Romans 15
Paul’s Final Exhortations
Paul concluded his instructions on disagreement and division in this section and then began to summarize his ministry and conclude his letter.
Build Up Your Neighbor
Vs. 1 - We who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.
Here, Paul continued his exhortation for believers to act in love and pursue peace with one another when disagreement tempted them to divide. In regards to disputed matters, Paul tasked the strong, or mature, with keeping the peace.
Encouragement
Vs. 2 - Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Paul was not saying that we should be "people pleasers" and do whatever anyone wants us to do simply because it will please them. The goal of our behavior should be the other person’s welfare and spiritual edification. - Thomas Constable
A genuine concern for the weak will mean an attempt to make them strong by leading them out of their irrational scruples so that they, too, can be strong. - Morris
Example
Vs. 3 - For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
Paul quoted a Messianic psalm of David (Psalm 69) to demonstrate how Jesus was our example in bearing the weaknesses of others. David endured insults that patterned the way Jesus was slandered, the innocent for the guilty.
Empowerment
Vs. 5-6 - May the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.
Vs. 13 - Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul reminded these Christians that the call to “build up” and to “live in harmony” was exemplified in Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit. God Himself would supply the endurance and encouragement they needed to live in unity.
Welcome Jews and Gentiles
Vs. 7 - Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.
Much of Paul’s letter has been an explanation of how God, through Jesus, had always been forming a diverse people of faith to follow Him. As he moves towards his conclusion, the apostle adds one final reminder that God’s grace was intended for all who would receive it.
Vs. 8-9 - For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers, and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy.
Jesus’ perfect life and sacrificial death had served as both the fulfillment of all God’s promises to Israel and as the Gentiles’ only hope for mercy. The Messiah had come to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
To prove that this is not his own novel and heretical idea, Paul cites four passages from the Old Testament; (Ps 18:49, Dt 32:43, Ps 117:1, Is 11:10). In all of them Paul finds ancient forecasts of the reception of the Gentiles into the faith. He is convinced that, just as Jesus Christ came into this world to save all men, so the Church must welcome all men, no matter what their differences may be. Christ was an inclusive Savior, and therefore his Church must be an inclusive Church. - William Barclay
I Have Written to Remind You
Here, Paul began the conclusion of his letter (15:14-16:27) by updating the Romans about his own ministry: - Outline by Thomas Constable
Past labors - 15:14-21
Present program - 15:22-29
Future plans - 15:30-33
Vs. 15-16 - I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God.
Paul was convinced that the Roman Christians were gifted by God for effective service and healthy Church life. Yet Paul also knew that God had uniquely called and equipped him as an apostle to the Gentiles. So what he wrote was sure to be useful in helping the Roman house churches grow to maturity. - Edwin A. Blum
My Aim to Preach The Gospel
Vs. 20 - My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named.
Paul’s assignment to “preach Christ where he had yet to be named” was not the same assignment given to everyone in the early church. His personal calling was to preach Christ in places where Christ has not been heard of. - JD Greear
Paul quoted one of Isaiah’s “Servant Songs” (Isaiah 52:14-15) to illustrate how the prophets had foretold that the good news of the Messiah would be shared with all nations. Paul considered his own ministry, what Christ had accomplished through him (18), to be a fulfillment of that promise.
Pray That I May Come to You
Plans
Vs. 23-24 - I have strongly desired for many years to come to you whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.
This concern to make the gospel known in the unevangelized regions is the reason why Paul has not yet visited Rome. Now that he has finished his work in Greece, he feels free at last to go to Italy. From Rome, he wants to move farther west and preach the gospel in other unevangelized areas, even as far as Spain. First, however, he is going to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor Christians in Jerusalem. He believes it is fitting that the Gentiles make this offering to their Jewish brothers, since they owe their salvation to the Jews in the first place. He will then come to Rome and go on to Spain. - Don Fleming
So Paul is on the way to Jerusalem, and he is planning a journey to Spain. As far as we know he never got to Spain, for in Jerusalem he encountered the trouble which led to his long imprisonment and his death. It would seem that this was one plan of the great pioneer which never was worked out. - William Barclay
Prayer
Vs. 30 - Strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf.
Sensing that danger awaited him in Jerusalem (having been warned several times as recorded in Acts 20:22-23 and Acts 21:10-14), Paul knew he needed the prayers of God’s people to see him through the difficulty promised him.
The ancient Greek word translated strive together is “sunagonizomai” – literally meaning, “agonize together.” This is the only place in the New Testament where this specific word is used.
Paul wants the Romans to partner with him in ministry through their prayers. The New English Bible translates this: be my allies in the fight. The New Living Bible translates the phrase like this: join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. - David Guzik
Paul asks these believers to partner with him in ministry through prayer. His requests:
Protection - vs. 31 - “that I may be rescued from the unbelievers”
Reception - vs. 31 - “that my ministry...may be acceptable”
Direction - vs. 32 - “by God’s will, I may come to you”
