The Epistles · Chapter 15 of 16
Romans 15
Paul urges the strong to bear with the weak and to please their neighbors for their good, following Christ who did not please Himself. He prays for likemindedness so the church may glorify God with one voice, and shows how Christ served both Jews and Gentiles to fulfill Scripture. Paul then describes his own gospel ministry, his plans to visit Rome on the way to Spain, and his errand to Jerusalem, asking for their prayers.
What happens in Romans 15
Paul calls the strong to bear the weaknesses of the weak rather than please themselves, since even Christ did not please Himself but bore reproach for others. He points to Scripture as the source of patience, comfort, and hope, and prays that God would grant them to be likeminded, so that with one mind and mouth they glorify God. He tells them to receive one another as Christ received them. Paul then shows that Christ became a servant to the Jews to confirm the promises to the fathers, and that the Gentiles glorify God for His mercy, gathering Scriptures that foretell Gentile praise, culminating in the root of Jesse who will reign over the nations.
Paul describes his calling to the Gentiles and his ambition to preach where Christ was not named. He shares his travel plans toward Spain by way of Rome, his errand carrying a collection to the poor saints in Jerusalem, and asks their prayers.
Romans 15 in context
Chapter fifteen concludes the body of Romans, carrying forward the discussion of strong and weak believers from chapter fourteen and then transitioning to Paul's personal plans. Here Paul reveals his missionary strategy of pioneer evangelism, his current task of delivering the Gentile churches' relief offering to Jerusalem, and his hope to reach Spain, using the Roman church as a future base for that western mission.
Main themes of Romans 15
Romans 15 (KJV)
1We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13Now 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. 14And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15Nevertheless, 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 of God, 16That 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 Holy Ghost. 17I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19Through 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 of Christ. 20Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: 21But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. 22For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 23But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; 24Whensoever 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 somewhat filled with your company. 25But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 28When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. 29And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 30Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 31That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 32That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 33Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Verses to carry from Romans 15
“For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”Romans 15:3
“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”Romans 15:7
“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.”Romans 15:13
New Testament quotation
How Romans 15 points to Jesus
Christ is everywhere in this chapter. He is the pattern of self-giving love, the One who pleased not Himself but bore reproach, whom the strong are to imitate in bearing with the weak. He is the model of welcome, receiving believers so that they might receive one another to God's glory. Paul then presents Him as the servant of the circumcision who confirms the promises to the fathers and opens mercy to the Gentiles.
The chapter reaches a messianic peak in the quotation from Isaiah about the root of Jesse rising to reign over the Gentiles, in whom they will trust, which the church reads as Jesus, the promised heir of David whose reign draws the nations. Paul's whole ministry, his message, his mission to Spain, and his errand of love to Jerusalem, is service to this Christ.
Questions about Romans 15
What does Romans 15 teach about caring for weaker believers?
Paul says the strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak and not merely please themselves, seeking a neighbor's good and edification. He anchors this in Christ, who did not please Himself. The goal is a church that receives one another as Christ received them and glorifies God with one mind and one mouth, so unity is pursued through patient, self-giving love rather than through winning arguments.
Why does Paul emphasize the Gentiles in Romans 15?
Paul gathers a chain of Old Testament passages to show that God always intended the Gentiles to glorify Him for His mercy, ending with Isaiah's root of Jesse who reigns over the nations. He describes his own calling to bring the gospel where Christ has not been named. The point is that Gentile worship fulfills ancient promise, and that God's mercy was always meant to reach every people.
Reflection
Paul refuses to let strong believers use their freedom to please themselves, holding up Christ who bore reproach rather than seek His own comfort. Consider whom you find hard to bear with, and whether you are willing to please a neighbor for their good. The God of hope wants to fill you, and often does so as you pour out for others.
A prayer from Romans 15
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