Romans 15:20

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: YEA, SO HAVE I STRIVED, [ houtoos (G3779) de (G1161) filotimoumenon (G5389)] - or, 'Yet (in doing) so, ambitious' (see 2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Gr.) TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, NOT WHERE CHRIST WAS (ALREADY) NAMED, LESS I SHOULD (OR 'THAT I MIGHT NOT') BUILD UPON ANOTHER MAN'S FOUNDATION:...

20._Thus striving to preach the gospel, etc. _As it was necessary for Paul not only to prove himself to be the servant of Christ and a pastor of the Christian Church, but also to show his title to the character and office of an Apostle, that he might gain the attention of the Romans, he mentions here the proper and peculiar distinction of the apostleship; for the work of an Apostle is to propagate the gospel where it had not been preached, according to that command, “Go ye, preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15.) And this is what we ought carefully to notice, lest we make a general rule of what specially belongs to the Apostolic order: nor ought we to consider it a fault, that a successor was substituted who built up the Church. The Apostles then were the founders as it were of the Church; the pastors who succeeded them, had to strengthen and amplify the build

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 20. _SO HAVE I STRIVED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL_] ουτω δε φιλοτιμουμενον. For I have considered it my _honour_ to preach the Gospel where that Gospel was before unknown. This is the proper import of the word φιλοτιμεισθαι; from φιλος, a _friend_, and τιμη, _honour_. As I am _not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, so I_ esteem it an _honour_ to preach it, and especially to proclaim it among the _heathen; not building on another man's foundation_-not watering what another apostle had planted; but cheerfully exposing myself to all kinds of dangers and hardships, in order to found new Churches....

YEA, SO HAVE I STRIVED - The word used here φιλοτιμούμενον philotimoumenon means properly “to be ambitious, to be studious of honor;” and then to “desire” earnestly. In that sense it is used here. He earnestly desired; he made it a point for which he struggled, to penetrate into regions which had not heard the gospel. NOT WHERE CHRIST WAS NAMED - Where the gospel had not been before preached. LEST I SHOULD BUILD ... - That is, he desired to found churches himself; he regarded himself as particularly called to this. Others might be called to edify the church, but he regarded it as his function to make known the name of the Saviour where it was not before known. This work was particularly adapted to the ardor, zeal, energy, and bravery of such a man as Paul. Every man has his proper gift; and there are some

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._...

YEA, SO HAVE I STRIVED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL,.... The sense is, not barely that he strove to preach the Gospel and not the law, the pure Gospel, and, not a mixed one; nor only that he endeavoured to preach it fully, and leave out nothing; but that he had an holy ambition to preach it, NOT WHERE CHRIST WAS NAMED; as in Judea, where he had been for many ages spoken of and expected, and where he had lately appeared, lived, suffered, and died, and where his Gospel had been preached by all the apostles; as also in such parts of the Gentile world, where others of the apostles had been, and had made mention of his name, and published the glad tidings of salvation by him; but he chose rather to go to such Heathen nations, as were wholly without any knowledge of him; who had only the dim light of nature to guide them; had had no promises nor prophecies of the Messiah, nor so much as any hints, at...

Romans 15:13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 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. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God. 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. I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed. Through mighty signs and wonders,...

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