A single-masted Roman merchant ship, its square sail full, heading west out of a stone harbor toward the open sea at dawn, seen from behind.

The Book of

Romans 15

Paul gathers up the whole letter in a prayer for hope, then tells the Romans where he hopes to go next: Jerusalem, then Rome, then Spain.

33 verses≈ 6 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–3:20The problemEveryone needs the gospel
3:21–5The answerRight with God by faith
6–8New lifeFree in Christ, led by the Spirit
9–11God and IsraelHis promises stand
12–16Living itLove in a church of Jews and GentilesChapter 15

Accept One Another

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

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For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope

Romans 15:4

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflect

Build someone up

Paul doesn’t ask the strong to win the argument. He asks them to carry the weak: “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” His reason is Jesus, who “did not please Himself.” Who in your church or family is harder for you to bear with? Write down one way you could build that person up this week.

Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy.

As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.”

Again, it says:

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”

And again:

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

and extol Him, all you peoples.”

And once more, Isaiah says:

“The Root of Jesse will appear,

One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles;

in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”

Every nation will praise

Whiteboard

Paul stacks up four Scriptures, from David’s song, the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets, and they all say the same thing: God always meant the nations to praise Him alongside His people. Christ came to keep God’s promises to Israel, “so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy.” The church in Rome, Jews and Gentiles together, is that promise coming true.

Question

Quick question

Paul backs up his point about the Gentiles with four quotations from the Old Testament. Only one of the writers is named.

Which prophet does Paul name as he quotes, “in Him the Gentiles will put their hope”?

Romans 15:13

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God.

from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ

Romans 15:19

A rough unpaved track winding up into wild, empty hills at dawn, with no town or road marker in sight.

In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about Him will see,

and those who have not heard will understand.”

0:15

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Jerusalem to Illyricum, and a plan for Spain

In about twenty years Paul had preached “from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum,” the Roman province on the Adriatic coast north-west of Macedonia. Now, writing from Corinth, he plans the journey the line traces: first to Jerusalem with the gift from Macedonia and Achaia, then west to Rome, and on to lands that had not yet heard: “I will set off to Spain by way of you.” Spain was his hope. Acts tells how he reached Rome, as a prisoner, and ends there.

Paul’s Travel Plans

Paul

The busy harbor of Puteoli on the Bay of Naples, grain ships unloading at a long arched stone mole.

From PaulTo the saints in Rome

Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

Romans 15:30–33

Pray

Join the struggle

Paul, the great apostle, asks a church he has never met to “join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” Pray today for someone who carries the gospel to people who have never heard it. Ask God to protect them, to make their work welcome, and to fill them, as Paul prayed, “with all joy and peace as you believe in Him.”

You’ve experienced

Romans 15

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A verse to carry with you

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

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