Romans 15:14

πέπεισμαι δὲ κ.τ.λ. He deprecates the interpretation of the letter as involving any distrust or depreciation of them.

ἀδελφοί μου. A. specially intimate and affectionate appeal.

καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ. I, without waiting for others to tell me, of my own knowledge and confidence. Is there an underlying reference here to a letter from Aquila and Priscilla which has given him full information about the Christians in Rome? See on Romans 16:3.

ὅτι καὶ αὐτοί. You, of your own initiative, without requiring help from me.

ἀγαθωσύνης. In LXX[298] the meaning of kindliness, benevolence, occurs in Nehemiah 3:25; Nehemiah 3:35; Nehemiah 13:31 (of GOD) and perhaps Judges 8:35; Judges 9:16. The same meaning suits best in Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9 (see Robinson); 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (“denotes a human quality always in S. Paul = moral excellence, but implies specifically an active beneficence” Findlay). Only in S. Paul, ll. cc. in N.T., not found in cl. Greek. Ep. Barn. Romans 2:9 of GOD. So here ‘goodness towards others’ picks up the thought of c. 14.

[298] LXX. the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament

π. τ. γνώσεως. This again is suggested by the subject of 14; cf. 1 Corinthians 8:1 ff.; but of course has a wider reference.

νουθετεῖν. Acts 20:31 and Epp. P. only; 1 Corinthians 4:14 ὡς τέκνα)[299] ἐντρέπων; Colossians 1:28 |[300] διδάσκοντες, so Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14 a work of οἱ προϊστάμενοι; 2 Thessalonians 3:15 v. ὡς�; ‘admonish,’ ‘warn’; ‘rebuke’ is too strong, c. 12 is a good instance of νουθεσία; cf. νουθεσία 1 Corinthians 10:11; Ephesians 6:4; Titus 3:10.

[299])(opposed to
[300] | parallel to