Romans 15 Commentary
Romans 15 Commentary
v.2 “If we merely set out to please our neighbors, we will be people-pleasers. Paul was opposed to that (see Gal 1:10). But we are to set aside willfulness and self-pleasing action for the sake of building others up for good. Our Christian convictions must not be a disguise for coldhearted treatment of our brothers and sisters.”
v.12 “The Root of Jesse refers to Christ as the heir from the family line of Jesse, David’s father (1 Sam 16:1).” [1]
v.19 “Paul has fulfilled his mandate to preach the gospel among the Gentiles from Jerusalem to Illyricum (roughly comprising what is now Albania and also what was formerly Yugoslavia). How can Paul say that his work has been complete when many still have not heard the gospel in this area? It can be seen from the following verses that churches have been planted in key centers, and from there Paul’s coworkers will bring the gospel to outlying areas (e.g., Epaphras in Colossae, Col 1:7).” [2]
vv.20-22 “Paul wanted to visit the church at Rome, but he delayed his visit because he had heard many good reports about the believers there and he knew they were doing well on their own. It was more important for him to preach in areas that had not yet heard the Good News.” [3] vv.23-24 “No visit of Paul to Spain is recorded in the NT, but it is possible that he went there after his release from prison in Rome (after Acts 28:30–31). There is some historical evidence after the NT suggesting that Paul did preach in Spain, but it falls short of clear proof.”
[1] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2054.
[2] English Standard Version Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008) 2183.
[3] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2055.