The beginning of chapter fifteen is a continuation of chapter fourteen. The theme is, how should the strong treat the weak? Robert Taylor styles the theme of this chapter as "mutual helpfulness." ⁽¹⁾

Verses 1-4 "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2- Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3- For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."" 4- For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
 

• "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves."

• Paul continues the thought in chapter 14 by discussing the special obligation of the strong in faith toward weak brethren. 
• Paul states that the strong, mature Christian, who knows his/her spiritual liberty, has the high obligation in the matters of deal with brethren.
• This is the embodiment of agape love. It does not demand rights, but seeks the good of others first.
• The phrase, "we then", shows that this is a continuation of the thoughts found in chapter 14. The same thought seems to continue until at least verse 13.
• See also 1 Corinthians 10:31-33.

• "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification."

• The special obligation on the strong brother is that seeking the good of a weak brother over his own.
• The edifying here would be the exact opposite of 14:15 and grieving a weaker brother by causing him to violate his conscience.
• The final goal is to build up a brother. When we do that he will eventually cease to be a weak brother!

• "For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.""

• Paul uses Jesus for the great example of seeking to good of others. There was no stronger person spiritually than Jesus. He had the right to demand his own personal rights.
• But Jesus to the suffering that should have been suffered by others and suffered it himself.
• Psalm 69:10 is quoted to show that Jesus did not seek his own good, but others.

• "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
• Paul explains why he refers to Psalm 69:10. This is the value of the Old Testament for the Christian, to give evidence of the Christ, and to strengthen and encourage the child of God.
• He encouraging the Roman Christians to remain faithful and seek the encouragement that comes from Scripture.

 

 
 
 
 
 

• "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus"
• Since we receive patience and comfort from the Scriptures, it is obvious that God would be a God of patience and comfort.
• Paul is calling on both weak and strong to be likeminded concerning those things mentioned. This does not mean agreement in these matters of indifference and scrupples. But it means agreement in the need to exercise love and patience toward each other in these matters.
• When brethren walk together in love and harmony toward one another God is glorified and magnified to the world around us! It shows the power of brotherly love that takes place in Christ.
• "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God."
• Verse 7 shows how this glorification is accomplished. It is not accomplished by uniformity of thought, even though there must be unity in matters where the Lord has left instruction. 
• That glorification takes place when Christians understand the personal failings and scruples of one another and still accept them as brethren, even though they might to be in agreement on every matter! See also 1 Peter 4:8.
• We must not reject those whom Christ has accepted. An excellant commentary on this is found in Matthew 7:1-3.

 

Verses 8-13 "Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9- and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name."" 10- "And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!"" 11- "And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!"" 12- And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope." 13- Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.""
 

• "Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers"
• Jesus came personally to the Jews (Matthew 15:24), but was designed to reach out to all people.
• The promises of redemption were fulfulled through the Jews (See Romans 9:4). Of course, within the very promise made to Abraham, father of the Jewish people, was the promise that all nations of the earth would be blessed, surely referring to the Gentiles.
• Paul next shifts to the Gentiles and shows how Jesus ministry has gone out to them..
• "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name."" - Psalm 18:49. David pictures himself praising God among the Gentiles. This was fully accomplished through his seed, Christ.
• "And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!"" - Most commentators believe that this is taken from Deuteronomy 32:43, although some believe Psalm 67:3, 5.
• "And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!"" - Psalm 117:1
• And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope."" - This is taken from Isaiah 11:1, 10.

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

• Because God had sent his son to bring both Jew and Gentile into His body, there would be great happiness and there would naturally be peace between them and Jehovah. Both of these states would come through the cross.
• They would be kept through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only those who are baptized believers and receive the Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts that have this true peace and joy. The Holy Spirit has given us everything we need to live "Spirit filled" lives through His holy word. See also 2 Peter 1:3 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

 

Paul begins the final section of the book of Romans in verse 14. He will give personal greetings and comments to individual brethren, intersperced with some concluding commands on the necessary attitudes to take toward false brethren.
 

Verses 14-16 "Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15- "Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16- that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."
 

• "Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."
• Paul has just finished talking about the proper attitudes toward other brethren, now he writes words of encouragement toward the Roman brethren.
• The Roman church, at least it seams from this letter, did not have any major problem that was threatening to destroy them from within.
• Paul always sought to compliment those whom he was writing. He did not find it necessary to compliment the Roman brethren early because he was not going to have to rebuke them, like he did the Corinthians and Galatians.
• "Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God"
• Paul was writing them to remind them of certain things which they already knew. Christians need to be reminded, from time to time, of truths that they have accepted. They must not become blaise or trite! When they do they are one step from abandoning them for the new and unusual!
• This is reminiscent of what Peter said in 2 Peter 3:11.
• "that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."
• This is a continuing responsibility of gospel preachers, to remind brethren of truths that they have already learned, lest they let them slip from the remembrance!
• He had been appointed as "apostle to the Gentiles" in order to teach them the gospel and mature them in the faith.

 

• "Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God."
• Paul will not glory in his own efforts, but in what God has done through him. See also 1 Corinthians 1:31.
• "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient;"
• Paul is saying that he will not discuss the work of other brethren, only those that God is doing through him.
• Paul is about to ask them to pray for him in his work that he intends to do in Spain. If they are to do that they are entitled to know what labor he has done.
• Paul always keeps before him his primary work, to preach to the Gentiles.
• "in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."
• Paul is speaking of the miraculous work that he has done as an apostle. See 2 Corinthians 12:12.
• Paul is giving his range or area in which he has thus far worked. Illyricum was part of Macedonia. We know that Paul travelled as far as Mecedonia..

 

• "And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation"
• Different preachers have different fields of work. Some, like Apollos, seem to work well with congregations already begun. They help mature congregations in the faith. Apollos seems to have done that work in Corinth.
• Paul determined to work primarily with areas where the gospel had not been preached and build up small congregations to become stronger.
• "but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand."" 22- For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you."
• Paul uses Isaiah 52:15 to illustrate why he was going to virgin territory.
• This is talking about the taking of the Gospel to the Gentiles. There can be no denying that Paul was instrumental in first spreading the Gospel to them.
• Paul had been busy with this taste earlier and thus had to put off his travelling to Rome. Now he could see a time soon when he would be able to travel there.
• "But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24- whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while."
• Paul had already said that he desired to come to them to strengthen them. See Romans 1:11-12
• Paul also had the intention of stopping at Rome on the way to Spain so that he could rest and receive support from the Roman brethren. We do not know if he ever got to Spain, but we know that he got to Rome, albeit in a matter which was different from what he expected!

 

• "But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26- For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem."
• Paul intended to travel on to Rome after he had escorted the funds that were collected from the brethren throughout all Asia for the needy saints in Jerusalem.
• See 1 Corinthians 16:1ff for a more detailed account of this contribution. 
• "It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things."
• The debt was a spiritual debt. If the Jews were the safeguards of the promise and the seed of Abraham (which they were) and Jewish brethren, sent out from Jerusalem, could take the gospel to the Gentiles, then the Gentile could show their gratitude to the Jews by sending money to them at a time when they were in desperate need!
• Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain."
• The fruit sealed would be the gratitude of the Jewish brethren at the good works of the Gentile brethren. See 2 Corinthians 9:12-15
• Paul again repeats his intention to stop at Rome to visit with them on the way to Spain.

 

• "But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ."
• Paul had already said that he intended to pass on some spiritual gift to the Roman brethren. This is almost surely referring to the passing on of the performing of miraculous gifts.
• It is also likely that he was also referring to his preaching and teaching.
• "Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me"
• Paul believed that their prayers for him would bear fruit. He always wanted brethren to pray for him! And he believed in praying for the brethren! See 2 Corinthians 13:9; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:25.
• "that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints"
• Paul must have had some concerns about some potential danger awaiting him in Jerusalem. Agabus prophesied that he would be bound at Jerusalem and made a captive.
• It is important to note that God answered the combined prayers of Paul and the Roman for deliverance from his enemies in Jerusalem and his coming to Rome.. But God used a different route to answer prayer than what either Paul or the Roman Christians expected. He used the Roman government to serve as a shield for Paul's protection.
• "that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33- Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen."
• Paul prayed that he might come with a spirit of joy and anticipation at being blessed himself. There is no doubt that, even though Paul's circumstances were not what he desired when he came, he was still happy to be in Rome to preach the Gospel. See Acts 28:14-15. 

 

 

1. Robert R. Taylor, Studies in Romans. p. 266, Quality Publications, Dallas TX, 1996.