Romans 15

May the God of hope fill you with all joy


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Text Comments
 1 ¶ We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
 2  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
.3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
.4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
  4 For all that was written of old has been written for our instruction, so that we may always have hope through the power of endurance and the encouragement which the Scriptures afford. (Weymouth) 
  1 - We ... strong The spiritually able ones.
  1 - Bear From bastazo, meaning "to lift" or "to carry."
  1 - Please ourselves The natural human feeling is to consider our own interests. We tend to demand our "rights." It is better to be cheated or mistreated than to lose the opportunity to show our love for others.
  3 - Christ pleased not Himself He lived a life of self denial. See 1co0919, 1co1024, 1co1033, ph0204.
  4 - Written afortime. Call for Bible study.
  4 - Comfort of the Scriptures Or, "that the scriptures bring."
 5 ¶ Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
 6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  5 - God of patience See similar descriptions of our magnificent, loving God: v13, v33, ph0409, 1th0523, he1320, 2co0103, 1pe0510.
 7 ¶ Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
.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:
 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.
 10  And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
 11  And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
.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.
   7 - Receive each other A lesson in acceptance of people of different ethnic backgrounds. We should accept them because Christ did. Accepting people does not mean approval for their behavior. This little leap of logic leads some today to excuse sin. Christ is always longing to develop a relationship with us. He does it to lift us up, not to accept our sin as unimportant.
  8 - Jesus Christ was Literally "... has become" or "... became."
  8 - Minister of the circumcision More than one verse is described in the concept. He came in human flesh first to the Jews giving them a final opportunity to confirm the covenant mt1524.
  8 - To confirm promises We see in the context that Christ came to confirm promises to the Jews and to the Gentiles. This reminds us that we, as spiritual Israel, inherit the promises ga0328. lu0169. Christ also did this in fulfillment of the prophecy of da0927a.
  9 - Gentiles might glorify Although the Jews had been given a special mission, it has always been God's plan to reach and save all who would respond.
  10 - Rejoice Quoting from de3243.
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.   13 - Hope  Also meaning "trust."
 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.
 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.
  14 - I myself Paul has presented his argument and now begins to write of his plans to visit Rome and expresses his final greetings.
  15 - In some sort Literally, "in part."
  16 - Minister "The word here used is commonly employed to express the office of the priesthood, from which accordingly the figurative language of the rest of the verse is taken." (JFB).
  16 - Offering up From prosphora, literally "a bringing to, as bringing an offering to the altar. It is an offering in ep0502, ac2126. It is an acceptable offering 1pe0205.
 17 ¶ I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
 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,
.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.
.20  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
 21  But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
  19 - Illyricum The area of Dalmatia and North (what is now Croatia). Beyond Macedonia, across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. See map.
  20 - Strived to preach ... not where This was Paul's mission. Also see v24 and v28.
 22 ¶ For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
 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.
  24 - Spain We have no evidence that he ever went to Spain.
  24 - Brought ... by you He was doing a little fund raising. Other churches had helped him ac1503, ac2105, 1co1606, tt0313, 3jn06.
  24 - Filled with your company Literally, "if of you first in a measure I might be filled." He wanted to fellowship with them only briefly.
 25  But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
 26  For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
.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.
 28  When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
 29  And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
  25 - Now ... Jerusalem He wanted to take help to the poor Christians there. For the trip see ac1921; ac2417.
 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.
.33  Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
  31 - Delivered from ... not believe That is, the disobedient ones ro1130.
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