ROMANS CHAPTER 15 - Paul Reveals His Journey Plans

ROMANS
Chapter 15

Paul Reveals His Journey Plans

Scripture Reading
Romans 15: 1- 6

WORD STUDY

In verse 1, the King James version, the word used is "infirmities'". In the NKJV, Paul using the word "scruples." In the ESV, the word failings are used. Which translation gives us the correct, original context?

The Greek word is asthenēma, a neuter noun meaning:  a scruple of conscience:—infirmity.

Vines dictionary defines Infirmity:

is found in the plural in Rom 15:1, "infirmities," i.e., those scruples which arise through weakness of faith. The strong must support the infirmities of the weak (adunatos) by submitting to self-restraint¹.

Therefore, what is Paul saying in the original context?

Viewing this verse in context; what is Paul saying?

Holman"s answer:

"The strong believer does not forsake his conscience by abstaining from certain of his freedoms, but the weaker believer would have to violate his in order to accommodate the liberties of the strong¹."

Paul is teaching about the strength of one’s faith in the convictions given by the Holy Spirit.

The strong Christian should not think of their liberties without concern for their brothers.

An example might be: A strong Christian might choose to have a glass of wine with a meal. However, refrains from doing so because it could lead Christian brother or sister into temptation.

For the sake of the weak among us, the strong should never compromise the weaker² Christian’s conviction.

Why should the strong "give in" to the conscience of the weak?

“The way of love demands it³.”

SCRIPTURE COMPARISION
Romans 15:2

NKJ

Let each of us please [his] neighbor for [his] good, leading to edification.

ESV

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

NIV

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

A cursory read of verse 2, might lead a person to the wrong conclusion.

The modern-day use of the word “edification” is:

A NOUN, meaning the instruction or improvement of a person, morally or intellectually.

I like the translation in both the ESV and the NIV because it is more descriptive of what Paul is trying to get across.

Build up the weaker person by magnifying their accomplishments in the faith.

Show how scripture can be applied to their lives by using personal examples.

Avoid using the phrase “you’re wrong,” even when the weaker Christian is wrong in their belief.

Instead, use the soft approach, like saying, have you ever considered …

Or say, I have found that this scripture verse helped me in the same or similar situation.

There may come a time when these approaches do not work, and it is then you should use scripture to reproof (2Tim 3:16).

What is the connection between Paul’s quoting Psalms 69:9 in verse 3 and Romans 15: 1&2.

Psalms 69:9 is seen by theologians as a prophetic foreshadowing of the reproach Jesus would suffer.    

Like King David, who bore the reproach of his people, Jesus bore the anger of the people towards God¹.

Jesus knew the heart of Israel and wept for Israel (Luk 19:41-44).

Jesus was reported to Rome as a pretender to the throne and suffered ridicule.

Jesus was accused of being a blasphemer by the high priest and was slapped (Jhn 18:22).

The people came together to capture Him, believing that Jesus had lost His mind (Mar 3:21). 

Jesus states He did not come to be served but to serve Himself up as the final sacrifice for sin (Mat 20:28; Mar 10:45).

Therefore this quote of Psalms 69:9 was entirely appropriate; it places in that Jesus is our example.

A means of interpreting Scripture is breaking down Scripture in smaller bites.

I am breaking verse 4, into two sections separated by the comma.

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,”

Paul is referring to the previous quote as well as other Old Testament writings.

Except for vocational training, all training was accomplished under the tutelage of a Rabbi.

Young boys were instructed on how to read, write, and recite Old Testament law and history.

This same principle is true for Christian education today.

Although we are not under the law of sacrifice, we learn the importance of blood sacrifice by studying the law.

By studying biblical history, we learn where sin originated.

We learn how God’s plan unfolds, beginning with the sacrifice of an animal for Adam and Eve’s sin.

Followed by God’s Son’s sacrifice for mankind.

All Scripture from Genesis to Revelation points to God’s plan of redemption -Jesus. 

The second part of verse 4 is: “…that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Word study – Patience

Your chosen translation may use another word-phrase.

All of these translations are correct.

The transliteration of patience in Greek is the word “hypomonē,” meaning: patience, enduring, patient continuance, patient waiting.

The most frequent use of this Greek word is patience, which is used 29 times in the New Testament.

In this context, it is a feminine Noun¹.

Therefore we abide in Scripture, waiting patiently in its comfort, for the promises which give us eternal hope.

In studying verses 6 & 7, does the phrase like-minded mean to think the same way?

Word Study Like-mined

Like-mined is two words connected by a hyphen.

The Greek word for like-minded is phroneō used as a verb in this context.

The root is phrēn which means to Probably from an obsolete phrao (to rein in or curb, cf.

Paul tells his readers to rain in their judgmental thoughts and feelings and join with their brothers and sister in the mind of Christ.

Vine puts it this way:  "to think of, be mindful of." It implies moral interest or reflection, not mere unreasoning opinion.1”

Think: "to be minded in a certain way" (phren, "the mind"), is rendered "to think," in Rom 12:3 (2nd and 3rd occurrences), RV, "not to think of himself more highly (huperphroneo, see No. 13) than he ought to think (phroneo);”

In verses 1-4, Paul had been stressing the need for patience and careful consideration of the brothers and sisters in Christ, so as not to cause them to stumble.

We are, therefore to “phrēn” (rain in our thoughts) and consider the thoughts and feelings of our brothers and sisters in Christ, that we may be brought into union with each other and with Christ.

Scripture Reading
Romans 15: 7 - 12

There was strife between the Jews (God’s chosen people) and the Gentiles, who, through Jewish rejection, were given a chance to be adopted into the family of God.

The Gentiles were considered by the Jews’ to be as dirty dogs (the lowest of low).

Jesus was born a Jew, sent by God to be a Jewish Messiah, who would be rejected by His people who would suffer and die as foretold in Isiah 53.

Jesus did not die for the Jews only, He died for all of mankind.

It was not the outcry of the Jewish people that hung Jesus on the tree; it was God's plan all along, that Jesus would die as His sacrificial Lamb.

Jesus received His chosen in love and gave His life for the same reason.

Paul is telling his readers that we are to accept each other with the same love Jesus showed towards those who scorned Him.

We are all one race, one blood, created in the image of God, whether circumcised or not, we are all loved by our creator equally.

Jesus, was God the Father's servant, to the Jews (aka circumcision).

Throughout Jesus’s ministry, even unto His death, He deferred to the will of the Father in subservience.

As Jesus has said, I have come to fulfill the law and the prophecies (Mat 5:17).

God was faithful to promises made to Abraham.

From Abraham’s seed, a great nation was born.

From Abraham’s seed, the nations (Gentiles) would be blessed.

Therefore the Jews and Gentiles were made equal through Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s promises, to Abraham and his descendants.

Paul quotes 2 Sam 22:50 & Psa 18:49 in verse 9b.

 “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.”

 

Paul continues by quoting the Old Testament in the next three verses.

Verse 10, quoting Deu 32:43 – rejoice Gentiles.

Even though there were disagreements between Jew and Gentile rejoice for you are united in Christ.

Verse 11, quoting Psa 117:1 - laud Him.

All nations proclaim the greatness of the Lord.

Verse 12, Paul is quoting Isa 11:10 – the root of Jesse to reign over the Gentiles.

Jesse was the father of David, who was anointed King of Israel.

From Jesse’s seed, God became flesh.

Paul’s purpose in these quotes was to show that it was God’s plan all along to bring the Gentiles into the family of God through Jesus.

Jesus was born the Jewish messiah. However, Jesus bore the sins of all mankind Jew and Gentile.

And through Jesus’s victory over the grave, His resurrection became the hope of all who believe in His name (Jhn 1:12, 20:31).

Jesus = "Jehovah is salvation."

Scripture Reading
Romans 15:14 - 21

Paul’s ultimate goal was to travel to Rome then Spain and beyond.

Paul concludes this segment of his letter with a description of his future travel plans¹.

So as not to offend the Roman church by his bold speech, Paul tells the church of his confidence in their knowledge and goodness (v. 14).

However, in verse 15, Paul once again proclaims his apostleship status through God’s grace.

In his apostolic capacity, Paul served as a priest, offering the Gentiles up to God [as a first fruit offering]².

The phrase, “on some points” is stated in every translation except the King James Version. The KJV uses the words “some sort.”

Paul is saying, because of your goodness and knowledge, my bold demeanor, is meant to remind, not chastise.

Paul uses the word minister of the gospel.

The word minister means priest or servant of a king. One of the duties of the temple priest was to present the sacrifices of the people to God.

Beginning in Leviticus 1, the system of sacrifices is meticulously cataloged.

Paul, as a priest (minister) of the gospel of Jesus Christ, presented his offering to the high priest (Jesus), the high priest of the heavenly tabernacle (Heb 8:1,2).

Paul was commissioned to bring good news to the Gentiles.

This ministry brought great suffering to Paul.

Therefore, his ministry was a sacrificial offering to the Lord.

We who bear His name must also present our sacrifice offering to the Lord.

The Christian’s sacrifice today, for some, is their lives.

The Christian’s sacrifice today, for some, is their lives. Therefore, do not be reluctant. Instead, present your resources and your time to the furtherance of the gospel as your sacrifice.

Remember, sacrifice means giving up something you value.

On verses 17-19 Holman writes the following:

          Paul wanted to boast in Christ Jesus to the Roman believers about how God had used him to               spread the good news all the way from Jerusalem to the Roman province of Illyricum (modern            Albania). God had approved of his ministry by authenticating signs and wonders and many                conversions. The Roman believers would have been comforted by this testimony, for it illustrated 

      the secure basis on which they had rested their hopes for salvation¹.

Paul boasted of the glory or joy that he felt in ministering the good news to the Gentiles.

Word Study

The word glory is translated from the Geek word "kauchēsis pronounced kau'-khā-sēs used a feminine noun; meaning boasting, whereof I may glory, glorying, rejoicing^2". 

In verse 18, Paul is assuring his readers that those things he has written are the words the Lord gave him.

The words Paul wrote were attested as righteous by the miracles accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit (v 19).

Because God gave Paul the words he wrote, he did not dare add to their message.

Paul is not boasting in the vastness of his mission field.

Rather, Paul is telling the Roman church, that the message he gave them, is the same message he has given from Jerusalem to lllyricum (modern-day Croatia and Dalmatia 2Tim <>4:10 .

Concerning verses 20 & 21, Holman writes the following:

“In 10 years, God had used Paul as a pioneer church planter in the eastern section of the Roman Empire. Paul felt his ministry was in keeping with OT messianic prophecy (Isa 52:15). He was the planter; others would come water the soil, and God would give growth (1Co 3:3-9)¹. 

In Paul’s mind, he was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy Isa 52:15 through his ministry².

Paul saw himself as a church planter, someone else would water (nurture) and, God would grow the churches he planted.

However, as we see by his epistles, Paul also did his share of watering.

What is mean by watering?

Christian mentoring is more than a one-shot deal. Therefore, Paul left church mentoring to Apollos to (1Cor 3:6).

Paul begins verse 21 with the word “but,”.

Usually, when we see the word “but” we think of the word except. Is this what “but,” means in both the English and Greek context of this passage?

In studying scripture, it is important to pay attention to grammar for the translated language.

In English grammar, “but,” in this context, is coordinative conjunction, used to join sentences or parts of sentences that have the same grammatical status¹.”

The word “but” or alla (G243) in the Greek, is a conjunction².

In the Greek context, the word “but” is used to join two sentences having the same grammatical status.

In other words. Paul is using the word “but” to validate his previous statement in verse 20 by quoting Isa 52:15. 

Scripture Reading
Romans 15: 22- 29

Paul was preparing to visit Jerusalem and promised the church of Rome that he would visit them on his next voyage.

Paul had been bringing the good news of Jesus to those people who had not heard it (V. 21).

It was not Paul’s lack of love for the Roman church but rather his pastoral duties to the other churches that have delayed his visit. And also his plans to visit Jerusalem (V. 22).

For the past ten years, Paul had traveled planting churches Asia and Greece.

Verse 23 makes it clear that Paul thought he had accomplished his mission in Asia and was setting his sights on Spain.

Paul planned to visit the church in Rome when he made his planned fourth mission to Spain.

There is a group of theologians who believe that Paul did make a trip to Spain when he traveled to Rome upon his appeal to Caesar.

According to Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Paul did travel to Spain before his imprisonment. However, this has not been scripturally noted.

Paul had a deep desire to visit Jerusalem and minister to the saints¹.

The saints were those Jews in Jerusalem who had been baptized in the name of Jesus (Act 2:38, 41).

These Jews sold all their possessions and gave the money to the twelve, to divide as to need Act 2:45).

They sold their property believing that the day of the Lord was at hand after seeing many signs and wonders (Act 2:43)₁

Their belief stemmed from Peters Sermon in Acts 2:16-22. 

Paul’s spirit was driving him to visit Jerusalem, even when the Holy Spirit told him of the dangers in store for him there.

However, before leaving for Jerusalem, Paul calls for the elders of Ephesus to come to him in Miletus².

Read Acts 20: 17-27.

With joy, the churches in Macedonia and Achaia made contributions to the saints in Jerusalem.

The saints in Jerusalem had used up the money collected and redistributed by the 12.

They now were very poor and were dependent on the generosity of those churches Paul planted.

If you recall, these saints were certain that Jesus would come, and they would have no need of earthly possessions.

Paul spoke the churches in Asia Minor of the saints’ plight.

It was through these churches that God took care of his children in Jerusalem.

This earliest form of socialism or redistribution of wealth failed because there was not enough income to support this type of lifestyle.

Paul, now acting on his own, began preparations to journey to Jerusalem.

Upon landing at Tyre and finding the disciples there, he fellowshipped with them (Acts 21:4).

After Paul had told the disciples of his intention to minister to the saints, the disciples, through the Spirit, warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Act 21:4).

It would seem as though Paul neither sought the Lord’s will on traveling to Rome, nor did he accept the warning by the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s response to the warning was, he was prepared to die for the Lord (Act 21:13, 14).

Why was Paul so insistent on going to Jerusalem?

V. 26 tells us that the churches in Macedonia and Achaia were happy to give Paul collections for the Saints.

Paul was going to deliver these contributions personally (Act 24:17).

Read Acts 21:15-25.

Why did the Gentiles feel they were indebted to the Jew?

In verse 27, Paul tells us that the church of Macedonia and Achaia gave out of a feeling of gratitude.

Jesus, born a Jew, was rejected by the nation of Israel, who cried out for His crucifixion.

This rejection and subsequent birth of the Christian church and subsequent Christophany¹  brought Paul’s ministry to them.

Now that the Gentiles have received that which Israel had rejected, they wanted to acknowledge their gratitude with material things.

Many of the contributors were poor themselves.

This epistle was written sometime in 57 AD to the Roman church while Paul was in Corinth.

Paul was telling the Roman church of the gratitude of the other Christian churches perhaps as an incentive or an example of Christian love.

It would have also given the Roman church a sense of unity with the other Christian churches.

Footnote:

1. A Christophany is an appearance or non-physical manifestation of Christ. Traditionally the term refers to visions of Christ after his ascension, such as the bright light of the Damascus Christophany.

In verses 28-29 Paul is reassuring the church in Rome, that after his trip to Jerusalem he would come to them with the good news of Christ.

The phrase “fullness of the blessing” means that he will come to them with the good news and blessings of Jesus the Christ₁.

Little did Paul know how his plans to visit Spain were not to be realized.

Paul did not know that his trip to Rome would be under duress.

Paul’s trip to Rome would be his last missionary journey, but not the end of his work.

Scripture Reading
Romans 15: 30 - 33

Paul asks the church in Rome to pray that he would be protected from those in Jerusalem who would be deafened to his voice and blind to the gospel message.

The Jews were a zealous as Paul once was. They guarded the law and insisted that all must become Jews to become children of God.

Paul made three specific prayer requests: (1) for deliverance from hostile forces, (2) that the gift from Gentile Christians would be welcomed by Jewish Christians, and (3) that he might come to Rome. All three were answered; see Ac 23:10; 21:17-20a; 25:11-12 respectively¹.

We shall soon see that the opposition to Paul’s message would be life-threatening.

1. Vine, W. "Infirmity - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

" Blue Letter Bible. Last Modified 24 Jun, 1996.

1. Holman Bible Editorial Staff. The HCSB Study Bible. (B&H Publishing Group, 2018).

2. Strongs. - Strong's Greek Lexicon (NKJV). "G5426 - phroneō ." Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 5 Nov, 2019.