Romans 15 — May the God of Peace Be with You
Introduction: Paul wanted his readers to know that whatever things were written before in scripture were for instruction to believers, to produce a firm hope through patience and through encouragement by application of those recorded words. Paul used a variety of Old Testament references, as well as statements about Christ Jesus, to validate the points he made for both Jew and Gentile believers. He had very warm regard for the believers at Rome and had wanted to visit there for many years. This chapter of Romans is in my own paraphrase, to some extent in an amplified style, prepared by examining several translations, and with some use of Greek and Hebrew lexicons.
NOTE: Verses in the comments are from the 1769 King James Bible.
A — Live in Harmony after the Manner of Christ Jesus
Romans 15 “1 Now we who are secure in our faith should support those who need more assurance, and not be satisfied to only please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us be agreeable to others around us for that which is good, to be building them up. 3 For even Christ didn’t seek his own pleasure. But, as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me… 5 Now may the God of patient endurance, consolation, and encouragement permit you to be in agreement with each other in harmony after the manner of Christ Jesus. 6 Then as you are of similar nature together you may be unified as you openly speak out to glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God… 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may be fully supplied and overflow in a secure hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Comments: Paul continued from the previous chapter, presenting the idea of believers emulating the servant nature of Jesus, whose earthly ministry was to present the gospel to all who would receive it. He referred to passages from Psalms and Isaiah to show that the ministry of Christ was verified in the Old Testament before he came in the flesh. Paul alluded to the reproach which fell on Jesus Christ, drawn from Psalm 69:7–9. The gospel of John records Jesus being zealous at the temple, and his disciples remembered Psalm 69:9 (John 2:13–22). Paul drew from Isaiah 11:10, Psalm 117:1, and Deuteronomy 32:43 to show that scripture foresaw both Jew and Gentile glorifying God together. As we accept one another we can speak out to glorify God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
B — Abound in Hope by the Holy Spirit
Romans 15 “14 I am convinced that you my fellow believers are full of goodness and kindness, liberally supplied with all manner of understanding, able also to advise, warn, and remind each other. 15 But I now write in a bold manner to remind you, on account of the merciful kindness that was bestowed upon me by God, 16 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles… that the Gentiles may become as an offering made acceptable, through the setting apart to holiness and consecration by the Holy Spirit. 17 I have therefore my rejoicing and boasting only in Christ Jesus in those things relating to God… 19 in the power of miracles and amazing signs, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and all around as far as to Illyricum, I have to the full extent preached the Good News of Christ; 20 purposely making it my goal not to preach that gospel in places where Christ was already named, so as not to build on the foundation of another.”
Comments: Our secure hope is in the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and we need to accept all other believers because that is equally true for them. Paul commended the believers at Rome for their maturity in the faith, being able to accept and build up each other. He wrote about his designated ministry while giving all glory to God — he was to deliver the gospel of salvation to Gentiles so they could be consecrated as an acceptable offering to the Lord. So the joy he had was from the things he shared through his speaking and personal conduct, including the power of miracles and signs which Christ had done through him. Paul had moved throughout Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia over many years, always taking the gospel to unevangelized territory, not wanting to build on another’s foundation. He referenced Isaiah 52:15 as the purpose of his appointed ministry: those to whom no news of him had come would see, and those who had not heard would understand.
C — Paul Asked for Prayer for His Trip to Jerusalem
Romans 15 “22 Because of my desire to teach in unevangelized territory, I was hampered and impeded these many times from coming to you. 23 But now that I no longer have any new place within these regions, and for many years I have greatly longed to see you, 24 whenever I start my travel to Spain, I will stop in Rome… 25 But for now I will complete my trip to Jerusalem to serve the believers there. 26 For the Gentile believers in Macedonia and Achaia have willingly and with great pleasure made a collection of contributions as gifts for the poor among the believers who are at Jerusalem… 30 Now I earnestly and humbly ask you my fellow believers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you vigorously pray, also as I will be praying to God, 31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient and unbelieving in Judea, and that my charitable service which I have for Jerusalem may be well received by the believers there… 33 Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
Comments: Paul had longed to visit the believers in Rome, knowing a number of them personally. But he was dedicated to his primary service to the Lord to take the gospel especially to Gentiles in unevangelized places. Now he had a generous gift from believers in Macedonia and Achaia to take to needy believers in Jerusalem, and despite the danger he knew this could entail, he was determined to see it accomplished — because the Gentiles who shared in spiritual blessings that first came to the Jews could sacrificially share material gifts to show their common love for the Lord. Acts 19:21 records Paul’s earlier purpose “to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” His last visit to Jerusalem ended in violent rejection and two years of imprisonment at Caesarea under Felix (Acts 21–24). When Festus replaced Felix, Paul appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen, setting in motion his journey to Rome as a privileged prisoner. Paul was indeed rescued — but probably in much different ways from the expectations of those who prayed.
D — Paul Traveled to Rome by a Different Plan of God
While Paul was at Ephesus he purposed in the spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia, then go to Jerusalem, saying “After I have been there, I must also see Rome” (Acts 19:21). When Paul finally arrived at Jerusalem he was viciously attacked by Asian Jews at the temple who wanted to kill him, and was rescued by Roman soldiers (Acts 21:30–33). He was transported safely to the Roman governor Felix at Caesarea to protect him from a plot to kill him, but Felix kept him prisoner for two years. When Festus replaced Felix, Paul eventually appealed to Caesar, which was his right as a Roman citizen. That set in motion a perilous journey by ship to Rome. Acts 28:30–31 records that Paul was in his own hired house for two years, “Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Paul was indeed able to continue sharing the gospel and writing letters to various churches while under Roman guard in house arrest. He was rescued — but it probably was in much different ways from the expectations of those who prayed for him.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, I ask that by your Spirit I will make it my continuing goal to live in harmony with other believers because you are the God of patient endurance, consolation, and encouragement. Thank you Jesus for coming in flesh to show the manner of living for those people all around the world who will trust in you alone for eternal life. Though I may struggle against my fallen nature, I know my God can supply the joy and peace that I need to live for my Lord and Savior. Thank you for the reminder to me from Paul that I have become as an offering made acceptable, through the setting apart to holiness and consecration by the Holy Spirit. This is more than I can fully comprehend, but I praise my God for the mercy and grace I have received through the finished work of Christ. May I also remember that it is excellent to share spiritual blessings, but also good to share material blessings as all things belong to God our creator. When I make request in prayer, give me the confidence and trust that your provision will always be sufficient to my need, and the best results for furtherance of your kingdom. The peace supplied by my Lord and Savior surpasses all understanding, and the true joy of salvation can never be lost! Amen.
Published 22 July 2016