind and one mouth”, for it is exactly opposite to the condition of Babel ---- they understand one another's speech (Gen. 11:7) ---- the world is divided again and again for the sake of races, languages, thoughts and mind and etc. Believers become one because of the same Lord.

2)    What believers can glorify God most is “one mind and one mouth” ---- it is because they are according to Christ Jesus (see v.5) so that Christ Jesus shall be manifested on us (see John 17:23).

3)    Only when we let Christ Jesus reign in our mind and mouth ---- think what he desires us to think and say what he desires us to say ---- can we be “one mind and one mouth”.

 

Rom. 15:7 “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”

   YLT: “wherefore receive ye one another, according as also the Christ did receive us, to the glory of God.”

   Literal Meaning: “therefore, receive one another”, “therefore”, it indicates that this verse is a conclusion drawn from previous verses. “Receive one another”, it is difficult to receive one another by our nature, for we have great differences in thinking and things that we please. However, the example of Christ Jesus makes us not seek our own pleasure and receive one another without caring for ourselves.

    “Receive one another”, it points that he who is strong in faith receive he who is weak (Rom. 14:1) and he who is weak in faith shall receive he who is strong.

“Just as Christ also received us”, we are truly unworthy of being received by Christ according to our nature, but he has received the reproaches that should be fallen upon us (see v.3) and even has risen from the dead for us (Rom. 14:9). He has received us unconditionally. We should also receive one another as Christ received us.

The acceptance of Christ is the acceptance of God (Rom. 14:3). What Christ receives is what God receives. We should receive all that God and Christ have received in spite of the extent of faith, or views upon the knowledge, or doings of spiritual things. Even though there are great divergences, we should still receive one another.

“To the glory of God”, there are two meanings: 1) Believers shall receive one another so that they can glorify God. 2) Believers’ receiving one another should be like the receiving of Christ so that they can glorify God.

 

Rom. 15:8 “Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,”

   YLT: “And I say Jesus Christ to have become a ministrant of circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers,”

Meaning of Words: “truth”: reality, verity;

Literal Meaning: “I say that Jesus Christ… for the truth of God”, all that is fulfilled by Christ who came into the world is to declare God (John 1:18) and to perfectly manifest the truth and faithfulness of God.

“Has become a servant to the circumcision”, “the circumcision” refers to the Jews; “servant” is the servant who serves them. When the Lord Jesus was on the earth, He regarded serving the Jews as the chief mission (see Matt. 15:24).

“To confirm the promises made to the fathers”, “promises made to the fathers” refer to the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That Christ has become the servant of the Jews has confirmed the promises of God to their fathers, thus manifesting the truth and faithfulness of God.

 

Rom. 15:9 “and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name." ”

   YLT: “and the nations for kindness to glorify God, according as it hath been written, `Because of this I will confess to Thee among nations, and to Thy name I will sing praise,'”

   Literal Meaning: and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, Christ was not only the servant of the Jews as well as that of the gentiles (who are truly of the circumcision, see Rom. 2:26; Col. 2:11). The former is to manifest the faithfulness of God, and the latter is to show the mercy of God.

    Note that “glorify God” is mentioned the third time in the short four verses.

“As it is written”, the following words are quoted from the second Book of Samuel (22:50) and the Book of Psalm (18:49).

For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.” ---- “I” refers to David and his seed, namely the anointed one (2Sam. 22:51; Ps. 18:50), which refers to the Jews in a broad sense and Christ in a narrow sense. “You” refers to God. It means that the gentiles and the Jews are gathered together and praise God and sing to God and glorify God.

 

Rom. 15:10 “And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" ”

   YLT: “and again it saith, `Rejoice ye nations, with His people;'”

   Literal Meaning: “and again he says”, the following words are quoted from the Book of Deuteronomy (32:43).

    Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” ---- “His people” refers to the Jews.

 

Rom. 15:11 “And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" ”

   YLT: “and again, `Praise the Lord, all ye nations; and laud Him, all ye peoples;'”

   Literal Meaning: “and again”, the following words are quoted from the Book of Psalm (117:1).

    Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” ---- “All you peoples” refer to all the nations, namely, the Gentiles.

 

Rom. 15:12 “And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope." ”

   YLT: “and again, Isaiah saith, `There shall be the root of Jesse, and he who is rising to rule nations -- upon him shall nations hope;'”

Literal Meaning: again, Isaiah says”, the following words are quoted from the Book of Isaiah (11:10).

  There shall be a root of Jesse”, “Jesse”, the father of king David (Matt. 1:6), here represents the Jews. On one hand, Christ is the seed of David and is begotten by Jesse. On the other hand, He is “a root of Jesse”, and He is the hope for the Jews ---- a big tree that is cut off ---- if they want to sprout and bear fruit again (see Is. 10:32-11:1).

And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, it is “being set as the great banner for the Gentiles” in the original of the Old Testament. That is to say, being raised is a sign of showing kindness to the Gentiles. Paul here implies that Christ shall rise to be the Savior of the whole world and the Gentiles shall bend theirs knees before Him.

In Him the Gentiles shall hope”, it is “the Gentiles shall seek Him” in the original of the Old Testament. “Hope Him” is “seeking Him” ---- take Him as the hope in hopelessness and help of helplessness.

Enlightenment in the Word: Christ has become the servant to join the Jews and the Gentiles (see v.8-11). He is the Lord of all (Acts. 10:36) and the Savior of all (1Tim. 4:10). If we really magnify Him, we should receive all believers that are different from us.

 

Rom. 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

   YLT: “and the God of the hope shall fill you with all joy and peace in the believing, for your abounding in the hope in power of the Holy Spirit.”

Meaning of Words: “all”: any, every, the whole;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Many believers lack joy and peace, for they do not know the God they believe ---- who is not only a God who redeems us, but also a God who gives us hope. God is not only concerned about our future, but also our life today.

2)    God is a God of hope. Therefore, He creates the morning in a day, Sunday in a week, the first day of a month, and the first day of a year so that we have new beginning and new hope.

 

Rom. 15:14 “Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”

   YLT: “And I am persuaded, my brethren -- I myself also -- concerning you, that ye yourselves also are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, able also one another to admonish;”

   Literal Meaning: “I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness”, “be full of goodness”, it means that one has obtained the good and divine nature in the new life because of believing the Lord.

“Filled with all knowledge”, it refers to the spiritual knowledge obtained through learning to live a normal church life.

“Admonish one another”, it relates to the behaviors in love that all believers of the Lord must have (see Heb. 10:24).

 

Rom. 15:15 “Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,”

   YLT: “and the more boldly I did write to you, brethren, in part, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me by God,”

   Literal Meaning: I have written more boldly to you on some points”, “you” refers to saints in Rome, for the church in Rome was not established by Paul. Therefore, Paul felt constrained to write this epistle and he had to write more boldly to them.

“As reminding you, Paul had never been to Rome when he wrote this epistle (see Rom. 1:11), but he knew many saints in Rome (see Rom. 16). Therefore, they surely had heard of Paul, and Paul had briefly introduced himself in the outset of this epistle (Rom. 1:1, 5, 11-15; 9:1-3; 11:1, 12).

“Because of the grace given to me by God”, it indicates that the apostleship of Paul is of God’s grace (Gal. 2:9; Eph. 3:8).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Our service should be fulfilled through the grace of God. The work of God can only be done by the provision of God.

2)    The strength of our service is not decided by our strength or weakness, but by whether we have drawn the divine grace sufficiently (2Cor. 12:9-10).

 

Rom. 15:16 “that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

   YLT: “for my being a servant of Jesus Christ to the nations, acting as priest in the good news of God, that the offering up of the nations may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

Meaning of Words: minister”: minister who serves in the sanctuary (Heb. 8:2); “priest”: a man who offers sacrifices; “offer”: the actions of sacrifices; (the above-mentioned three words are in connection with offering).

Literal Meaning: that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, Christ Jesus directly revealed to Paul and entrusted the mission of preaching to the Gentiles to Paul (Acts 9:15; 22:21; 26:18).

“Ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles”, Paul, the bondman of Christ Jesus, chiefly preached the gospel to the Gentiles. Such service of him was “ministering the gospel of God” ---- to offer the Gentiles he had gained in his preachment of the gospel as the offering to God.

“Might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit”, the Gentiles were filthy and unclean (see Acts 11:8-9, 18). However, they are sanctified and have become the offering acceptable to God due to the work of the Holy Spirit.

This verse has mentioned seven great elements of the service of Christian:

1)    The reason for service is grace given to me by God (see v.15).

2)    The content of service is the gospel of God.

3)    The status of service is to be the minister of Jesus Christ and the priest of God.

4)    The object of service is the Gentiles (unbelievers).

5)    The work of service is to gain the Gentiles and make them sanctified and offer them as the offering of God.

6)    The power of service is the Holy Spirit.

7)    The goal of service is to be acceptable by God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Today we are bondmen of Christ Jesus (Rom. 14:4) as well as priests of God (1Pet. 2:9). The goal of our service is to gain those who do not believe for the Lord and for God.

2)    Priests are those who stand between God and men ---- they bring God to men, and also bring men to God. Therefore, we shall preach the gospel and bear witness to men for God and make men turn to God.

3)    The ministry of priests in the New Testament is wider than the Old Testament, including the preachment of the gospel. Paul says he is not only “an apostle separated to God's glad tidings” (Rom. 1:1) and “a minister of the gospel” as well. The minister of gospel on one hand gives the Son of God as the glad tidings to men on behalf of God, and offers those who have been saved through the gospel as sanctified offering to God. Oh, how glorious the ministry is!

4)    Many Christians pay attention to the matter of offering, but they seldom observe whether the sacrifice they offered is acceptable to God (see Lev. 10:1-3).

 

Rom. 15:17 “Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.”

   YLT: “I have, then, a boasting in Christ Jesus, in the things pertaining to God,”

   Literal Meaning: I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus”, from this verse to verse seventeen, Paul mentioned the accomplishments among the Gentiles when he preached the gospel. But he did not boast of himself, but that how Christ and the Holy Spirit enabled him to fulfill the ministry.

 

Rom. 15:18 “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient--”

   YLT: “for I will not dare to speak anything of the things that Christ did not work through me, to obedience of nations, by word and deed,”

Literal Meaning: to make the Gentiles obedient”, Paul chiefly worked for the obedience of faith among all the nations (Rom. 1:5).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Though Paul had full wisdom and strength and was profound and extensive in learning, he even did not dare to boast about anything which Christ had not accomplished through him, let alone us who fall further short of Paul in every aspect. Therefore, we should not boast of any cleverness or intelligence of ourselves. He that boasts, let him boast in Lord (see 1Cor. 1:31).

2)    Christians are vessels of God in His hand, not agents of God. If we have some fulfillments in our service, we should give glory to God.

3)    If we want to work for the Lord, we shall wait for the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).

4)    “If one lets the Holy Spirit work without any reservation, he will be fully used by the Lord.” Muddy was deeply moved by these words and finally became an evangelist that was greatly used by God.

 

Rom. 15:19 “in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

   YLT: “in power of signs and wonders, in power of the Spirit of God; so that I, from Jerusalem, and in a circle as far as Illyricum, have fully preached the good news of the Christ;”

Literal Meaning: and round about to Illyricum”, “Illyricum” was located in the northwestern part of Greece and was near Macedonia, including Yugoslavia and the northern part of Albania. It was a less developed area in Europe at that time. It was not mentioned of Paul’s work here in the Book of Acts. He might have been stayed there for a short time.

I have fully preached the gospel of Christ”, “have fully preached”, have preached the gospel of Christ everywhere.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    We possibly need not go to a place as far as “Illyricum”, but the family, school and office may just be the right places where God asks us to go to preach the gospel for Him.

2)    And besides, the gospel of Christ should not be restricted in the environment that we live around, but be spread over the whole world.

 

Rom. 15:20 “And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation,”

   YLT: “and so counting it honour to proclaim good news, not where Christ was named -- that upon another's foundation I might not build --”

Literal Meaning: to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, this was a principle of Paul’s ministry, but he did not insist on this principle. For example, there had been already church in Rome, and he still desired to come to preach the gospel in Rome (Rom. 1:10-15). The reasons for Paul’s aim may be as follows:

1)     He was entrusted by the Lord to preach the gospel to the Gentiles mainly.

2)     At that time, the area that had not been covered by the gospel was rather large.

3)     He was unwilling to reach the measure of the rule which God had distributed to him (2Cor. 10:13).

4)     “Lest he should build on another man's foundation”.

“Lest I should build on another man's foundation”, in the negative aspect, it was in order to avoid unnecessary conflicts with other workers. In positive aspect, by the grace of God given to him, he focused on laying the foundation as an architect (see 1Cor. 3:10) instead of building upon the foundation. In other words, he paid more attention to planting than watering (see 1Cor. 3:6). However, it did not mean that Paul lacked the grace of building the church and watering believers.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Paul on one hand had great ambition before the Lord and on the other he did not dare to boast of himself before men. This is a great example of balance of the Lord’s workers.

2)    The workers of God shall be beside themselves to God, and be sober to men (see 2Cor. 5:13).

 

Rom. 15:21 “but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand." ”

   YLT: “but according as it hath been written, `To whom it was not told concerning him, they shall see; and they who have not heard, shall understand.'”

   Literal Meaning: “but as it is written”, the verse behind is quoted from the Book of Isaiah (52:15).

To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand. ---- Paul quoted this verse to show that his aim of preach the gospel not where Christ was named was just according to God’s will of preaching the gospel.

 

Rom. 15:22 “For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.”

   YLT: “Wherefore, also, I was hindered many times from coming unto you,”

   Literal Meaning: please see the first chapter of this book, verse thirteen.

 

 

Rom. 15:23 “But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,”

   YLT: “and now, no longer having place in these parts, and having a longing to come unto you for many years,”

Literal Meaning: “but now no longer having a place in these parts”, “now”: when Paul wrote this book. “These parts” referred to both the east and north sides of the Mediterranean Sea. “No longer having a place”, it did not mean all the people there had believed the Lord, but that the gospel had already been preached there.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    “Fully preached” (v.19) and “no longer having a place in these parts” present the faithful attitude of Paul’s service ---- he was on the run everywhere and preached the gospel diligently.

2)    This verse reveals us two spiritual principles of serving the Lord: 1) he who serves the Lord should not more to other places until he has fully fulfilled what God has entrusted to him at that time and in that place. 2) If he who serves the Lord has fulfilled his ministration in one place, he shall receive further burden and guidance and preach Christ to further places. One should not mechanically linger in one place and hold closely what he has done.

 

Rom. 15:24 “whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. ”

   YLT: “when I may go on to Spain I will come unto you, for I hope in going through, to see you, and by you to be set forward thither, if of you first, in part, I shall be filled.”

Literal Meaning: Spain”, according to the geographic knowledge at that time, man thought Spain was the end of the earth. Therefore, Paul had the burden to preach the testimony of the Lord to the end of the earth according to the command of the Lord before His ascension (Acts 1:8).

    “To be helped on my way there by you”, this is an implicative way of speaking. He hoped that the church in Rome could be the base of operations of preaching the gospel westwards and thus support him in prayer and substance.

 

Rom. 15:25 “But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.”

   YLT: “And, now, I go on to Jerusalem, ministering to the saints;”

Meaning of Words: “minister”: serve;

 

Rom. 15:26 “For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.”

   YLT: “for it pleased Macedonia and Achaia well to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who in Jerusalem;”

Meaning of Words: “make”: do, fulfill; “contribution”: fellowship;

Literal Meaning: Macedonia and Achaia”, Macedonia and Achaia were two provinces of the Roman Empire. Both of them equal to all the land of Greece today.

  “It pleasedto make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem”, it in the original meant that they were willing to have fellowship with the poor in Jerusalem in the want of substances (see 2Cor. 9:12).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Paul had fellowship with the Gentiles in the spiritual fullness that would be given to the Jews, and then the riches of gentile believers were distributed to the Jews. What good fellowship! Since it is out of love in life, it can be regarded as fellowship of love.

2)    The devotion of substance is a kind of fellowship in Christ. Since it is fellowship, there must be giving and gaining. Possibly, one gives now for the lack of others, and later others give for the lack of oneself (2Cor. 8:14). Another condition is that one gives material things and receives spiritual blessings (Phil. 4:16-17).

 

Rom. 15:27 “It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ”

   YLT: “for it pleased well, and their debtors they are, for if in their spiritual things the nations did participate, they ought also, in the fleshly things, to minister to them.”

Meaning of Words: “partaker”: fellowship; “minister”: to serve as a minister;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    There are several debts that Christian must repay: a) the debt of forgiving others (Matt. 18:32-35); b) the debt of preaching the gospel (Rom. 1:14-15); c) the debt of sharing spiritual things, which can be paid by sharing material things.

2)    Though spiritual grace cannot be bought or sold, those who have been saved by grace are willing to share their possessions with those who have helped them for the sake of the Lord. It is reasonable and acceptable to God.

 

Rom. 15:28 “Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain.”

   YLT: “This, then, having finished, and having sealed to them this fruit, I will return through you, to Spain;”

Meaning of Words: “seal”: seal up, stamp;

Literal Meaning: “have sealed to them this fruit”, “this fruit” refers to the contribution; “them” refers to the poor among the saints in Jerusalem (see v.26).

  Enlightenment in the Word: Christians should provide for things honest before men in regards to money, lest we are spoken of as evil (2Cor. 8:20-21).

 

Rom. 15:29 “But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.”

   YLT: “and I have known that coming unto you -- in the fulness of the blessing of the good news of Christ I shall come.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The full grace is in Christ. In Christ, there is full grace. The presence of the Lord is in the fellowship with brothers (Matt. 18:20). Therefore, living in the fellowship with brothers is the way of enjoying the full grace of Christ.

2)    Paul had not only said about the full gospel of Christ to the saints in Rome through this epistle, but also would bring “the fullness of the blessing of Christ of the gospel” to them. It shows that such a servant of God what he has said about is what he is experiencing, and what is preached in his mouth is what is manifest in him. How much rather shall we do like this?

 

Rom. 15:30 “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,”

   YLT: “And I call upon you, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in the prayers for me unto God,”

   Literal Meaning: that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me”, “with”: to work together; “strive”: struggle in company with, exert one’s full strength;

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The love of the Holy Spirit is the original power of our striving to do the work of the Lord. Without the love of the Holy Spirit, we shall not strive to work, nor have true prayers.

2)    If the workers of the Lord strive to preach the gospel and look after the saints and believers strive to pray for the workers of the Lord, such striving will produce surpassing power and amazing result.

3)    Even the great apostle Paul does need prayers of brothers and sisters. And we can clearly see that there is no true service without prayers behind. All of us should pray for evangelists so that the works of God can be fulfilled smoothly.

4)    Any worker that has great gifts can not live without the support of the members of the Lord’s body. In spiritual battle field, no one shall fight the battles alone.

 

Rom. 15:31 “that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,”

   YLT: “that I may be delivered from those not believing in Judea, and that my ministration, that for Jerusalem, may become acceptable to the saints;”

Meaning of Words: “service”: ministry, aid;

Literal Meaning: this verse and the next verse reveal the three matters that Paul requests for their prayers:

1)     “That I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, it is to pray for his works’ being kept from the hindrance and interruption of the enemy.

2)     “And that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints”, it is to pray for the present work of him.

3)     To pray for his journey and service in the future (v.32).

 

Rom. 15:32 “that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.”

   YLT: “that in joy I may come unto you, through the will of God, and may be refreshed with you,”

   Enlightenment in the Word: those who carry the full grace of Christ (v.29), wherever they go, can always bring “rest” to those who are with them. The Lord Jesus has peace Himself, so He calls others to come to Him and receive peace (see Matt. 11:25-30). Therefore, if one he has no rest when he is getting along with other saints, he can not refresh others and even bring heavier burden to others. All of these prove that they lack the reality of the fullness of Christ 

 

Rom. 15:33 “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. ”

   YLT: “and the God of the peace with you all. Amen.”

   Enlightenment in the Word: God is not only a God who gives peace, and He Himself is our eternal peace. It is an extremely great blessing for us that we have such a “peace of God” who dwells in us and is with us. 

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Virtues of Christians

A.   To please one another (v.1-2);

B.   To be like-minded toward one another (v.5);

C.   To receive one another (v.7);

D.   To prove the words of God (v.8-13);

E.   To admonish one another (v.14-19);

F.    To supply one another (v.20-29);

G.   To pray for one another (v.30-33);

 

How Do Christians Imitate Christ?

A.   To imitate Him who did not please Himself (v.1-3);

B.   To learn from Him who obtained patience, comfort and hope from God in the Scriptures (v.4-5);

C.   To imitate Him who served in the world for the sake of glorifying God (v.6-9);

D.   To imitate Him who brought both the Jews and the Gentiles unto God (v.8-12);

 

The Ideal Condition of Building the Church

A.   He who is strong is faith shall bear with those who are weak (v.1-3).

B.   Every believer can obtain learning from the Scriptures (v.4).

C.   All believers can be like-minded toward one another, to the glory of God (v.5-6).

D.   All believers can receive one another, without any difference (v.7-12).

E.   Every believer is filled with the God of hope (v.13).

 

God

A.   The God of patience and comfort (v.5);

B.   The God of hope (v.13);

C.   The God of peace (v.33);

 

Life in Christ ---- Live in a Brighter Way (v.13)

A.   For we are filled with hope for our future;

1.    Christians have the hope of “a better tomorrow” because of the guidance of God.

2.    Christians can practically experience the presence and guidance of God through honoring Him, trusting in Him and having initiate fellowship with Him.

B.   For we are filled with joy and peace;

1.    Faith enables man to be filled with joy and peace in abominable environment.

2.    He who does not believe sees only the environment, but he who believes can see the God behind the difficulty.

3.    How will we have firm faith?

a.    Ask God to give us faith;

b.    Faith comes from the word of God;

C.   For we have strength to overcome the environment;

1.    The power of the Holy Spirit gives us great hope in us.

2.    How does the Holy Spirit help us to overcome our environment?

a.    The comfort of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16);

b.    The guidance of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14);

3.    How do we let the Holy Spirit work His power in us?

a.    We shall walk by the Spirit and not quench the Spirit (1Thess. 5:19).

b.    We should not grieve the Spirit of God (Eph. 4:30).

 

The Growth in Christ ---- the Secret of Making Oneself Increase More (v.14)

A.   One shall “be full of goodness” ---- have a good heart and bright walking;

1.    “Good” is “as guileless as the doves”. Goodness is the fruit that the Holy Spirit bears in believers.

2.    Christians should have the virtue of “being full of good”, which includes two meanings:

a.    Christians shall have good hearts.

b.    Christians shall have good works.

B.   One shall be willing to “be filled with all knowledge” ---- be willing to lay up knowledge and believe and obey the truth;

1.    The “knowledge” here refers to the knowledge and pursuit of the truth and obedience to the truth.

2.    Christians should lay up the knowledge about the truth (Pro. 10:14).

3.    Christians should believe and obey the knowledge about the truth.

C.   One shall desire to “be able also to admonish one another” ---- desire to admonish others and be willing to receive admonishments.

1.    Christians shall have wisdom to admonish others (Pro. 12:18; 10:13).

2.    Christians shall be humble to receive the admonishments of others (Pro. 10:15).

 

The Example of the Worker of the Lord

A.   He treats others graciously (v.14).

B.   He is bold to remind others (v.15).

C.   He is called to serve God in the gospel of Him (v.16).

D.   He has reason to glory in the things which pertain to God (v.17-19).

E.   He aims to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named (v.20-21).

F.    He completely fulfills his ministry everywhere he goes (v.22-23).

G.   He has vast vision ---- the whole world is his working place (v.24).

H.   He has not forsaken the responsibility that he should assume at present (v.25-27).

I.      He serves in the fullness of the grace of Christ (v.28-29).

J.    He values the prayers of all the saints (v.30-32).

K.   He prays for all the saints (v.33).

 

The Works of Service

A.   The content of the works ---- things of God (v.17);

B.   The sphere of the works ---- in Christ Jesus (v.17);

C.   Men in the works ---- Christ…through me (v.18) ---- the vessel of God;

D.   The ways of the works ---- word and deed (v.18);

E.   The power of the works ---- the power of mighty signs and wonders (the power of the hands of God), the power of the Spirit of God (v.18);

F.    The result of the works ---- make obedient (v.18);

G.   The places of the works ---- have fully preached (v.19);

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Mary Zhou