Romans 15:14-16 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. The lesson from Chapter 14:1-15:13 can be grating. Paul is telling them to be careful not to divide based on the cultural differences and to come together to learn, to teach, to worship God together. This also has implications for today. Normally if we divide, it s done so over differences in doctrine and that is acceptable. But we have to be sure not to create divisions based upon personal preference or culture. But Paul does not leave them feeling chastised or dejected. He then encourages them with three points. They are: full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another. The first clause (full of goodness) uses the adjective μεστός mestos which literally means to be filled or full of something. Figuratively, this pertains to being thoroughly characterized by something. What they are filled with is goodness. This is the noun ἀγαθωσύνη agathōsunē which is the noun form of agothos good as is determined by God. How can they be characterized by God good when they have to be told not to tear down the brother, have divides within the body of Christ, and to help those weak in the faith? If they are good, then this shouldn t need to be said, right? What we have to remember is that characterization is not necessarily what they do. This is God, through Paul, encouraging them to function as He sees them and telling them to avoid acting in the flesh. Often, we emphasize the flesh giving up as being consistent with what is right but actually we should emphasize how God sees the believer, encouraging them align with the truth of God s Word. Next is filled with all knowledge. This word for filled is different. πληρόω plēroō means supplied, complete, fill, fulfill. This is a perfect passive participle (no article) and carries a temporal concept while being filled (fully supplied). What is it that has been supplied? All knowledge. γνῶσις gnōsis means information that is understood. This deals with either comprehension or understanding of a thing, but focuses on the
content of what is known. The adjective all is vital. This is not incomplete or partial. Why can Paul say this to the saints in Rome? The knowledge with which they have been supplied is through the dissemination of the Word of God. They have the Hebrew Scriptures; they have the Gospel of Jesus Christ; they have the prophets during the Apostolic Age; and they have the Paul letter. They have access to the knowledge of God. There is nothing that they need that they do not have. Notice this is not epignōsis which would indicate an internalized understanding. Finally, we have able also to admonish one another. The word for able is δύναμαι dunamai, which is normally translated power, but here, it is properly translated able. Admonish is νουθετέω noutheteō. This word means to set the mind in place. This is normally translated to admonish (reprimand, rebuke), to warn. But notice that this is a mental training. The correction that Paul was doing in the previous section, Paul is now handing over that responsibility to the church. What we see is that, although Paul has the authority of an apostle, he also knows that the ground floor operations cannot be his responsibility. Paul encourages them, enables them, and empowers them to govern themselves through the agency of the local body. Paul interjects that he has written in a bolder manner. This word is only used this one time. τολμηρός tolmēros indicates an audacious or straightforward manner. It is also a comparative adjective meaning that it is more than normal. He writes this way to get their attention. Some have suggested that this bold manner is not present in this letter. I disagree. This is in reference to the main point of Romans 14:1-15:13. This is very difficult to hear and is the only corrective measure that Paul takes in this letter. As has been noted previously, the letter does not come across as disciplinary and it is hard to say if Paul is referring to anything specific, but the emphasis that he places on this point is worded more strongly and is repeated in various ways, indicating that this is vital in the local assembly. If there is one thing that the history of the church tells us it s that pride and partiality are common and destructive problems. It bears repeating that currently our issue revolves more around doctrinal errors but partiality still exists and we must all be careful not to fall into the same trap.
The rest of verse 15 and into 16 tells us something about Paul that is vital to understand in regard to the early church and its development. Paul states the reason that he speaks boldly to them is due to the grace that was given to him. We saw this phrase in 12:3. We noted that the grace of God to Paul was the ministry of forming and bringing the Gentile portion of the ekklesia into the administration of God. The body of Christ, meaning anyone that believes, having a function in the current ministry of God is unique both to Jews and Gentiles who are familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures. Paul knows that there are those who separate bodies based upon the Jew/Gentile and that they are working directly against what he was commissioned to do. He says that he is a minister to the Gentiles. The ministry is concerning Jesus Christ. The term ministering as a priest is a verb, ἱερουργέω hierourgeō (hih-ehr-oour-geh-oh), and indicates the actions of a priest when performing any kind of service. He is not saying that he is a priest but he is doing what a priest does in a specific scenario. This can be translated administrating the sacred service of the good news of God. A priest mediates between God and the people. Paul is communicating from God what the saints of Rome needed to hear. He is not commissioning himself and he is not disclosing an office in the church. What this is concerns specific work of Paul as delineated by Jesus Christ (Acts 9:15; 13:44-47; 26:15-18). The task that Jesus gave him was to witness to the Gentiles and bring them into the fold. But, if the church segregates itself and says Jewish Christians meet over there and Gentile Christians meet on the other side on a different day, then this is in direct opposition to the commission of Jesus Christ. This is not acceptable. The second half of verse 16 begins with a hina clause and shows purpose for speaking boldly to them so that the offering of the Gentiles would be acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This is one of those phrases that we need to strip away the church lingo and speak plainly. Paul wanted them (the Gentile portion) to fit well with the Jewish portion. Acceptable is εὐπρόσδεκτος euprosdektos and means well received or received favorably. Sanctified means set apart or distinguished. This is accomplished as the doctrines are understood. Notice that this is not speaking of individuals but the body as a whole. What is expected is that they all understand the truth of who they are in Christ and function as one body, with one mind, with one truth glorifying God as one voice, irrespective of cultural divisions (Eph 4:1-6). The Holy Spirit is both the means and the helper to accomplish this task.
Romans 15:17-19 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Verses 17-19 speak of Paul s attitude in his ministry. I did not do anything, it is God who is working through me. He recaps the task so far in regard to where he has been from Jerusalem to Illyricum, which is just short of Italy (map), he performed signs and wonders (but remember not him, God through him). You can read about this in Acts 19-20. This left Paul just short of Italy but he desired to go further. Romans 15:20-22 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation; but as it is written, "THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND." For this reason, I have often been prevented from coming to you; Paul desired to go to them in Rome but, because they already had the Good News, it was more necessary for him to go to all the places between Jerusalem and Rome first. (Romans 1:13). Romans 15:23-26 But now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Paul is stating his intentions as to his future plans. He was hurrying on his way to Jerusalem then his plans were to stop in Rome on his way to Spain. This letter written was around the time of Acts 20. Paul s intention was obviously to make a quick trip to Jerusalem and he was to deliver funds/provisions for the poor fellow believers there. This was Paul s plan, but he was imprisoned and is held for over two years. Romans 15:27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. Hidden in these words is a principle that is very important to understand. Spiritual food and service are more vital than physical and material things, but there are still physical needs. Those who provide a spiritual service
are worthy of receiving physical provision. Although Paul was always reluctant to receive and preferred to be self-sustaining, he regularly made this point clear (1Cor 9:1-15; 1Tim 5:17-18). Romans 15:28-33 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Paul desires to have them encouraged, to be looking forward to his coming and know his plan. He urges them to pray for him. Evidently, he knows that going to Jerusalem has great risk (Acts 21:7-14). Paul then prays for them that they are granted peace as they live in a world increasingly hostile to believers. The extended will of God is often questioned. Paul had a desire and even though he knew he made plans to go to Rome, he also knew that Jerusalem was going to be problematic. Acts records that after Paul was imprisoned for some time, Jesus tells him that he will go to Rome (Acts 23:11). What is there for men to do but make plans, say the Lord s will be done, and do what is right in the moment.