Now ["Now" is progressive; it means, "to proceed with the matter in hand"] _we_ [It is a characteristic of Paul's to identify himself with those on whom he lays especial burdens] _that are strong ought_ [1 Corinthians 9:19-22. Strength in the gospel always brings upon its owner the obligation and co... [ Continue Reading ]
Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifyin g.... [ Continue Reading ]
For Christ also pleased not himself [The strong ought to give way to the weak because strength can yield better than weakness, since in so doing it in no way violates conscience and because this forbearance tends to build up the weak and make them strong. But this rule applies, of course, only to ma... [ Continue Reading ]
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus [I cite the Scripture as written for the instruction of the unborn church, for all Scripture, as it outlines what Christ would do sacrificially, also establishes what we should do as im... [ Continue Reading ]
that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. [Beautiful picture! When in concord the whole church as a harmonious choir renders praise to God, the Father of our Lord, as one mouth! And how this will glorify our Saviour, Christ, showing the perfectio... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God. [Against the trifling, selfish enjoyment of personal liberty, the apostle sets the supreme end and joy of life; viz., the glorification of God (Matthew 22:36-38; John 4:34). As Christ, suppressing all selfish pr... [ Continue Reading ]
For ["for" introduces the explanation as to how Christ's coming and ministry was for the purpose of glorifying God by receiving each party, Jew or Gentile] _I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers... [ Continue Reading ]
and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy [In order that he might vindicate the veracity of God in confirming and in keeping the promises of the covenant given unto the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: (now these covenant promises contained blessings for the Gentiles-- Genesis 22:18; t... [ Continue Reading ]
And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; And let all the peoples praise him.... [ Continue Reading ]
And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope. [The quotations found in verses Romans 15:9-12 are presented to confirm Paul's teaching that it was God's original, eternal purpose to include the Gentiles in Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. [The apostle concludes the hortatory part of his letter with this solemn petition for his readers' welfare. Note what beautiful names for God are derived from the attributes... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle, having finished his didactic and doctrinal instruction, turns to renew the personal tone with which his letter opened. He presents: (1) An apology for the liberty taken in so plainly admonishing them, reminding them of his office as apostle to the Gentiles which laid such a duty upon hi... [ Continue Reading ]
But I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance [Thus suggesting that the matter of his Epistle was not wholly new to them: comp. 2 Peter 1:12-13], _because of the grace_ [i. e., apostleship: comp. Romans 1:5; Romans 12:3; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:7-11] _t... [ Continue Reading ]
that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus unto the Gentiles [I have not carefully weighed my words as a stranger should, but have used some measure of boldness because it is my duty to so speak as your apostle commissioned by God's grace. "As though he said, 'I did not snatch the honor for myself,... [ Continue Reading ]
I have therefore my glorying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. ["Therefore" refers back to verse 15. I have therefore a right to address you boldly in things pertaining to God, for I am not contemptible in such matters, being able to glory, not in myself, but in reference to Christ Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,... [ Continue Reading ]
in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ [I, as I have intimated, would not dare to glory in anything that I find in myself, but I glory in the manifest powers of the Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
yea [yes, so full was the spiritual _power imparted to me that I thought it an honor and recognition due to my office and to those powers to use them only on the hard, unbroken soil of utterly unenlightened_ paganism], _making it my aim so to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, th... [ Continue Reading ]
but [on the contrary, I preach as following the program outlined by the prophet], _as it is written_ [Isaiah 52:15], _They shall see, to whom no tidings of him came, And they who have not heard shall understand_. [This verse, which speaks of the original enlightening of the Gentiles, might well appe... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you :... [ Continue Reading ]
but now, having no more any place [territory where Christ is not known] _in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come unto you_ [Because of the many benighted places in the unevangelized east, I have hitherto been held back from visiting you, but now the work here being finished,... [ Continue Reading ]
whensoever I go unto Spain [We have no contemporary record stating that Paul visited Spain in his lifetime, but his noble wish was in large measure gratified, for he visited Spain in later centuries by his Epistles, which wrought so mightily that the Inquisition could only stamp out his influence by... [ Continue Reading ]
but now, I say, I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints. [Despite the earnestness of my desire to see you just at present, I can not come, for duty calls me to Jerusalem. Verses 31 and 32 show that Paul anticipated danger and trouble at Jerusalem, but joy and rest at Rome. His anticipations... [ Continue Reading ]
For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem. [It was quite natural that there should be many Christians in Jerusalem, for Palestine was filled with poor, and it was to that class that the gospel was esp... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, it hath been their good pleasure [The apostle twice notes the free-will or "good pleasure" nature of this offering. It dropped as the ripe fruit of the orchard; it was not squeezed as cider in the mill]; _and their debtors they are._ [The Gentiles are indebted to the Jews, and hence their offer... [ Continue Reading ]
When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by you unto Spain. ["Seal" is a figurative expression for "deliver safely." Compare its use at 2 Kings 22:4; where it is translated "sum"; i. e., count out. Our English word "consign" is a similar figure. Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
And I know that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ : [Paul had no doubt about the favorable conditions in the Roman church, nor about his kindly reception by the Christians at Rome. He felt that they would so receive him that he would be able to greatly enri... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me [Paul appeals to no natural love such as is provoked by environment, propinquity, social or fleshly ties, but to a love induced by the Spirit of God tow... [ Continue Reading ]
that I may be delivered from them that are disobedient in Judæa, and that my ministration [offering] _which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints_;... [ Continue Reading ]
that I may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and together with you find rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. [The prayer is fourfold. (1) Personal safety. (2) A successful mission with the offering. (3) Divine permission to reach Rome. (4) Joyful rest in Rome. The prayer designates as "saints" those thousands of believers whose prejudice against Paul amounted to... [ Continue Reading ]