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Romans 15-16

The context here is still Christian liberty and the judging/despising of one another—unity.

^ESV Romans 15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³ For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." ⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

·         “We who are strong… failings of the weak…” –Again, Paul sees virtue in embracing the freedoms we have in Christ. Using terms like these imply growth/progress is towards freedom.

·         “…not to please ourselves…” –Though Paul values freedom, we still need to be ready to practice sacrificial love.  We are to avoid offense (either way), and to do so is not always convenient.

·         Christ our example practiced sacrificial love—more on this later…

·         Paul plugs the Old Testament writings as for the Church (fulfilled Israel)-more to come…

·         “May … God … grant …” –Even our unity and harmony (through obedience) is a gift of God

·         “…live in such harmony … together … one voice … welcome …” –unity is important (see questions)

·         “…with one voice glorify … God… for the glory of God.” –This is what it’s all about.

Christ our servant example… fulfillment of OT prophecy … encouragement.

^ESV Romans 15:8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name." ¹⁰ And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." ¹¹ And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him." ¹² And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope." ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

·         “May … God … fill …” Paul is bringing the letter back around to his encouragement of the Roman Christians specifically.

·         “…by the power of the Holy Spirit” Again we see the role of the Holy Spirit to empower.

^ESV Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

To the Church in Rome... “my brothers”

^ESV Romans 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. ¹⁵ But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God ¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

·         encouragement and explanation about the forthrightness of his writing

·         “…priestly service of the gospel… the offering of the Gentiles …sanctified” -Preaching being the role of the priest in the new covenant.  Rather than offerings of the Gentiles, he speaks of the offering of the Gentiles  (the Gentiles are the offering).   [sanctified = set apart for God]

^ESV Romans 15:17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. ¹⁸ For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience- by word and deed, ¹⁹ by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God- so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; ²⁰ and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, ²¹ but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."

·         “…reason to be proud…”  Not all pride/boasting is wrong… “…what Christ has accomplished through me…”

^ESV 1 Corinthians 1:31 Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

·         “…signs and wonders” –Otherwise known as “attesting miracles.”  God has used miracles to authenticate his messengers (Elijah, Elisha, Moses, Jesus, the Apostles…).  They were always to point people to the message—they were not ends in and of themselves.

·         “…my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named…” –An Apostolic vision of the Great Commission.   (quotes Isaiah 52:15)

^ESV Romans 15:22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, ²⁴ I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.

·         I once heard the book of Romans referred to as a fund-raising letter for support for Paul’s mission to Spain.  A gross mischaracterization.  “This … reason” was that his calling was to areas where Christ had not been proclaimed.  Now he’ll be passing through on the way to Spain…  perfectly appropriate for an Apostle to expect help.

^ESV Romans 15:25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. ²⁶ For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. ²⁷ They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

·         “…and indeed they owe it to them” Agrees with a general principle in Scripture.  Those who receive spiritual blessings should share their material blessings (1Cor. 9:3-14; Gal 6:6)

^ESV Romans 15:28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

·         “I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ” Thick irony here, as Paul was taken to Rome in chains after his appeal to Caesar in Acts.

^ESV Romans 15:30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, ³¹ that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³² so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. ³³ May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

·         “I appeal to you, brothers …” The great Apostle appeals for help to the lowly Roman church.  Again Paul shows them great respect, and thus encourages them.

Personal greetings …

^ESV Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, ² that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. ³ Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. ⁵ Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. ⁶ Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. ⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. ¹² Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. ¹³ Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. ¹⁵ Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. ¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

·         If time permitted we could link some of these names back to where they appear elsewhere in the NT.  For now, just note how ‘real’ this is.  Ordinary people in extraordinary times and situations.

One last important set of instructions:

^ESV Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. ¹⁸ For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ¹⁹ For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

·         “I appeal to you, brothers …” Paul keeps appealing, but this time for them to guard their unity.

·         “…those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught” Though Paul had been writing about divisions over areas of liberty, here he turns the corner and speaks of things contrary to true doctrine (not areas of liberty).

·         “… do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites …”   (Who they are/what they’re like).

·         “… by smooth talk and flattery they deceive …”   (how they operate)  Telling people what they want and love to hear.

·         “…God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. …”   Under your feet?!  Remember, we are the Body of Christ.  We are His hands and feet.

^ESV Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

More personal stuff:

 ^ESV Romans 16:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. ²² I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. ²³ Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

Doxology:

 ^ESV Romans 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶ but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith- ²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

·         “…the mystery that was kept secret … but has now been disclosed … to bring about the obedience of faith”   This mystery has now been revealed to you.  May it bring about faithful obedience!

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