ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Romans 15

Rom. 15:1–3 Christ is the supreme example of strengthening others and living for the glory of God. Paul quotes Ps. 69:9 to make this point.

Rom. 15:4 for our instruction . . . encouragement. All the words of the OT are the words of God. They teach believers how to live in a way that pleases God.

Rom. 15:8 circumcised. The Jews. In fulfilling God’s saving promises to the Jews, God shows truthfulness and faithfulness to his word.

Rom. 15:9–12 Paul cites verses from 2 Sam. 22:50 (or Ps. 18:49); Deut. 32:43; Ps. 117:1; and Isa. 11:10. The OT clearly emphasizes the inclusion of the Gentiles into the people of God.

Rom. 15:14–16:23 The Extension of God’s Righteousness through Paul’s Mission. Paul focuses on his calling as the apostle to the Gentiles, adding some greetings and final instructions.

Rom. 15:14 Instruct often means warning against wrong conduct (compare 1 Cor. 4:14; 1 Thess. 5:12, 14; 2 Thess. 3:15).

Rom. 15:16 Gentile converts are the offering Paul presents to God.

Rom. 15:19 By the power of signs and wonders refers to the miracles God did through Paul during his ministry. Miracles pointed to the power of God (see Acts 5:12; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4). Paul has fulfilled his charge to preach the gospel among the Gentiles from Jerusalem to Illyricum (roughly the area that is now Albania and was formerly Yugoslavia). Churches have been planted in key places. From there Paul’s coworkers will bring the gospel to more remote areas (e.g., Epaphras in Colossae, Col. 1:7).

Rom. 15:20–21 Paul’s aim was to preach the gospel where no churches existed, fulfilling Isa. 52:15.

Rom. 15:22–24 Paul had been stopped from coming to Rome because he had not completed his work of planting churches in unreached eastern parts of the Roman Empire (v. 22), but now he feels that his work in the east has come to an end (vv. 23–24). He hopes to see the Roman church. He wants them to be his base of support for his mission to Spain. No visit of Paul to Spain is recorded in the NT. It is possible that he went there after the events recorded in Acts 28:30–31.

Rom. 15:25 He cannot visit Rome immediately. Paul’s next task is to travel to Jerusalem to bring the money he had collected for the poor saints there (see 1 Cor. 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8–9).

Rom. 15:26 Macedonia and Achaia are roughly equivalent to northern and southern Greece today, including such cities as Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth.

Rom. 15:27 they were pleased. The Gentiles enjoy the spiritual blessings of the Jewish people. They should happily assist them financially.

Rom. 15:31 delivered from the unbelievers. Paul did go to Rome, even if it was not in the way he anticipated (see Acts 22–28).