Romans 15:14

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. AND I MYSELF ALSO AM PERSUADED OF YOU, MY BRETHREN. 'Now I am persuaded, my brethren, even I myself, concerning you,' THAT YE ALSO ARE FULL OF GOODNESS - of inclination to all I have been enjoining on you, FILLED WITH ALL KNOWLEDGE (OF THE TRUTH EXPOUNDED), ABLE ALSO (WITHOUT MY INTERVENTION) TO ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER....

14._But even I myself am persuaded, etc. _This was said to anticipate an objection, or it may be deemed a kind of concession, made with the view of pacifying the Romans; in case they thought themselves reproved by so many and so urgent admonitions, and thus unjustly treated. He then makes an excuse for having ventured to assume towards them the character of a teacher and of an exhorter; and he says, that he had done so, not _because _he had any doubt as to their wisdom, or kindness, or perseverance; but because he was constrained by his _office. _Thus he removed every suspicion of presumption, which especially shows itself when any one thrusts himself into an office which does not belong to him, or speaks of those things which are unsuitable to him. We see in this instance the singular modesty of this holy man, to whom nothing was more acceptable than to be thought of no account, provide...

14-21 The apostle was persuaded that the Roman Christians were filled with a kind and affectionate spirit, as well as with knowledge. He had written to remind them of their duties and their dangers, because God had appointed him the minister of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul preached to them; but what made them sacrifices to God, was, their sanctification; not his work, but the work of the Holy Ghost: unholy things can never be pleasing to the holy God. The conversion of souls pertains unto God; therefore it is the matter of Paul's glorying, not the things of the flesh. But though a great preacher, he could not make one soul obedient, further than the Spirit of God accompanied his labours. He principally sought the good of those that sat in darkness. Whatever good we do, it is Christ who does it by us....

Verse Romans 15:14. _AND I - AM PERSUADED OF YOU_] This is supposed to be an address to the Gentiles; and it is managed with great delicacy: he seems to apologize for the _freedom_ he had used in writing to them; which he gives them to understand proceeded from the authority he had received by his apostolical office, the exercise of which office respected _them_ particularly. So they could not be offended when they found themselves so particularly distinguished. _YE - ARE FULL OF GOODNESS_] Instead of αγαθωσυνης, _goodness_, some MSS. of good repute have αγαπης, _love_. In this connection both words seem to mean nearly the same thing. They were so full of _goodness_ and _love_ that they were disposed, of themselves, to follow any plan that might be devised, in order to bring about the most perfect understanding between them

AND I MYSELF ALSO - The apostle here proceeds to show them why he had written this Epistle, and to state his confidence in them. He had exhorted them to peace; he had opposed some of their strongest prejudices; and in order to secure their obedience to his injunctions, he now shows them the deep interest which he had in their welfare, though he had never seen them. AM PERSUADED - He had never seen them Romans 1:10, but he had full confidence in them. This confidence he had expressed more fully in the first chapter. OF YOU - Concerning you. I have full confidence in you. MY BRETHREN - An address of affection; showing that he was not disposed to assume undue authority, or to lord it over their faith....

EXPOSITION ROMANS 16:1 IV. SUPPLEMENTARY. Questions have been raised and much discussed as to the connection of the last two chapters, 15. and 16., with the rest of the Epistle. The facts and the opinions founded on them may be summarized as follows. (1) There is sufficient proof that in early times copies of the Epistle existed without these two chapters. The evidence is this— (A) Origen (on Romans 16:25) speaks of some copies in his time being without the concluding doxology, and also without any part of these two chapters, attributing the omission to Marcion, for his own purposes, having mutilated the Epistle. His words are, "Caput hoc (_i.e._...

AND I MYSELF ALSO AM PERSUADED OF YOU,.... This is said by way of prevention to an objection that might he made to the apostle's prayers and exhortations by the Romans. What does the apostle mean by all this? what does he think of us, or take us to be? men that live in malice to one another, devoid of all humanity, and mutual respect? a parcel of fools and ignorant men, that know nothing of divine things? and though there may be some that are much to be blamed for their conduct and carriage to their fellow Christians, what, are there none among us fit to give advice and admonition? To which the apostle replies, that he was far from entertaining such thoughts of them; that though he had not seen them in person, yet he had had such an account of their faith and practice, which were famous throughout the world, that he was thoroughly persuaded of better things of them, though he thus spake;...

Romans 15:1. _We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves._ When we are free from scruples upon any point, and feel that there are things that we may do because we are strong, yet let us not do them if thereby we should grieve others who are weak. Let us think of their infirmities; and whatever liberty we may feel entitled to claim for ourselves, let us look at the matter from the standpoint of other people as well as from our Own, that we may bear the infirmities of the weak, and not seek to please ourselves. Romans 15:2. _Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ_ Our Master, and Lord, and great Exemplar: «For even Christ»...

CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The Example of Christ. (Romans 15:1 .)_ 2. The Ministry of Christ. (Romans 15:8 .) 3. Paul's Personal Ministry. (Romans 15:14 .) Romans 15:1 An additional motive is brought in why the strong should bear the infirmities of the weak and not please themselves. It is Christ. He did not please Himself, but bore in great meekness and patience the reproaches with which men reproached God, and these reproaches fell on Christ Himself. It was the reproach of God He bore in perfect meekness. We are therefore to be likeminded one to another according to Christ Jesus. Wherefore receive ye one another

THE PRESENT JUNCTURE IN PAUL'S MINISTRY. Paul resumes the thread dropped at Romans 1:15. Romans 15:14. He does not think the Roman Christians in need of correction; he has written, however, and in part of the epistle (in Romans 6:12, and much of Romans 12, 14) somewhat boldly, by way of further reminder of familiar truths (_cf. Romans 6:17_) a liberty warranted by the special grace he had received (_cf. Romans 1:2_, Romans 12:3). That grace had constituted