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Romans 15:5–6 and the Other Verses of Romans 15

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verses of the day for May 20th are Romans 15:5–6.  The title of the book Romans is also known as “The Epistle of Paul to the Romans” and “The Letter of Paul to the Romans.”  Romans was a letter written by the apostle Paul to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who were located in Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire (which was also called Rome).  The word Rome can be used to refer to the city Rome, to the kingdom of which that city was the capital, to the republic of which that city was the capital, or to the empire of which that city was the capital.  The settlement that became the city Rome was founded in the 700s B.C.  Rome eventually became a kingdom.  That kingdom is known as the Roman Kingdom.  Then Rome became a republic.  That republic is known as the Roman Republic.  After that, Rome became an empire.  That empire is known as the Roman Empire.  The Lord Jesus Christ was born during the time of the Roman Empire.  

Below is a link to a map that shows the location of the capital city Rome.  Jerusalem is also on the map.  At the time that the apostle Paul wrote the book Romans, Jerusalem was under the control of the Roman Empire.  At that time, Jerusalem was within the Roman province of Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh].  The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa.  The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e.  Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah.  The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights].  The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/45Rom-1.jpg

Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Romans 15.  

Note:  In some of the below notes for Romans 15, the Church Age is referenced.  With regard to the Church Age, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations.  In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn].  This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity.  The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].  After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights.  He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected.  He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m.  In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word.  The formation of the word judgment is shown below.  

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations.  Civilizations begin only with believers.  Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood).  That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization.  In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood.  Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.  

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth:  Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives.  With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started.  That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization).  Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood.  Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial.  The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth.  Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood.  This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent.  The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.  

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire.  That civilization is called the Millennium.  The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation.  The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.  

Romans 15:1

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

Note:  The strength referenced in this verse is the strength that comes from learning and obeying the Word of God.  In this verse, the Koine Greek adjective that is translated as “strong” is δυνατοὶ [pronounced doo-nah-TOY and transliterated as dynatoi].  That adjective is an inflected form of the root word δυνατός [pronounced doo-nah-TAHS and transliterated as dynatos].  The Koine Greek adjective that is translated as “without strength” in this verse is ἀδυνάτων [pronounced ah-doo-NAH-tohn and transliterated as adynatōn].  That adjective is an inflected form of the root word ἀδύνατος [pronounced ah-DOO-nah-tahs and transliterated as adynatos].  

Rather than the content of this verse referring to being enslaved to the selfish desires of those without strength, the content of this verse refers to being tolerant of others when they make mistakes.  In that regard, when being tolerant of others when they make mistakes, a believer should refrain from condoning false notions and wrong actions.  At the same time, a believer needs to refrain from being self-righteous.  A self-righteous person is an arrogant person who thinks that he or she is superior to others.  Such a person makes an idol out of himself or herself and has a condescending attitude towards others.  

Absent from this verse is anything indicating that a believer should focus on other believers in order to try to determine whether that believer is stronger than other believers.  Focusing on others in order to try to determine whether oneself is stronger than others is a violation of the privacy of others.  While a believer should refrain from focusing on others in order to try to determine whether oneself is stronger than others, it is possible that a believer will become aware that another person has one or more weaknesses.  

Romans 15:2

Each of us is to please his neighbor for what is good to edification.

Note:  The English word edification is the building up of the truth of the Word of God in the soul of a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The actions that believers do should be for the purpose of edifying / building up the truth of the Word of God in others.  For unbelievers, the edification process starts with salvation; therefore, actions that contribute to the edification of unbelievers must involve the believer being alert for opportunities to present the gospel (the good news of faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life).  John 3:14–16 and Ephesians 2:8–9 are some verses that are useful for that.  For believers, the first step in edification needs to be 1 John 1:9 for those believers who are unaware of the principle of that verse.  

Romans 15:3

Indeed, even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written:  “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.”

Note:  This is a reference to Psalm 69:9.  

Romans 15:4

Indeed, whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope / absolute confidence.

Romans 15:5

Now may the God of perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus 

Romans 15:6

so that with one accord you may with one voice [literally: one mouth] glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Note:  The phrase God and Father refers to God the Father.  In that regard, the phrase God and Father is a hendiadys [hen-DIGH-uh-diss], which is a figure of speech in which two words joined by the word and are used to express a single thought when one of those words could be used to describe the other word.  

Romans 15:7

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us [one early manuscript reads you] to the glory of God.

Romans 15:8

Indeed, I say that Christ has become a Servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers 

Note:  In this verse, the phrase the circumcision refers to Jewish people.  The Lord Jesus Christ became a Servant to the Jewish people in the sense that He was judged for their sins.  The promises to the fathers involved Old Testament content about God the Son taking the form of a human and being judged for the sins of humanity.  In that regard, the word fathers refers to Jewish people at the time that the promises in the Old Testament were given to the Jewish people.  

Romans 15:9

and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:  “THEREFORE, I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO / CONFESS YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.”

Note:  This is a reference to Psalm 18:49.  

Romans 15:10

Again it says, “REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE,” 

Note:  This is a reference to Deuteronomy 32:43.  

Romans 15:11

even again, “PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.”

Note:  This is a reference to Psalm 117:1.  

Romans 15:12

Again Isaiah says, “THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES; IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”

Note:  This is a reference to Isaiah 11:10.  Also, the phrase ROOT OF JESSE refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Lord Jesus Christ is a descendant of King David, and King David is a son of Jesse.  The Lord Jesus Christ will rule over the Gentiles during the Millennium.  

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of the hope / absolute confidence fill you with all joy and peace by means of the believing so that you will abound in the hope / absolute confidence by means of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Note:  In the context of the content of this verse, the believing referenced in this verse refers to believing the Word of God.  In that regard, it is by means of a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ believing the Word of God that God the Father fills that believer in the Lord Jesus Christ with all joy and peace.  When a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is filled with all joy and peace, that believer abounds in the hope / absolute confidence.  The power of God the Holy Spirit is the means by which a believerʼs believing the Word of God results in that believer being filled with all joy and peace and abounding in the hope / absolute confidence.  

Regarding the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

Regarding the word translated as “power” in Romans 15:13, the Koine Greek word from which the English word power is translated is δυνάμει [pronounced doo-NAH-may and transliterated as dynamei].  That word is an inflected form of the root word δύναμις [pronounced DOO-nah-mees and transliterated as dynamis].  The Greek word dynamis is the word from which the English word dynamite is derived.  

Romans 15:14

Moreover, concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish/caution/warn one another.

Note:  The phrase one another refers to fellow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  This verse involves something other than indicating that a believer should be a nosy busybody metaphorically sticking his or her nose into the business of other believers.  The activities of a nosy busybody can be metaphorically described as Operation Long Proboscis.  Instead of Paul indicating that the Roman believers were engaged in Operation Long Proboscis, Paul indicated that the Roman believers were able to admonish/caution/warn one another.  

The Koine Greek verb that is translated as “admonish,” “caution,” or “warn” in this verse is νουθετεῖν [pronounced noo-theh-TAYN and transliterated as nouthetein].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word νουθετέω [pronounced noo-theh-TEH-oh and transliterated as noutheteō].  The Koine Greek verb noutheteō is derived from the Koine Greek noun νοῦς [pronounced NOOSS and transliterated as nous] and the Koine Greek verb τίθημι [pronounced TEE-thay-mee and transliterated as tithēmi].  The noun nous can be translated as “comprehension,” “intellectual faculty,” “intellect,” “understanding,” or “mind.”  The verb tithēmi can be translated a variety of ways, including as “put,” “set,” and “place.”  Regarding the foregoing, the verb noutheteō has a connotation of putting something into the mind in the sense of calling attention to something.  In that regard, Paulʼs usage of noutheteō involves Paul encouraging the Roman believers for having the ability to warn each other.  

A believer warns another believer by calling attention to something about which it could be prudent to be alert.  Regarding being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors.  The mindset color code describes states of awareness.  The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin.  Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN).  The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature.  It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16.  The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies.  Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned.  All other human beings have been conceived.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature.  All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures.  Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived.  With regard to being alert, below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.  

Romans 15:15

Nevertheless, I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again because of the grace that was given me from God [one early manuscript reads by God] 

Romans 15:16

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering in the manner of a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Note:  The phrase ministering in the manner of a priest the gospel of God is a reference to the Levitical priests of Israel performing rituals that taught about the gospel (the good news of faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life).  It is worth noting that the scope of ministering in the manner of a priest that Paul mentions is specifically related to sharing the gospel, just as the rituals performed by the Levitical priests taught about the gospel.  Paul is using the activities of the Levitical priests as a metaphor for sharing the gospel.  Also, the Koine Greek verb translated “ministering in the manner of a priest” occurs only once in the Bible.  That Koine Greek verb is ἱερουργοῦντα [pronounced hee-eh-roor-GOON-tah and transliterated as hierourgounta].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word ἱερουργέω [pronounced hee-eh-roor-GEH-oh and transliterated as hierourgeō].  

The nation Israel having the Levitical priesthood was part of the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  

Regarding Paul using the activities of the Levitical priests as a metaphor for sharing the gospel, Paul also metaphorically refers to the Gentile believers as an offering.  In that regard, Paul references God the Holy Spirit sanctifying the Gentile believers.  That sanctifying can be referred to as positional sanctification.  The term positional sanctification refers to God the Holy Spirit baptizing every Church Age believer in the Lord Jesus Christ into Jesus Christ, which means placing that Church Age believer into union with the Person of Jesus Christ.  In other words, God the Holy Spirit makes the believer associated with the Lord.  God the Holy Spirit does the baptizing of a believer at the moment of salvation of that believer.  This association with the Lord Jesus Christ is a guarantee of eternal security, which means that the salvation of a believer can never be lost.  

Also, now that the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ being judged for the sins of humanity, the Levitical priesthood has been replaced by the Church Age priesthood in which every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a priest.  During the Church Age, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of believer priests.  In that regard, the content of Hebrews 4:14–15 indicates that the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of all Church Age believers.  Regarding the word royal, the content of Hebrews 5:10 indicates that the Lord Jesus Christ is a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest; therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest.  Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  In that regard, the content of 1 Peter 2:9 indicates that Church Age believers are royal priests.  

Romans 15:17

Therefore, in Christ Jesus I have found reason for exulting / rejoicing in things pertaining to God.

Romans 15:18

Indeed, I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, to the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,

Romans 15:19

in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum [ih-LEER-ih-kuhm] I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Note:  Below is a link to a map that shows the location of the Roman province Illyricum.  On that map, the word Spain refers to the region Spania [spah-NEE-ah], which, at the time that Paul wrote The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, was the region that is now known as the Iberian [igh-BIHR-ee-uhn] Peninsula.  The Iberian Peninsula is the location of the modern countries Spain and Portugal.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/45Rom-4.jpg

Romans 15:20

Moreover, I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another manʼs foundation 

Romans 15:21

but as it is written:  “THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.”

Note:  This is a reference to Isaiah 52:15.  

Romans 15:22

Consequently, I have often been prevented from coming to you, 

Romans 15:23

but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you 

Romans 15:24

whenever I go to Spania—for I hope to see you in passing and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—

Romans 15:25

but now, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints / holy ones / set-apart ones.

Note:  All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are saints.  In other words, they are holy, which means that they are set apart.  Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have a relationship with the Trinity, while unbelievers lack a relationship with the Trinity.  At the moment of salvation, a believer becomes a saint / holy one / set-apart one.  

Romans 15:26

Indeed, Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints / holy ones / set-apart ones in Jerusalem.

Note:  Below is a link to a map that shows the locations of Macedonia and Achaia.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/45Rom-1.jpg

Romans 15:27

Indeed, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them, for if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things—and they have—they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

Note:  The Gentile believers in Macedonia and Achaia were indebted to the believers in Jerusalem because it is out from Jerusalem that believers who shared the gospel with people in Macedonia and Achaia came.  

Romans 15:28

Therefore, when I have finished this and have put my seal on this fruit to them, I will go on by way of you to Spania.

Note:  Putting a seal on something can refer to certifying something.  In that regard, the content of this verse refers to Paul indicating that he believes that the Gentile believers in Macedonia and Achaia sharing material things with believers in Jerusalem is a right thing to do.  

Romans 15:29

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Romans 15:30

Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the benevolence/goodwill of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,

Note:  All prayer must be addressed to God the Father.  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself indicated that all prayer must be addressed to God the Father.  The content of Matthew 6:1–13 covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray.  In that regard, the content of Matthew 6:9 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.  The content of Luke 11:1–4 also covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray.  In that regard, the content of Luke 11:2 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.  

The Lord Jesus Christ being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity made it possible for believers to pray to God the Father.  When praying to God the Father, a believer should be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

Romans 15:31

that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints / holy ones / set-apart ones, 

Romans 15:32

so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and may be refreshed together with you.

Romans 15:33

Now the God of peace be with you all.  Amen.

Note:  It is possible that Paulʼs usage of the word peace in Romans 15:33 refers both to inner tranquility and to harmonious relationships.  Inner tranquility can also be referred to as tranquility of the soul.  The content of verse 13 contains a reference to peace in the sense of tranquility of the soul.  The content of verses 5–7 references harmonious relationships.  

Tranquility in the souls of believers facilitates harmonious relationships between believers.  The truth of the Word of God in the thinking of a believer provides inner tranquility for that believer.  In contrast, a selfish person lacks tranquility in his or her soul.  

In order to have tranquility of the soul, a believer needs to be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The Koine Greek particle that is translated as “Amen” in Romans 15:33 is ἀμήν [pronounced ah-MAYN and transliterated as amēn].  At the beginning of a sentence or quotation, ἀμήν can be translated as “Truly,” “Verily,” “Most assuredly,” or “Point of doctrine.”  Also, sometimes ἀμήν is doubled at the beginning of a sentence or quotation.  When ἀμήν is at then end of a sentence or quotation, or if ἀμήν stands alone in its own sentence, ἀμήν can be translated as “I believe it,” “so it is,” “so be it,” or “may it be fulfilled.”  

Sincerely,

John