Romans 15:16

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. THAT I SHOULD BE THE MINISTER, [ leitourgon (G3011)] - 'a minister' (in the sense of 'ministering to the Lord,' explained on Acts 13:2) OF JESUS CHRIST ('Christ Jesus,' according to the true reading) TO THE GENTILES - a further proof that this Epistle was meant in the first instance for a Gentile Church (see the note at Romans 1:13), MINISTERING, [ hierourgounta (G2...

16._Consecrating the gospel, etc. _This rendering I prefer to that which [Erasmus ] in the first place adopts, that is, “Administering;” for nothing is more certain than that Paul here alludes to the holy mysteries which were performed by the priest. He then makes himself a chief priest or a priest in the ministration of the gospel, to offer up as a sacrifice the people whom he gained for God, and in this manner he labored in the holy mysteries of the gospel. And doubtless this is the priesthood of the Christian pastor, that is, to sacrifice men, as it were, to God, by bringing them to obey the gospel, and not, as the Papists have hitherto haughtily vaunted, by offering up Christ to reconcile men to God. He does not, however, give here the name of priests to the pastors of the Church simply as a perpetual title, but intending to commend the honor and power of the ministry, Paul availed h...

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 15:16. _MINISTERING THE GOSPEL OF GOD_] ιερουργουντα, _Acting as a priest_. Here is a plain allusion, says Dr. Whitby, to the Jewish sacrifices offered by the priest, and _sanctified_ or made acceptable by the _libamen_ offered with them; for he compares himself, in preaching the Gospel, to the _priest performing his_ _sacred functions_-preparing his sacrifice to be offered. The _Gentiles_, converted by him and dedicated to the service of God, are his sacrifices and oblation. The _Holy Spirit_ is the _libamen_ poured upon this sacrifice, by which it was sanctified and rendered _acceptable_ to God. The words of _Isaiah_, Isaiah 66:20, _And they shall bring all your brethren for an_ OFFERING _unto the_ _Lord, out of all_ N...

THE MINISTER - λειτουργὸν leitourgon. This is not the word which is commonly translated “minister” διάκονος diakonos. This word is properly appropriated to those who minister in public offices or the affairs of the state. In the New Testament it is applied mainly to the Levitical priesthood, who ministered and served at the altar; Hebrews 11:11. It is however applied to the ministers of the New Testament, as discharging “substantially” the same offices toward the church which were discharged by the Levitical priesthood; that is, as engaged in promoting the welfare of the church, occupied in holy things, etc.; Acts 13:2, “as they “ministered” to the Lord and fasted,” etc. I

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._...

THAT I SHOULD BE THE MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST,.... The office of apostleship is here amplified and enlarged on, and the ends shown for which that grace was given to him, that he should be a minister; not in holy things about the temple, as the priests and Levites were; or a teacher of the law, some were fond of; but a minister of Christ, one that was made so by him, was qualified and sent forth to minister in his name to men; and who was a preacher of him; Jesus Christ, and him crucified, was the grand subject of his ministrations; he adds, TO THE GENTILES; for to them, though not to the exclusion of the Jews, was he appointed a minister by Christ, and sent by him to them; among them he chiefly ministered, and was particularly and eminently useful to them; and this is another reason why the Romans ought to bear with a little boldness and freedom in writing to them, since he was the apos...

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