Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Romans 15
Romans 15:4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Paul sets the standard for Christian community by telling us to welcome others with the same total acceptance that Christ showed us.Romans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Historical & Cultural Context
Following the Example of Christ's Service
Building on his previous discussion about not judging others over minor differences, Paul urges those with a strong conscience to be patient with those who are more sensitive. He points to Jesus as the ultimate example of someone who did not live to please Himself but instead took on the burdens and insults meant for others. This section emphasizes that the goal of the church is to live in such harmony that everyone can praise God with one voice. Paul uses the Scriptures to show that this kind of unity has always been God's desire for His people.
Paul's Mission and Future Travels
Paul shifts to his personal mission, explaining his unique role as a messenger to the non-Jewish world. He describes his extensive travels from Jerusalem all the way to modern-day Albania and shares his ambitious plans to visit Rome on his way to Spain. He also mentions a practical project: he is currently heading to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from Gentile churches to help poor Jewish Christians. Unity requires real financial support and mutual care between groups, not just a feeling.
Living for Others and Reaching the World
In Romans 15:1-33, Paul moves from theological teaching to practical application and personal updates. The scene transitions from a call for local church unity to a grand vision of global mission, showing how the love of Christ connects people across different cultures and distances.
Putting Others First (Romans 15:1-7)
1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Commentary:
We should follow Christ's example by putting the needs of our neighbors above our own desires to create true unity.
A Hope for All Nations (Romans 15:8-13)
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."
10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope."
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Commentary:
Jesus came to fulfill God's promises to Israel and bring a message of hope and mercy to the entire world.
Related Verse Analysis
Paul’s Heart for the Gentiles (Romans 15:14-21)
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.
18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience - by word and deed,
19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God - so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation,
21 but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."
Commentary:
Paul explains his unique calling to bring the message of Jesus to people who have never heard it.
Travel Plans and Prayer Requests (Romans 15:22-33)
22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.
23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,
24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.
29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Commentary:
Paul asks for prayer as he prepares to deliver aid to Jerusalem before heading toward Rome and Spain.
The Foundations of Christian Community
The Power of Scriptural Encouragement
Paul emphasizes that the Bible is a living source of endurance and hope for every generation. By looking at how God worked in the past, we find the strength to keep going through our own current challenges.
Unity in Diversity
The chapter shows that people from vastly different backgrounds are brought together through Christ. This unity is expressed through shared worship and practical financial help between different churches across the world.
The Servant Heart of Christ
Jesus is presented as the ultimate model for how we should treat one another. He did not seek His own comfort but became a servant to fulfill God's plan and help those in need.
Applying Romans 15 to Your Daily Life
Romans 15:1 suggests that if you feel strong in your faith or understanding, your job isn't to judge those who are struggling. You are called to patiently support them and help carry their burdens, as Christ did for you.
According to verse 7, our acceptance of others shouldn't be based on their opinions or background, but on the fact that Christ accepted us despite our flaws. This means creating a community where people feel truly seen and valued for the glory of God.
Verse 4 points us back to the Scriptures as a primary source of encouragement. By reading about God's faithfulness in the past, the Holy Spirit fills us with the endurance we need to face current challenges with joy and peace.
United in Hope and Service
Paul concludes his main teaching by showing that the gospel creates a new kind of family where the strong serve the weak. In Christ, the ancient promises to Israel and the hopes of all nations meet, resulting in a community that praises God with one voice. The message is clear: our faith is proven true when we lay aside our own preferences to build up those around us. By looking to the Scriptures and the example of Jesus, we find the endurance to live in harmony and the hope to reach the world.
What This Means for Us Today
God invites us into a life that is bigger than our own self-interest. By welcoming others and sharing our resources, we participate in the global mission of hope that Paul describes. We are called to be people who build others up, finding our joy in God's faithfulness rather than our own comfort.
- Who is a neighbor you can build up this week?
- How can you use the Bible to find fresh hope today?
- In what way can you partner with others in prayer?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
This is the verse Paul quotes to show that Christ took on the insults meant for God.
This prophecy about the Root of Jesse explains why the Gentiles have hope in the Messiah.
Provides more detail on the collection for the poor in Jerusalem that Paul mentions in this chapter.
Discussion Questions
- Paul says the strong have an obligation to the weak. In what areas of your life do you feel strong, and how can you use that strength to help someone else?
- Verse 13 mentions joy and peace in believing. How does trusting God's promises specifically lead to a feeling of peace in your life?
- Paul asks for the church to strive together with him in prayer. Why do you think he uses such intense language for prayer, and how does that change your view of praying for others?