JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE THE OBJECT OF GOD'S LOVE. THE APOSTLE'S PLANS 1-13. The subject of Romans 14 is continued. 'Strength' should be displayed in helping the 'weak' after Christ's example (Romans 15:1). Let both sections be united in God's praise, welcoming one another as Christ welcomed them (Rom... [ Continue Reading ]
BEAR] cp. Galatians 6:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO EDIFICATION] The words define the kind of good to be sought, i.e. the building-up of the Church, not of any particular member. The individual is to be willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the whole body: cp. Romans 14:19; 1 Corinthians 10:33. Contr. Galatians 1:10, where 'pleasing' would... [ Continue Reading ]
From Psalms 69:9 : cp. 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6. The Psalm describes the sufferings at the hands of the wicked of the righteous man. The words, therefore, are applicable to Christ above all.... [ Continue Reading ]
LEARNING] i.e. 'instruction': cp. 2 Timothy 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSOLATION] RV 'comfort.' LIKEMINDED] RV 'of the same mind.' TOWARDS] RV 'with.'... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father,' etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
US] RV 'you.'... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW] RV 'for,' introducing proof of Romans 15:7. WAS] RV 'hath been made.' MINISTER OF THE CIRCUMCISION] i.e. Christ lived and worked under the Old Covenant marked by circumcision: cp. Galatians 4:4.; 2 Corinthians 3:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Quotation from Psalms 18:49. CONFESS] RV 'give praise.'... [ Continue Reading ]
From Deuteronomy 32:43.... [ Continue Reading ]
From Psalms 117:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
From Isaiah 11:10. IN] RV 'on.' TRUST] RV 'hope.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH] RV 'in.' 14-33. The Apostle approaches the end of the Epistle with personal references. 14-21. His tone of authority is warranted by his commission as apostle to the Gentiles, and by the way in which Christ has owned and blessed his work. PARAPHRASE. '(14) Do not suppose I think you lack... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO] RV 'ye yourselves.' GOODNESS] i.e. goodness of heart toward others.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SOME SORT] better, 'in part' (of the Epistle), e.g. Romans 6:12.; Romans 11:17. IS GIVEN] RV 'was given': cp. Romans 1:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MINISTER] RV 'a minister.' The Gk. word, the original of the word 'liturgy,' is used in LXX of priests and Levites, and denotes one who ministers in sacred things. MINISTERING] RM 'ministering in sacrifice.' He was called to offer the Gentiles as a sacrifice to God. He did this by preaching the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREOF I MAY GLORY] RV 'my glorying.'... [ Continue Reading ]
The only thing he will boast of is the work Christ has done through him for the conversion of the Gentiles. OBEDIENT] i.e. in faith: cp. Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH MIGHTY SIGNS] RV 'in the power of signs,' i.e. the power which miracles have upon those who behold them: cp. 2 Corinthians 12:12. He speaks of his miracles as well known and indubitable. ROUND ABOUT] He had evangelised on either side of the route from Jerusalem to Hlyricum. ILLYRICUM] On the... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'yea, making it my aim, so to preach,' etc. LEST I SHOULD BUILD] cp. 2 Corinthians 10:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
From Isaiah 52:15. 22-33. He hopes, after a journey to Jerusalem, to visit Rome on his way to Spain (Romans 15:22). He desires their prayers (Romans 15:30). PARAPHRASE. '(22) My work has often prevented me from coming to you, (23) but now that my work here is finished, (24) I hope to visit you on m... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'Wherefore also I was hindered these many times': cp. Romans 1:10; Romans 1:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT ON MY WAY] cp. Acts 15:3; Acts 28:15; 1 Corinthians 16:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Acts 19:21; Acts 20:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
POOR SAINTS] RV 'poor among the saints.' There was much poverty among the Christians at Jerusalem, increased, perhaps, by the ill-will of the rich, Sadducees. St. Paul had been intreated to 'remember the poor' (Galatians 2:10). At the same time there was mistrust at Jerusalem of him and his work. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
MINISTER] same Gk. word as 'minister' in Romans 15:16. CARNAL] i.e. belonging to this earthly life: no bad association here.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEALED] i.e. marked it as their property; made it over to them. TO THEM] i.e. the Jerusalem Christians. FRUIT] i.e. the contribution would be evidence to the Jewish Christians of the real faith and love of the Gentiles. INTO SPAIN] St. Paul may have visited Spain after he was released from Rome, th... [ Continue Reading ]
Though St. Paul did not come to Rome in the way he anticipated, his coming was brought about by God's Providence for 'the furtherance of the gospel': cp. Romans 1:11.; Philippians 1:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE SPIRIT] i.e. awakened by the Spirit: cp. Galatians 5:22.... [ Continue Reading ]