13

14

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

AND I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able 15 also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you, in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me 16 of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the 17 Holy Ghost. I have therefore whereof I may glory through

them to minister to one another's than would seem consistent with my good. Compare Luke 22: 27. Matt. 20: 28. As it is written. The purpose of God to bless the Gentiles is shown by several quotations from the Old Testament; namely, Ps. 18: 49. Deut. 32: 43. Ps. 117: 1. Is. 11: 10.

13. Now the God of hope; the God from whom comes our hope of eternal life. In believing; in believing on Christ. Through the power of the Holy Ghost. The joy and peace, here prayed for, are imparted through the power of the Holy Spirit and render the hope, already cherished, more abundant and firm.

14-16. The apostle now forestalls any injurious misapprehensions which might be occasioned by the freeness with which he had written; he therefore avows his high estimate of the Roman brethren, and traces his boldness, (though he wishes to be considered as, in part, reminding them of what they already knew and were disposed to perform,) to his bearing the office and responsibility of an apostle. And I myself also am persuaded of you, etc.; more correctly, But I myself, etc. notwithstanding my counsels to you, I am persuaded of your kind and conciliatory spirit and your ample knowledge of the gospel. Compare 1: 8, 12.

15. The more boldly; more boldly

avowed persuasion of your goodness and knowledge. In some sort, as, etc.; in part, as reminding you of what you already know. Because of the grace that is given to me, etc. The real cause of his boldness in addressing them was, that God had by his grace invested him with the responsibility of an apostle. Compare 1: 5. 12: 3. It was neither through lack of confidence in his brethren, nor through assumption of authority, that he wrote with so much freedom.

16. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, etc. The original terms here employed are quite peculiar: they describe the apostle's work as a priestly service rendered to Christ in reference to the Gentiles, in which he officiated by making known to them the gospel, in order that they might become an offering to God, acceptable to him, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. - In other words, he had been divinely called to the apostleship among the Gentiles in order that they might partake of the influences and blessings of the gospel and become an accepted and holy people of God.

17-21. In view of the appointment to the apostleship among the Gentiles, he had great cause for rejoicing, since Christ had accomplished much by him in respect to the con

18 Jesus Christ, in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by 19 word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel 20 of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another 21 man's foundation: but as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

version of the Gentiles, particularly those to whom Christ was before unknown. I have therefore whereof I may glory, etc.: I have therefore a ground for glorying in Christ Jesus; that is, in my connection with Christ, as being his agent in promoting the cause of God.

18. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, etc. Compare 2 Cor. 10: 13-16. This avowal of unwillingness to mention any thing which Christ had not effected through him, virtually contains the idea that Christ had wrought much through him. He may be considered as saying, I will not venture to say a word about things which Christ has not accomplished by me; for I should, indeed, regard this as arrogance; but I may venture to speak of what he has accomplished by me, in making the Gentiles obedient to the gospel. By word and deed; by speech and act, by making known the gospel and performing deeds in confirmation of

it.
- The means employed for the
conversion of the Gentiles are here
intimated; namely, the preaching of
the gospel and the miraculous deeds
which attested its divine authority.

19. Through mighty signs and wonders; literally, by the power of signs and wonders, the miracles wrought by the apostle. Compare Acts 16: 16, 18. 19: 11, 12. By the power of the Spirit of God. The preaching of

the gospel and the working of mira-
cles were made effectual by the Spirit
of God. Thus while glorying, the
apostle took no honor to himself: it
was Christ who wrought through
him; his labors were made effectual
by the Holy Spirit. Compare 1 Cor.
3: 5-9. 4: 6, 7. || So that from
Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum,
etc. The extent of territory over
which his labors were spread, fur-
nished ground, also, for glorying in
his relation to Christ; namely, from
Jerusalem and round about (perhaps,
in the expression, round about, he
meant to include Arabia, Gal. 1: 17,
and Damascus, Acts 9: 22) to Illy-
ricum, a country of Europe on the
north-east shore of the Hadriatic Sea.
A mere glance at a map shows how
extensive were his travels in preach-
ing the gospel and planting churches.
|| I have fully preached, etc. The idea
is, that he had preached through all
that extent of territory, thus giving
completeness in all those regions to
his official work.

20, 21. Yea, so have I strived, etc. He here intimates a limitation in regard to the places where he had preached: though he had travelled so extensively, yet it had been his aim to spread the gospel, not where it had already been made known, but where Christ had not been named, thus acting in harmony with the prophetic declaration, in Is. 52: 15, that knowledge of Christ was to be dif

22

FOR which cause also I have been much hindered from 23 coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come 24 unto you, whensoever I take my journey into Spain I will come to you; for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be some25 what filled with your company. But now I go unto Jerusa26 lem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for 27 the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their 28 duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. When

fused among those who had not heard of him.. The planting of the gospel in the dark regions of idolatry and superstition was a favorite object with the apostle and was in literal accordance with his commission from Christ. See Acts 26: 16-18.

22-29. The apostle expresses his desire to visit the Roman brethren. For which cause; namely, the incessant demand for his labors in the regions which he had indicated in verse 19. Much hindered; more correctly, many times, or many years, hindered.

23. Having no more place in these parts; having no longer a place for laboring, or an occasion for laboring, in these regions, since throughout them the gospel has been made known.

24. Whensoever, etc. He cherished the purpose of extending his labors as far as to Spain, and was intending, when he should undertake this contemplated tour, to pass through Rome and visit the brethren there. And to be brought on my way. It was customary, when a person was setting out on a journey, or re-commencing it after tarrying awhile at a place, for particular friends to accompany him a short distance. Hence the expression, to be brought on the way, or, literally, to be sent forward. Compare Acts 15: 3. 20: 38.

21:

5. 3 John, verse 6. || If first 1 be somewhat filled with your company. His regard for the Roman brethren made him anticipate much enjoyment in his visit to them; but a full satisfaction of his desires he could not promise himself: his purpose to prosecute his official labors would allow him to gratify his desires only in part.

25. But now I go unto Jerusalem, etc. Compare Acts 24: 17. He was the bearer of a contribution made for the indigent Christian Jews in Jerusa

lem.

26, 27. And their debtors they are. The Gentile Christians in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make this contribution for the poor among the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem; but, besides that, the apostle represents, it was a matter of duty: they were under obligations to Jews, and they might well feel it their duty to impart worldly good in return for the spiritual blessings which had flowed to them from the Jews. By this suggestion, the apostle probably aimed to promote kind feeling between the Gentile and the Jewish members of the Roman church, and perhaps to secure additional aid for the suffering poor in Jerusalem.

28. Performed this; completed this business. || Sealed to them this fruit; delivered over, and thus made sure, to

therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them 29 this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. And I am sure that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together 31 with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of 32 the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will 33 of God, and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of

Amen.

CHAPTER XVI.

Commendation of Phebe and closing salutations to numerous individuals at Rome, 1-16. Exhortation to be on their guard against false teachers, 17-20. Salutations from various persons to the Romans, 21-24. Closing commendation of the Romans to God, with ascription of praise to him, 25-27.

I COMMEND unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant 2 of the church which is at Cenchrea: that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a 3 succorer of many, and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and 4 Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life

laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give 5 thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles: likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto