Devotional Questions:
Romans 15:1-3
“The way Christ acted, the Christ who although he was strong yet for our sake became weak, is the way that the strong must also act toward those whose own faith is weak. The self-limitation of Christ for the sake of others thus shows the way the strong are to exercise the freedom they have in the faith: Its exercise is to be limited for the good of others, in this case, the weak.”[1]
- Reflect on the fact that Christ “did not please himself.” To what extent is “pleasing myself” the criterion by which I choose between options, and the motivating goal of my life?
- What can I do to “please [my] neighbor for his good to build him up?”
Romans 15:4-11
- What is the final goal that the Roman Christians can achieve if they (Gentile and Jew; the “strong” and the “weak”) can learn to restrain their rights, and “accept one another?”
- In what way does a deep desire to, “with one heart and mouth[,] … glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (v.6) push out the attitude of wanting to assert the rightness of my opinions, or engage in disputes over nonessential matters?
- Is there some issue I am holding onto which has prevented me from joining with others “with one heart and mouth” to glorify God together in a unified voice?
Romans 15:14-21
- What was Apostle Paul’s attitude towards his “priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God?”
- What was Apostle Paul’s ambition?
- “From Jerusalem to Illyricum” is a vast territory covering Palestine all the way to Greece. Reflect on the fact that in his lifetime Apostle Paul, either by direct personal evangelism, or through those who were converted through him, had caused “[t]he whole of that country [to be] more or less leavened with the savour of the gospel, churches being planted in the most considerable towns” […] [2] so that there was “no more place for [him] to work.” Further, Apostle Paul planned on going to Spain, the westernmost edge of the then known world. Think about the impact of one person wholly obedient to God’s call. In what ways can I share in Apostle Paul’s spirit?
Additional Questions:
Romans 15:22-33
- What hindered Apostle Paul from seeing the Romans although he had been “longing for many years to see” them? What does this teach me regarding the tension that a church needs to maintain between fellowship and mission?
Romans 15:30
- Apostle Paul says that the Romans, who were hundreds of miles away, can join him by praying for him. What are some ways and who are some people whose “struggles” for the Lord I can join through prayer?
[1] Achtemeier, Paul J., Romans (John Knox Press, 1985) at p.223-4
[2] Achtemeier, Paul J., Romans (John Knox Press, 1985) at p.223-4Matthew Henry’s Commentary,Preface to the Sixth Volume: Acts-Revelation/Romans, Book Version: 5.1.51
Commentary:
v.2 “If we merely set out to please our neighbors, we will be people-pleasers. Paul was opposed to that (see Gal 1:10). But we are to set aside willfulness and self-pleasing action for the sake of building others up for good. Our Christian convictions must not be a disguise for coldhearted treatment of our brothers and sisters.”[1]
v.12 “The Root of Jesse refers to Christ as the heir from the family line of Jesse, David’s father (1 Sam 16:1).”[2]
v.19 “Paul has fulfilled his mandate to preach the gospel among the Gentiles from Jerusalem to Illyricum (roughly comprising what is now Albania and also what was formerly Yugoslavia). How can Paul say that his work has been complete when many still have not heard the gospel in this area? It can be seen from the following verses that churches have been planted in key centers, and from there Paul’s coworkers will bring the gospel to outlying areas (e.g., Epaphras in Colossae, Col 1:7).”[3]
vv.20-22 “Paul wanted to visit the church at Rome, but he delayed his visit because he had heard many good reports about the believers there and he knew they were doing well on their own. It was more important for him to preach in areas that had not yet heard the Good News.”[4]
vv.23-24 “No visit of Paul to Spain is recorded in the NT, but it is possible that he went there after his release from prison in Rome (after Acts 28:30–31). There is some historical evidence after the NT suggesting that Paul did preach in Spain, but it falls short of clear proof.”[5]
[1] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2054.
[2] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2054.
[3] English Standard Version Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008) 2183.
[4] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (co-published by Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) 2055.
[5] English Standard Version Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008) 2183.