Romans (Written)

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. Romans 15:25

Before he makes any anticipated visit to Rome on his way to Spain, Paul notes that he first intends to go “to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.” This is one of many internal clues that the epistle is authentic. In Acts 19:21, we read this –

“When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.'”

Acts supports Paul’s words in Romans and his words here and in other epistles support the account in Acts. The Bible is a unified work which internally validates itself again and again. As we read its pages, we can have the confidence that there truly was a guiding Hand of inspiration as the Holy Spirit breathed out God’s word through the various authors.

In both 1 & 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of the collection for the saints in Jerusalem and he will explain the necessity for this collection and ministry a bit more in the verses ahead. It must be remembered that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles and therefore, in order to maintain harmony between the Jewish believers and the Gentiles, whatever he could do for the Jews in Jerusalem would help in that endeavor. And so he painstakingly and meticulously prepared his collection for them and wanted to be present when it was transferred to those in need in Jerusalem.

Life application: Gifts and offerings are still as important today as they were in the early church. They should be considered carefully and given in a way which the most beneficial use of the money is made. Why would anyone give to a church which supports issues such as abortion or sexual perversion, either locally or within the hierarchy? We are accountable to the Lord for what we do with our gifts, so just as Paul did, cautiously consider how you will handle your giving.

Lord, I have really benefitted from so many others as I’ve studied and learned Your word. Translators, commentators, pastors, and teachers have all been a part of getting Your word to me in a way which I can understand and grow. Today I thank you for those who have so meticulously handled this precious book for my use and benefit. How blessed I am in this way. Thank You for these faithful souls! Amen. 

Monday, 27 January 2014

…whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy yourcompany for a while. Romans 15:24

Paul’s intent, which is expressed in the previous verse, was to come to Rome for a visit, but this was not the purpose of coming there. Rather, it was only to be a stop on the way to Spain. Once again, Paul’s life was directed to mission-type evangelism. He desired to preach the gospel where it had not yet been preached and to establish churches as he went. His desire to visit Rome was merely to fellowship with them, encourage them, and as a point of stopping for help along the way.

In this verse, he uses the Roman term for Spain, Hispania, rather than the common Greek term, Iberia. The Iberian peninsula included the entire region of Spain and Portugal. This was Paul’s next goal in his work. It is not clear if he actually ever made it to Spain. He was imprisoned in Rome, but some early writings state that he was released for two years before being imprisoned again. In these two years, it is claimed that he actually went to Spain.

Regardless of whether he made it there or not, he stated that he hoped “to be helped on my way by you.” This sentiment is found at other times in the New Testament. A notable one is found in 3 John –

“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well…” (6, 7)

It was incumbent on the established churches to assist missionaries because there was little help to be expected from the gentiles. This wasn’t because of the coldness of the gentiles so much as it was a policy of the missionaries. The less burden on those being evangelized, the better. Paul remained a tent maker during his working years in order to not be a burden on those he ministered to. This is still seen in the mission world today. Support normally comes from the sending churches, not from those who receive the missionaries.

And so, in order to receive their help and to fellowship with them, he desired to visit them in Rome that he might “enjoy” their company for a while. The term he uses implies being gratified or satisfied in their fellowship. He was looking forward to coming to them in need of  their encouragement and leaving fully encouraged.

Life application: The need for missionaries has never ended. The world still has many places which haven’t heard the gospel. But mission work is not an end in and of itself. It should be a means of establishing churches and then moving on. Too often, mission work devolves into a constant state of externally supplied ministry. Rather, our missionaries should encourage self-sufficiency among those they evangelize.

Lord Jesus, it is a big world with many people in need of hearing the gospel message. I would hope to be a part of this. Send people into my path that I can help to encourage and support in missionary work that are capable, responsible, and sure to spread the good news in a worthy manner. And then Lord, give me the desire and ability to help them in their work. Amen. 

Sunday, 26 January 2014

But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,…  Romans 15:23

Speaking of his ministry which went in a circle from Jerusalem around to Illyricum, Paul felt that he had covered the entire area in a manner sufficient to say that there was no longer any place that wasn’t evangelized. Considering the amount of area and the immense number of towns and people, he was making quite a claim. But it should be remembered that he certainly instructed those he evangelized to continue on with the effort just as he had. Therefore, along with his work, those he brought to Jesus would have continued the process.

Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, though written later, give his instructions on the establishment and conduct of churches. When writing to Titus, he says this –

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you…” Titus 1:5

So it is not at all improbable that the message, either directly by Paul or by those he trained, got to the entire region just as he claims here. And because of this, he now tells the Romans of his yearning to come to them. He had set aside his desires for the sake of spreading the gospel and he now felt that he could follow through with what he so long wished to do without compromising anything in the process.

Life application: Stick to what is necessary first and foremost. Only when that is accomplished should we endeavor to follow our other, less important desires. There is a world full of people who need to hear the good news. Don’t let TV or fun parties dull you to what should be the first priority in life.

O God, in my time of distress, You are there to comfort me. Friends come and go, people promise and fail to deliver, and those who were once near and dear to me no longer count me among their associates. But You O Lord… You are always faithful. In the morning, I can rise and feel You near. In the darkest night, I know You are watching. You are my Rock and my Comfort, and in You I place my trust and hope. Amen.

Saturday, 25 January 2014

For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. Romans 15:22

In Romans 1:9-15, Paul explained his desire to come to Rome and fellowship with them. And in verse 1:13, he said this –

“Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now)…”

Since that verse, he has given his discourse on the many issues which were on his mind. Finally in verse 22, he has stated that, “For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.” It is as if that opening statement all the way at the beginning was the impetus for this masterful epistle. Only after explaining the many issues of the faith has he now returned to explain why he was hindered. In other words, this concern was his “foot in the door” for explaining the many doctrinal matters that he wanted to impart.

In his statement “I have been hindered” he uses a word which is in the imperfect tense. This denotes that it was a continuous problem which implies that he had one hindrance after another as he strived to reach his desired goal of visiting the Romans. Those hindrances are a part of his thought in verse 15:19 when he noted that “from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

In his travels, in his evangelistic endeavors, and in his preaching of the gospel where it had not previously been preached – in these actions he was held back from actually making it to Rome. This then shows Paul’s dedication to the ministry to which he had been called. Despite his great desire to fellowship with the Romans, the call of preaching the gospel had to be of paramount importance. In this, he hoped the Romans would understand the reception of a letter rather than the welcoming of the person into their presence.

Life application: As followers of Christ, there are things we should be doing and there are things we wish to be doing. These will at times conflict with each other. Using Paul’s example in the book of Romans, we will find what is right and pleasing to the Lord. Paul strongly desired to visit those in Rome, but he knew that the preaching of the gospel was of supreme importance and so he placed his desires on the back burner and proceeded to continue walking on the path laid before him, proclaiming the gospel to those who needed to hear it.

Lord Jesus, there are things I should be doing and there are things I desire to do – and they don’t always sync. In such cases, please give me the strength to put my personal desires aside and to follow Your word and Your chosen direction for my life. In this, I know that You will be pleased and I will be found an obedient servant of Yours. Thank You, O Lord. Amen.

Friday, 24 January 2014

…but as it is written:
“To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.” Romans 15:21

Once again, and for the last time in his epistle, Paul turns to Scripture to confirm the validity of his apostolic ministry to the Gentiles. He begins with “but as it is written.”

The “but’ is given as a contrast to what he just said, “And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation…” Instead of building where others had already laid a foundation, he was determined to go to where the word had not yet been preached. As Israel had already received the news about Jesus, this then implies that the word was to go beyond Israel – to the Gentiles. With this thought in mind, he says, “as it is written.”

Paul returns to the Scriptures to substantiate the going forth of the gospel beyond Israel and therefore there must be a herald of this message; an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul saw himself as this instrument of God. The final portion of Scripture that he will cite in Romans comes from his often-used prophet, Isaiah. Here he cites the intent of Isaiah 52:15 which reads in its entirety –

“So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.”

This is from the “Suffering Servant” passage of Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 which speaks of the work of Jesus as the Messiah on His first advent. From the un-cited portion of the verse, we see that Isaiah was speaking of Christ sprinkling “many nations.” This implies that His blood would be shed not only for Israel, but all of the Gentile people as well. Next Isaiah said that “Kings shall shut their mouths at Him.” Again, “kings” is in the plural. This indicates that the rulers of many nations will be silent before Him, acknowledging His Lordship.

Paul’s citation then begins at this point. He amends the verse for the context of his epistle, but he doesn’t substantially change the meaning. This message about the Christ whose blood would be shed for the Gentiles would be carried out to them. They would go from a state of unknowing to that of perceiving what God had done. They would go from having not heard, to clarity of understanding. And the only way this could come about was if someone actually went and told them. Paul understood this and is conveying the message that he is that messenger.

If he went where someone had already laid the foundation, then they would already have had the word announced; they would already see; they would have heard; and they would have understood. But Paul’s ministry was one of carrying the word to ears that had never heard. Imagine his thoughts as he wrote to the Romans, “God was speaking about me through the words of Isaiah…” It must have been a humbling notion. About 700 years before his birth, God implied that Paul would be God’s herald of the good news of Jesus Christ to the nations!

Life application: In a way, when we participate in mission work to have the gospel message carried to those who have never heard it, we are actually participating in the fulfilling of prophecy. Without boasting or thinking too highly of the part we play, we can tenderly look at the words of Isaiah and say to ourselves, “God knew that I would be a part of the fulfillment of this great plan of His.” It is a humbling thought.

Lord God, how great You are. You spoke through the prophets of things that would come, often thousands of years later. And then, sure enough, one by one, they have come to pass. You told of the coming Messiah, and He came. You told of Israel’s exile and then return, and it has happened. You have spoken that Jesus will return again… and so I know it will happen too. May it be soon! Amen.