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).