Verse By Verse Through Romans

Chapter Fifteen

Romans 15:1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

• “We then” ties us backwards to the previous statements (Romans 14:13-23).
• In order to help prevent the weak in conscience from sinning, the strong need to bear the “ἀσθένημα” [infirmities; a scruple of conscience] (Strong’s # 771) of those who are weak in conscience (I Thessalonians 5:14).
• So, the strong are the ones serving the weak (I Corinthians 10:33).
• The strong are the ones willing to give up liberties for the sake of those who have a struggle with their consciences (Romans 14:21 and I Corinthians 8:9-13).
• Not pleasing one’s self (Galatians 5:13).

• Mark 10:35-45, Romans 13:8-10, and Philippians 2:3-8.
• Do not help someone only when you think you will gain something in return (Luke 6:33 and Luke 14:12-14).
• For his good to edification (Romans 14:19 and Ephesians 4:29).
• This is not pleasing men at the expense of pleasing God (Galatians 1:10). The objective is the other person's good and edification (Romans 14:19 and Ephesians 4:29).

• Jesus was not out to please Himself (John 4:34, John 5:30, John 6:38, John 8:28-29, John 12:27-28, John 14:30-31, John 15:10-13, Hebrews 5:8-9, and Hebrews 10:4-10).
• As it is written… (Psalms 69:9).
• Jesus gave up a lot (II Corinthians 8:9) FOR other people (Matthew 20:28, Ephesians 5:2, and Hebrews 9:28) with the mindset of a servant (Luke 22:27).

• The benefits of all Scriptures are undeniable (II Timothy 3:15-17).
• We have much we can learn from what was written under the Law, Prophets, and Psalms (Luke 24:27, Luke 24:44, John 5:39, John 5:46, and I Corinthians 10:1-13).
• Jesus and the Apostles used Scriptures, from the time the Law of Moses was in effect, to teach (Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 11:1-15, Matthew 12:1-8, Matthew 21:12-17, Matthew 26:31, Mark 7:6-13, Luke 4:16-30, John 6:45, Acts 1:20, Acts 3:19-26, Acts 17:1-3, Acts 28:25-31, Romans 3:10-18, Romans 9:27, Romans 9:29, Romans 10:11-21, Romans 11:1-5, Romans 11:26, I Corinthians 9:1-9, I Corinthians 15:1-4, Hebrews 8:8-13, etc.).
• You can look back and have hope because God has proven that He keeps His promises (Hebrews 6:10-19).
• You can look back and have hope because those who endure are rewarded (James 5:7-11).
• Remember, we are saved by hope (Romans 8:24).

• One identifying trait of God is His endurance with mankind (Romans 9:22-24); His ability to be longsuffering (II Peter 3:15).
• One identifying trait of God is that He provides comfort (II Corinthians 1:3).
• God has furnished the saints to be likeminded one toward another (Philippians 1:27, Philippians 2:1-2, and Philippians 3:16).
• Through what God has provided, even through what was written of old (Romans 15:4), saints can join together with like minds to glorify God (Romans 15:9-11).
• Unity has saints of the same mind, speaking the same things (I Corinthians 1:10 and I Peter 4:11).

• This brings us back to the beginning of the context (Romans 14:1). The next few verses will bring the point to the overall problem of Jew vs. Gentile in Rome.
• Saints are to receive one another according to the standard Christ has established for fellowship (Luke 6:46-49, John 14:21, John 15:10-14, Ephesians 5:1-11, I Peter 1:13-16, I John 1:3-7, I John 2:3-6, II John 1:9-11, and Revelation 22:14).
• Whatever saints say and do, such should be to the glory of our Father (I Corinthians 10:31).

• The goal in this context is unity (Romans 15:5-6).
• One obstacle to such unity was the Jew-Gentile distinction and the pride that could arise from either side (Romans 3:1-23 and Romans 11:13-18).
• Jesus confirmed and fulfilled the promises made unto the fathers (Acts 3:25-26; cf. Genesis 22:1-18, Genesis 26:1-5, and Genesis 28:10-14).
• The Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written… (Deuteronomy 32:43, I Chronicles 16:23-31, Psalms 18:49, Psalms 66:1-4, Psalms 98:3-4, Psalms 117:1-2, etc.).
• Isaiah wrote of the root of Jesse reigning over the Gentiles (Isaiah 11:1-10).

• God provides us with hope by the resurrection of Christ and what that means for us (I Peter 1:3-9; cf. I Corinthians 15:1-28).
• The Jewish saints understood the Old Testament teaching concerning hope in God (Psalms 146:5), while Paul has just shown that the Gentiles were also to hope in Christ (Romans 15:12).
• Believing what God revealed produces joy, peace, and hope (Romans 5:1-11). At that time, the Holy Ghost was directly revealing and confirming the truth through inspired men and spiritual gifts (Acts 8:4-24, Acts 19:1-7, I Corinthians 2:9-13, I Corinthians 12:3-11, Galatians 3:1-5, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 3:3-5, Hebrews 2:1-4, and I John 2:27). *Take note of the Greek word translated "power" in this verse.

• Paul expressed confidence in others as well (II Corinthians 9:1-4, II Timothy 1:5, and Philemon 1:21).
• Being full of goodness is evidence of spiritual fruit (Ephesians 5:9). Such occurs through our Savior to the glory of the Father (Philippians 1:11).
• They were also filled with knowledge. In that period, knowledge could be imparted miraculously as a spiritual gift (I Corinthians 12:8), though Christians were also expected to grow in knowledge (II Peter 3:15-18). However, this letter contained many corrective measures which is just an evidence that knowledge and action do not always line up aright (Romans 2:17-24).
• Knowledge can be dangerous (I Corinthians 8:1).
• With all of that, they had the knowledge to be able to admonish each other. Admonishing [warning] one another is a work saints are to carry out amongst each other (Colossians 3:16 and I Thessalonians 5:11-14).

• They had knowledge, but still needed Paul to write boldly to them concerning certain matters (cf. II Corinthians 10:1-2; 13:1-3).
• To be put in mind of [ἐπαναμιμνήσκω] is to be reminded (Strong’s # 1878).
• Sometimes saints need to be reminded of things that are already known or have already been taught (I Corinthians 4:17, I Timothy 4:6, II Timothy 2:14, II Peter 1:12-15, II Peter 3:1-2, and Jude 1:5).
• It was by the grace of God that Paul was made a minister (I Corinthians 15:10, Ephesians 3:7-8, and I Timothy 1:12-16).
• Paul was appointed to be the Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, Romans 11:13, Galatians 2:7-9, I Timothy 2:7, II Timothy 1:11, and II Timothy 4:17).
• Paul's being the Apostle to the Gentiles did not mean that he was the only one teaching Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48, Acts 15:23, and I Peter 2:5-10).
• He also taught Jews (Acts 17:1-3, Acts 17:10, Acts 18:18-19, Acts 19:8, etc.).
• Paul describes the converted Gentiles as an offering made acceptable to God, having been sanctified by the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

• Paul explains that he has reason to glory through Jesus Christ concerning the work of God among the Gentiles. However, he would speak only of what Christ had actually accomplished through him, rather than boasting of accomplishments that were not his (II Corinthians 10:13-18). Consider some points of Scriptural reasoning through this text…
• With the statement, “I have therefore…” Paul is continuing from what he previously stated about being the minister of Jesus to the Gentiles (Romans 15:15-16).
• The glorying he may do is THROUGH Jesus Christ in the things which pertain to God (Romans 16:27, I Corinthians 1:29-31, and Philippians 1:11).
• The expression 'things pertaining to God' concerns matters relating to God's service and purposes (cf. Hebrews 5:1). There are matters pertaining to God and matters pertaining to men (cf. I Chronicles 26:32).
• It is not that Paul would refuse to report what had been accomplished. Rather, he would acknowledge that Christ was the one working through him and deserved the credit for what had been done (Acts 14:27, Acts 15:12, and I Corinthians 3:1-9).
• Paul's work was accompanied by mighty signs and wonders through the power of the Spirit of God (II Corinthians 12:12 and Hebrews 2:3-4). These miracles confirmed the word being preached and demonstrated God's power working through His servant (Acts 14:1-3 and Acts 19:11)
• From Jerusalem and beyond Paul had preached the Gospel of Christ (Acts chapter nine through Acts chapter twenty-eight).

• Paul was striving [laboring] to preach the Gospel (II Corinthians 5:9-11 and II Timothy 4:5).
• Paul went where the Gospel had not been preached. He had a task to complete (Romans 16:25-26 and Ephesians 3:1-11) as did the other Apostles (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20, and Luke 24:47).
• Consider some applications that do not directly tie to Paul’s point here. There has to be great caution on teaching those who have already been taught (I Corinthians 3:8-10). A teacher cannot assume some things have been taught and/or understood (Mark 4:33, John 16:12, I Corinthians 3:1-3, and Hebrews 5:8-6:3). Consistency is of great importance (I Corinthians 4:17). Sometimes the wrong foundation has been laid and corrections need to be made before anything else (I Timothy 1:3-7).
• Paul uses what we know as Isaiah 52:15 to support his aim of preaching Christ to those who had not previously heard of Him. This continues the contextual emphasis upon Paul's work among the Gentiles (cf. Isaiah 65:1, Hosea 2:23, and Romans 9:24-25).

• Paul's desire to preach the Gospel where Christ had not previously been named had repeatedly hindered him from visiting Rome (Romans 15:20-21).
• Earlier in this letter, Paul had already acknowledged that he had often intended to come to Rome but had been hindered (Romans 1:13-15).
• In addition to preaching in places the Gospel had not been heard and spreading the Gospel to the Gentile, consider that Paul also had “the care of all the churches” on his plate (II Corinthians 11:28).
• Imagine the tug of war of “I need to be here” or “ I need to be there” (cf. I Thessalonians 2:17-18); while the Spirit of God may be sending him somewhere completely different (Acts 16:1-10).