Romans 15:14-17 (WEL) I, myself, am also persuaded about you, my brothers and sisters, that you are also full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, also able to caution one another. 15 Brothers and sisters, I have written quite boldly to you on some points, as a reminder. [This is] because of the gift given to me by God, [Isaiah 52:15]. 16 That I should be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the Good News of God, so that the Gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore, I have something to rejoice about through Jesus Christ in those things pertaining to God.
V14 I, myself, am also persuaded about you, my brothers and sisters, that you are also full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, also able to caution one another.
Paul is encouraging his fellow believers. He is confident in their desire for goodness (as defined by God), filled with knowledge (facts taught by Paul), and caution (to be skeptical about strange teachings). We are our brother’s keeper, watching, cautioning, praying, caring for one another.
V15 Brothers and sisters, I have written quite boldly to you on some points, as a reminder. [This is] because of the gift given to me by God, [Isaiah 52:15].
God commissioned Paul to be an Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, Acts 22:21, and 2 Timothy 1:11) and gave Paul the gifts necessary to carry out that commission.
V16 That I should be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the Good News of God, so that the Gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
The Greek word for minister is G3011 λειτουργός leitourgós, which is a ministering public servant or, if in a temple, it would be a priest. Wuest (Word Studies) explains: “Minister” here is not the usual word translated “minister,” namely, diakonos (a servant), but leitourgos, used in secular life of a public minister, a servant of the state, in sacred things, of the priests of the Jerusalem Temple (Hebrews 8:2). Paul uses it here to speak of his ministry of preaching the gospel as a priestly ministry, and of equal value and sacredness to the ministry of the priesthood of the Old Testament. The word “ministering” is again another of those words speaking of a ministry that is sacred, leitourgeō used of the priests and Levites who were busied with the sacred rites in the tabernacle and temple (Septuagint, Greek version of the Old Testament). Denney explains, “The offering which Paul conceives himself as presenting to God is the Gentile Church, and the priestly function in the exercise of which this offering is made is the preaching of the gospel.”
Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. God has given him great success and fruit, which he offers to God as an offering. Paul considers his success to be a sacrifice of praise.
V17 Therefore, I have something to rejoice about through Jesus Christ in those things pertaining to God.
Paul gives all glory to Jesus Christ (through Jesus Christ). A great example for us.
We learn:
- We are our brother’s keeper.
- Paul is an Apostle of Jesus Christ and cares about the Roman believers.
Questions:
- Are you trying to be aware of other believers’ struggles, temptations, etc.?
- Are you praying for other believers and helping them if able?