Romans 15

2. Let every one of us please his neighbour, etc. The only pleasing of men here enjoined is that which has for its end their real good.

3 as it is written, etc. This quotation from Psa. lxix. 9 places in a strong light the unselfishness of Christ, who out of zeal for the Divine honour, and desire to free men from guilt, took on Himself the reproaches which the wicked cast on God.

4 through patience and comfort of the Scriptures. God gives (5) this patience and comfort through obedient attention to the Scriptures.

5 consolation. Rather, “comfort” (R.V.), as in ver. 4. Compare the three titles given to God in this chapter, with their practical and encouraging effects. “The God of patience,” etc. (5); “The God of hope” (13); “The God of peace” (33). God’s character is thus considered in relation to human life.

6 with one mind. The same Greek word is used in Acts i. 14.

7 to the glory of God. See John xvii. 20-23.

8. Now. Rather (as R.V.), “For.” Our Lord came in the lowly character of a servant (see Matt. xx. 28), both to the Jews, to show God’s truthfulness in accomplishing His promises; and also to the Gentiles, to display His mercy; so that they might both rejoice together.

9 as it is written, etc. The following quotations are from “the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms” (Luke xxiv. 44), showing that the whole of the ancient Scripture predicts the union of Jew and Gentile in God’s service: see Deut. xxxii. 1; Psa. xviii. 49; Isa. xi. 10. They are taken verbatim from the Septuagint, which sufficiently expresses the spirit of the Hebrew. In the passages quoted, the A.V. has variously, “nations,” “heathen,” “Gentiles”; the R.V. uniformly, “nations.”

12 trust. Rather, “hope”: see ver. 13.

13 the God of (the) hope. God is the Author of the hope which Gentiles were encouraged (ver. 12) to place in “the root of Jesse.”

15 in some sort. Rather, “in some measure.”

the grace. Or, “the favour,” which had conferred on him the apostolic office.

16 ministering the gospel, etc. The terms which Paul here uses describe the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles as a priestly service rendered to Christ in bringing them to offer themselves as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit: cp. xii. 1, 2.

18. For I will not dare, etc. “I will appeal only to what Christ has wrought through me in the conversion of the Gentiles.”

19 so that from Jerusalem, etc. Or, “From Jerusalem and its neighbourhood even to Illyricum, I have fulfilled the gospel of Christ”; he had fulfilled his office as its preacher (cp. 20). The province of Illyricum lay on the north-west of Macedonia. From Acts xx. 2 it appears that Paul traversed the whole of Macedonia, on his second visit, just before he wrote this Epistle; and he would therefore be close to Illyricum. If he visited it at that time, he would naturally refer, in writing shortly afterwards, to a journey which was fresh in his thoughts.

20 so have I strived, etc. Rather, “making it my aim or ambition, to preach the gospel,” etc.; i.e., I determined to act in the spirit of those words

(Isa. lii. 15), which predict that the gospel shall be preached to those who have never heard it.

22 much. Rather, “many times” (R.V.): see next verse, and note on i. 13.

23 no more place, etc. That is, no opportunity for preaching the gospel in districts which it had not reached. “These parts”: Greece, in the widest sense.

24. Spain.** “St. Paul did not visit Spain before his first Roman imprisonment. On the hypothesis of his liberation and second imprisonment, he may have done so at a later time. The Muratorian Canon shows that his visit to Spain was an accepted tradition of the Church before the end of the second century” (Hastings’ Dict. of the Bible).

somewhat. “In some measure.” Cp. i. 13, for his desire to meet them.

25. But now I go unto Jerusalem.** Respecting this intended journey to Jerusalem, cp. Acts xix. 21; xx. 22; xxiv. 17; 2 Cor. viii. 1-6; and see Paley’s Horæ Paulinas, ii. no. 1.

26 for the poor saints. Properly, “the poor of the saints”; or “the poor among the saints”; implying that they were not all poor, and that the community of goods (Acts iv. 32-37) had already ceased to exist in the church at Jerusalem.

27 debtors. The contribution was not merely an act of benevolence, but an acknowledgment of obligation for spiritual blessings. This remark might serve as a hint to the Roman Christians that they should follow this good example.

28 and have sealed to them this fruit. That is, when I have safely made over to them this fruit of their brethren’s sympathy. Treasures and deposits were usually sealed for safety: see notes on 2 Kings xii. 10; Job ix. 7.

29 in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Rather, according to the best manuscripts, “in the fulness of the blessing of Christ”; including His personal presence, as well as the blessed teachings of His gospel. The apostle’s confidence agrees with the feelings expressed in i. 11.

30 the love of the Spirit. The love which the Holy Spirit has wrought in you, one to another: cp. Phil. ii. 1; Col. i. 8.

31 that my service . . . may be accepted, etc. Paul evidently feared that the contribution he was taking might not be well received at Jerusalem, owing to the determined hostility of his unbelieving countrymen, as well as to the strong prejudices of the Hebrew Christians against him as the apostle of the Gentiles, and the defender of Christian freedom from the Mosaic law: cp. Acts xxi. 22-27.

32 be refreshed. Or, as R.V., “find rest.”