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Romans 15: Letting Kindness Overflow
What should motivate us to help others?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:1 We should try to strengthen those who are weak in their faith, but not so we can feel better about ourselves.
King James
Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
How far should we go with our concern for others?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:2 Always be concerned about the other person’s wellbeing and do what you can to help.
King James
Romans 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Why should we care about what God cares about?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:3 Our best example is Jesus, who didn’t come to please himself. As Scripture says, Passion for your house burns like fire within me because those who offend you have offended me.
King James
Romans 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Why do you think many Christians never read their Bibles at home?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:4 The Scriptures were written to guide us, to give us patience and confidence that God’s promises will be fulfilled.
King James
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
In what ways would it be a blessing to have the same attitude toward others as Jesus has?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:5–6 May God, who gives encouragement and strength, give you the same attitude toward others as what we have seen in Jesus Christ so your thoughts and actions are like his, pleasing God, the Father of our Lord.
King James
Romans 15:5–6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If God opened the door and welcomed you with open arms, how eager should you to be to reach those who don’t even know there is a door?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:7 Just as Christ opened the door for you to share God’s glory, so you should welcome others.
King James
Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
If Jesus came to save the world, what significance might we find in his being a Jew?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:8–10 Jesus became a servant to the Jews, showing God faithful to the promises made to their ancestors, but that’s not all. He came so the rest of the world would come to God, accept his forgiveness, and seek to please him, as Scripture says, Among foreigners I will declare your greatness, O Lord, singing praises that you are our King, and in another place, Rejoice, you nations, along with God’s people.
King James
Romans 15:8–10 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And 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. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
Of what value is an exhortation to praise the Lord when people don’t know him and aren’t listening?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:11 Yet again, the Scriptures say, Praise the Lord, all you nations. Let everyone on Earth exalt him.
King James
Romans 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
Why would a Jewish prophet tell Jewish people that a descendant of David would rule non-Jews?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:12 The prophet Isaiah said, A descendant of Jesse will be born, who will rule over non-Jews, and they will trust him as their king.
King James
Romans 15:12 And 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.
What should Christians do if they are not seeing much hope for the future?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:13 May your God, who has given you eager anticipation for the future, give you peace and joy right now as you trust in him. Then the Holy Spirit will give you even more confidence in where you are headed.
King James
Romans 15:13 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.
How can the poor, afflicted, and persecuted feel blessed by God?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:14 Fellow believers, I am convinced that your lives are overflowing with kindness and generosity. Filled with the knowledge of God’s love, you are well able to encourage and admonish one another.
King James
Romans 15:14 And 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.
Paul was beaten with thirty-nine stripes, beaten with rods, and stoned and left for dead. He suffered shipwreck three times. He was accused of crimes he hadn’t committed and was betrayed by those he thought were friends. Under those circumstances, how could he feel blessed to be a servant of Jesus Christ?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:15–16 Even so, I speak boldly to remind you of the truth and seek to strengthen what you already know. God in his kindness has chosen me to be a servant of Jesus Christ. I am sent to deliver his message to unbelievers, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, they may forsake their self-serving ways and be made acceptable to God.
King James
Romans 15:15–16 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 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 Holy Ghost.
What would have made Paul proud of the way Christ had used him?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:17 I can be proud of the way Jesus Christ has used me to do his work.
King James
Romans 15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
To what extent do you think Paul’s message was helped or hindered by his education under Gamaliel?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:18 I could do nothing without him, for he is the one who gave me the words and guided my actions that have led unbelievers to hear and obey God.
King James
Romans 15:18 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 word and deed,
In Paul’s day, how prevalent do you think miracles were?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:19 Through miraculous signs and wonders worked by the power of the Holy Spirit, I have preached the good news of Jesus Christ all the way from Jerusalem to the distant lands of Greece.
King James
Romans 15:19 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 of Christ.
What motivated Paul to reach to those who hadn’t heard about Christ rather than going to those who had already heard?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:20–21 Rather than build upon what someone else has taught, I have always sought places where the good news of Jesus Christ had not been heard, following what Isaiah wrote: They will gain insight from something they had never heard before. They will understand what they had never thought about before.
King James
Romans 15:20–21 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another 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.
If Paul had made a practice of not visiting areas where Christ had been preached, why would he want to go to the Christian community in Rome?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:22–24 So far, my work to reach those who haven’t heard has made it impossible for me to visit you. But now my work is finished here, and for many years I have longed to come to Rome. On my way to Spain, I plan to stop and see you. After I have enjoyed your company for a while, I hope you will support me in my journey there.
King James
Romans 15:22–24 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come 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 somewhat filled with your company.
Why do you think Paul felt a need to minister to believers in Jerusalem?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:25–28 But first I must go to Jerusalem and minister to those believers. The churches in Greece, from Macedonia in the north to Achaia in the south, have gathered an offering for the Lord’s people in Jerusalem, who live in poverty. Indeed, the Greeks feel indebted, eager to give of their material possessions because of the great spiritual blessings they have received from Jerusalem. After I have completed my mission there, I will visit you on my way to Spain.
King James
Romans 15:25–28 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for 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 duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
Why was Paul confident that he would see “an abundance of spiritual blessings” when he arrived in Rome?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:29 When I arrive, I am sure we will experience an abundance of spiritual blessings as we share exciting news of what Christ has done in our lives. And we will encourage one another in what he will yet do.
King James
Romans 15:29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
What concerns did Paul have about going to Jerusalem?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Romans 15:30–31 My friends, I do have a personal request if it please our Lord Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit lays me on your heart, pray earnestly for my protection from the unbelievers in Judea so I might complete my service to God’s people in Jerusalem.
King James
Romans 15:30–31 Now 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; That 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;
What is the effect of praying for God’s will to be done?
Author’s Thoughts
Authors’s insights pending.
Author’s Paraphrase
Matthew 6:10 “‘May your Kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 26:42 Again, Jesus left to pray. “My Father, if this cup of suffering cannot be emptied without my drinking it, let your will be done.”
Romans 15:32 Pray that God’s will be done, that I may visit you soon, and we can enjoy a spiritually refreshing time together.
King James
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.