# Romans 15 📖: Welcome One Another [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Romans Overview]] | [[Romans 14]] | [[Romans 16]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### Exhortation for the Strong to Help the Weak **Principle**: We don’t just live for ourselves. [[#Verse 01.]] [^1] But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves.  [[#Verse 02.]] Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up. [[# Verse 02]] Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.  [[#Verse 03.]] For even Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written, “**_The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me_**.” [[Psalm 69]] [[#Verse 04.]] For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.  [[#Verse 05.]] Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus,  [[#Verse 06.]] so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ### Exhortation to Mutual Acceptance **Principle**: Christ = Hope for all. [[#Verse 07.]] Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory.  [[#Verse 08.]] For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers,  [[#Verse 09.]] and thus the Gentiles glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “**_Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name_**.” [[2 Samuel 23]] | [[Psalm 18]] [[#Verse 10.]] And again it says: “**_Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people_**.”  [[Deuteronomy 32]] [[#Verse 11.]] And again, “**_Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him_**.” [[Psalm 117]] [[#Verse 12.]] And again Isaiah says, “**_The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope_**.” [[Isaiah 11]] [[#Verse 13.]] Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ### Paul’s Motivation for Writing the Letter **Principle**: The Gospel = salvation and fellowship = maturity. [[#Verse 14.]] But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.  [[#Verse 15.]] But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God  [[#Verse 16.]] to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve the gospel of God like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. [[# Verse 16]] to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve the gospel of God like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. [[#Verse 17.]] So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God.  [[#Verse 18.]] For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,  [[#Verse 19.]] in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.  [[#Verse 20.]] And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation,  [[#Verse 21.]] but as it is written: “.” [[# Verse 21]] but as it is written: “**_Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand_**.” [[Isaiah 52]] ### Paul’s Intention of Visiting the Romans **Principle**: Brotherly love. **Principle**: We make our plans, but God orders one steps. [[#Verse 22.]] This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you.  [[#Verse 23.]] But now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and I have for many years desired to come to you  [[#Verse 24.]] when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. [[#Verse 25.]] But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. [[Acts 20#Verse 22.]] [[#Verse 26.]] For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. [[#Verse 27.]] For they were pleased to do this, and indeed ***they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things***.  [[#Verse 28.]] Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you,  [[#Verse 29.]] and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing. [[#Verse 30.]] Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf.  [[#Verse 31.]] Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,  [[#Verse 32.]] so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.  [[#Verse 33.]] Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. - This is why we should have compassion toward Israel and Jewish people. - We “owe” them because God used them to bless the world and bring the Messiah. ###### Verse 28. ###### Verse 29. ###### Verse 30. ###### Verse 31. ###### Verse 32. ###### Verse 33. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. In 15:9-12 Paul strings together quotations from the Law (Deuteronomy 32:43), the Prophets (Isaiah 11:10), and the Psalms (Psalm 18:49; 117:1) to show God always intended the nations to praise Him. 2. Psalm 117, quoted in 15:11, is the shortest chapter in the Bible. 3. Illyricum (15:19) was a Roman province along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the region of the modern Balkans. 4. Paul planned to travel to Spain (15:24, 28), the far western edge of the Roman world. 5. Clement of Rome, writing around AD 96, said Paul reached "the limits of the West," which some take as evidence he made it to Spain. 6. The collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem (15:25-27) came from churches in Macedonia and Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9). 7. Paul asks for prayer to be rescued from unbelievers in Judea (15:31). Acts 21 records his arrest in Jerusalem soon after. 8. Paul did reach Rome, but as a prisoner (Acts 28), not in the way he had planned. 9. Paul calls himself a "minister" (*leitourgos*) offering the Gentiles to God (15:16), using priestly temple language. 10. "Root of Jesse" (15:12) refers to the Messiah from David's family line, since Jesse was David's father (Isaiah 11:1, 10). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the servant who confirms God's promises to the patriarchs and brings the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy (15:8-9). He did not please Himself (15:3), and He has welcomed us so we can welcome others (15:7; Philippians 2:5-7). ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Christ did not please Himself (15:3). Where is God asking you to put others' good ahead of your own preferences? 2. Paul says the Scriptures were written to teach us and give us hope (15:4). How has reading Scripture given you endurance? 3. Paul's ambition was to preach Christ where He was not known (15:20). What would it look like for our church to share that ambition? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 1: The strong ought to bear with the weaknesses of others and not just please themselves. - 📖 verse 4: The Scriptures were written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement we may have hope. - 📖 verse 7: Receive one another, just as Christ also received you, for the glory of God. - 📖 verse 13: The God of hope fills you with joy and peace as you believe, so you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - 📖 verse 20: Paul aspires to preach where Christ has not been named. ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 [[Deuteronomy 32#Verse 43.|Deuteronomy 32:43]] - Rejoice, you nations, with His people (quoted in 15:10). - 🔗 [[Psalm 18#Verse 49.|Psalm 18:49]] - I will praise You among the nations (quoted in 15:9). - 🔗 [[Psalm 69#Verse 09.|Psalm 69:9]] - The insults of those who insult You fell on me (quoted in 15:3). - 🔗 [[Psalm 117#Verse 01.|Psalm 117:1]] - Praise the Lord, all you nations (quoted in 15:11). - 🔗 [[Isaiah 11#Verse 10.|Isaiah 11:10]] - The Root of Jesse will rise to rule the nations (quoted in 15:12). - 🔗 [[Isaiah 52#Verse 15.|Isaiah 52:15]] - Those who were never told will see (quoted in 15:21). - 🔗 [[Acts 19#Verse 21.|Acts 19:21 and 20:22-24]] - Paul's resolve to go to Jerusalem and then Rome. - 🔗 [[2 Corinthians 08|2 Corinthians 8-9]] - The collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem. - 🔗 [[Galatians 06#Verse 02.|Galatians 6:2]] - Carry each other's burdens. - 🔗 [[Philippians 02#Verse 03.|Philippians 2:3-5]] - Consider others above yourselves, with the mind of Christ. - 🔗 [[2 Timothy 03#Verse 16.|2 Timothy 3:16-17]] - All Scripture is inspired by God and useful to teach us. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Romans 15 - SOAP|Living in Harmony]] ## 📂 Internal Notes [[SeriesOverview- The Mission (Romans)]] [^1]: [[Series_BAssurance_4_1Peter2.11-17]] (aux)