02.27. VIII. Confirming Promises and Showing Mercy (15:8-13).

VIII. Confirming Promises and Showing Mercy (Rom 15:8-13).

1. Now I say (Rom 15:8). The true reading is, For I say, as given in the Revision, and Dr. Stifler explains that the for introduces the long passage following to show how Christ received both parties. The word ‘meat’ and the words ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ are not again used; but instead the two nationalities in the church appear, the Jew and the Gentile, showing that the division in dietary matters ran in the main between these two. The Jew would be the weak man, the Gentile the strong; but there were doubtless exceptions on both sides.

2. That Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers (Rom 15:8). The ministry of Christ was to the Jew first. Great and wonderful promises had been made to Israel, and these promises must be redeemed; so Christ became a servant to the circumcised in order to prove God’s honesty (Moffatt); or, in vindication of God’s truthfulness—in showing how sure are the promises made to the fathers (Weymouth). Many of these Old Testament promises were fulfilled in connection with the first advent of Christ. Every jot and tittle was accomplished which had relation to the sufferings of Christ, and the remaining promises were reiterated and confirmed. The Lord Jesus is coming again to fulfill in every jot and tittle the promises having to do with the glory that should follow (1Pe 1:11).

3. And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy (Rom 15:9). Mercy is the emphatic word here, and is in contrast with the promises of the preceding verse. God had made no promises directly to the Gentile nations, and so the ministry of Christ to the Gentiles is a matter of pure mercy.

4. As it is written (Rom 15:9). The apostle now brings forward four Old Testament Scriptures to prove that this showing of mercy to Gentiles was foreseen. These quotations have not the character of promises to Gentiles, but are nevertheless predictive of the work of the gospel among them: (1) For this cause I will confess to Thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto Thy name (Psa 18:49); (2) Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people (Deu 32:43); (3) Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud Him, all ye peoples (Psa 117:1); (4) There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust (Isa 11:1; Isa 11:10).

5. 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 (Rom 15:13). Hope, in this verse, is the same as is translated trust in Rom 15:12 (see R. V.), and in the 13th verse it is preceded in both instances by the definite article. It is the hope that is referred to—”that blessed hope” of Tit 2:13. The 1911 Bible translates:

Now the God of the hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in the hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.