Paul's Service to the Gentiles and Missionary Ambition
Romans 15:14-22
Rom.15.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Πεπεισμαι: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,1,sg
- δε: CONJ
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- περι: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- αυτοι: PRON,nom,pl,3
- μεστοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- αγαθωσυνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- πεπληρωμενοι: PART,perf,pass,nom,pl,m
- πασης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- γνωσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- δυναμενοι: PART,pres,mid,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αλληλους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- νουθετειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Colossians 3:16 (verbal): Uses the close verbal formula 'διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἀλλήλους' ('teaching and admonishing one another'), directly paralleling Paul's claim that the community is 'able to admonish one another' (νουθετεῖν).
- Galatians 6:1 (thematic): Paul appeals to the spiritually mature to restore those caught in sin (καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον), paralleling the responsibility and capacity of believers to admonish and correct one another.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (thematic): Commands believers to encourage, comfort, and admonish one another (e.g., warn the idle, encourage the fainthearted), reflecting the mutual pastoral role Paul attributes to the community in Romans 15:14.
- Ephesians 4:15-16 (structural): Describes the church's growth as the body speaking the truth in love and each part contributing to the building up of the whole—a corporate picture that parallels being 'filled with goodness and knowledge' and empowered to admonish one another.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 (structural): In gathered worship each person may bring a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation 'for building up' (οἰκοδομή), aligning with the mutual teaching/admonishing function Paul attributes to the community.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I myself am persuaded concerning you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
- I myself am persuaded about you, brothers, that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.
Rom.15.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τολμηροτερον: ADV,comp
- δε: CONJ
- εγραψα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- απο: PREP
- μερους: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ως: ADV
- επαναμιμνησκων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- δια: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- χαριν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- δοθεισαν: VERB,aor,pass,part,acc,sg,f
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- υπο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Rom.15.14-16 (structural): Immediate context: Paul explains he has written and reminds them because of the grace given him and describes his ministry to the Gentiles—develops the same thought as v.15.
- 1 Cor.4.17 (verbal): Paul sends Timothy 'to remind you of my ways in Christ,' echoing Rom 15:15's language of writing to remind the recipients.
- 2 Cor.10.10 (verbal): Paul comments on the boldness of his letters versus his person—parallels Rom 15:15's claim to have written 'very boldly' to the churches.
- Eph.3.7 (verbal): Paul describes his ministry as prescribed 'according to the gift of God's grace given to me,' matching Rom 15:15's attribution of his boldness/writing to grace given by God.
- 1 Cor.15.10 (thematic): Paul attributes his ministry and its effectiveness to 'the grace of God' given to him—the same theological motive cited in Rom 15:15 for his authoritative instruction.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I have written to you rather boldly on some points— as a reminder— because of the grace given me by God
- But I have written to you rather boldly on some points, as a reminder, because of the grace given me by God,
Rom.15.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- λειτουργον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εθνη: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- ιερουργουντα: PART,pres,act,acc,sg,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ευαγγελιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- γενηται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- προσφορα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- εθνων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ευπροσδεκτος: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- ηγιασμενη: PART,perf,pass,nom,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αγιω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Eph.3.7-8 (verbal): Paul describes himself as a servant/minister given grace to preach the gospel to the Gentiles—parallels the self‑description here as 'minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles' and the mission of proclaiming God’s message.
- 1 Pet.2.5 (thematic): Speaks of believers as 'a spiritual house' and a 'holy priesthood' offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God—echoes the priestly/offering imagery of Gentile believers being an acceptable offering, sanctified (Rom 15:16).
- Rom.12.1 (thematic): Paul urges believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God—similar language of offering that is acceptable and sanctified by God’s Spirit in Rom 15:16.
- Phil.2.17 (thematic): Paul uses priestly/sacrificial language about his ministry ('poured out as a drink offering')—resonates with Rom 15:16’s presentation of Gentiles as an offering and the priestly character of his ministry.
Alternative generated candidates
- to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priestly duty, so that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God so that the offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable—sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Rom.15.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εχω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καυχησιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον·: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Galatians 6:14 (thematic): Paul insists his only boast is in what Christ has done (the cross), echoing the theme of boasting rooted in Christ rather than self.
- Philippians 3:3 (verbal): Paul and his companions are described as those who 'boast in Christ Jesus,' using the same language of glorying in Christ as the basis of identity and confidence.
- 2 Corinthians 10:17 (verbal): 'But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord'—a parallel instruction about proper objects of boasting that aligns with Paul’s claim to boast in Christ to God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:31 (verbal): Paul cites the maxim 'Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord,' reflecting the same conviction that boasting belongs to the Lord and that Christians should glory in him.
- Jeremiah 9:24 (quotation): The OT source behind Paul’s refrain ('let him who boasts, boast in the Lord')—Jeremiah condemns human boasting and redirects glory to knowing God, which Paul applies to boasting in Christ.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore, in Christ Jesus I have reason to boast in what pertains to God.
- In this way I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God.
Rom.15.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- γαρ: PART
- τολμησω: VERB,fut,act,1,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- λαλειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ου: PART,neg
- κατειργασατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- Χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δι᾽εμου: PREP+PRON,gen,1,sg
- εις: PREP
- υπακοην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εθνων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εργω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Acts 9:15 (allusion): God’s commissioning of Paul as an instrument to carry Christ’s name before the Gentiles parallels Paul’s claim that Christ worked through him to bring Gentiles to obedience.
- Acts 26:17-18 (thematic): Paul’s commission to open the Gentiles’ eyes and turn them to God echoes the missionary aim in Romans 15:18 of making Gentiles obedient through Christ’s work in him.
- Galatians 1:16 (verbal): Paul’s statement that God revealed his Son in him 'that I might preach him among the Gentiles' closely parallels the idea that Christ worked through Paul for Gentile obedience.
- Ephesians 3:8 (verbal): Paul’s description of the grace given to him to preach to the Gentiles the riches of Christ parallels the missionary role attributed to Christ’s work through Paul in Romans 15:18.
- 2 Corinthians 10:16 (thematic): The aim 'to preach the gospel in regions beyond' resonates with Romans 15:18’s emphasis on Christ accomplishing Gentile obedience through Paul’s ministry.
Alternative generated candidates
- For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
- For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to make the Gentiles obedient—by word and deed,
Rom.15.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- δυναμει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- σημειων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- τερατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- δυναμει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πνευματος·ωστε: NOUN,gen,sg,n + CONJ
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- απο: PREP
- Ιερουσαλημ: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- κυκλω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μεχρι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ιλλυρικου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- πεπληρωκεναι: VERB,perf,act,inf
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ευαγγελιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 (verbal): Uses the same language of 'signs, wonders, and mighty works' as marks of apostolic authentication—parallels Paul's claim that his ministry operated by such powers.
- Acts 19:11–12 (verbal): Describes extraordinary miracles performed through Paul ('God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul'), echoing Romans' emphasis on signs and wonders accompanying his preaching.
- Acts 13:9–12 (verbal): Reports Paul 'filled with the Holy Spirit' acting to produce a sign (the blinding of Elymas), paralleling Romans' phrasing 'in power of the Spirit' and the demonstration of divine authority.
- Acts 14:3 (verbal): Lays out that God bore witness to the gospel by granting 'signs and wonders' to be done by Paul and Barnabas—closely parallels Romans' claim that the gospel was proclaimed with miraculous confirmation.
- Colossians 1:23 (thematic): Speaks of the gospel being proclaimed 'to every creature under heaven,' thematically paralleling Romans' claim to have fulfilled preaching the gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum (scope and completion of mission).
Alternative generated candidates
- by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit—so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
- by signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
Rom.15.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτως: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- φιλοτιμουμενον: PART,pres,mid,acc,sg,m
- ευαγγελιζεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- ουχ: PART,neg
- οπου: ADV,rel
- ωνομασθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- Χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- επ᾽αλλοτριον: PREP
- θεμελιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- οικοδομω: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,sg
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 3:6-11 (structural): Paul’s imagery of planting/building and his claim that no one can lay a different foundation than Christ parallels Rom 15:20’s concern about not building on another’s foundation.
- 2 Corinthians 10:15-16 (verbal): Expresses the same missionary strategy — enlarging Paul’s work by going where Christ has not been named and avoiding boasting about work done in another’s field.
- Galatians 2:7-9 (thematic): Describes the apostolic division of labor (Paul to the Gentiles) and supports the theme of Paul’s targeted missionary aim to areas not yet reached with the gospel.
- Acts 13:46 (thematic): Paul and Barnabas’ turn to the Gentiles after Jewish rejection reflects the practical outworking of preaching where the gospel had not been named, echoing Rom 15:20’s mission rationale.
Alternative generated candidates
- It has been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I might not build on another man's foundation;
- And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, so that I might not build on another’s foundation;
Rom.15.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- καθως: CONJ
- γεγραπται·Οις: VERB,perf,pass,ind,3,sg+PRON,dat,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ανηγγελη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- περι: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- οψονται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ακηκοασιν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,pl
- συνησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 52:15 (quotation): Paul is directly quoting the LXX/MT tradition here; Isa 52:15 speaks of nations seeing what they were not told and hearing what they had not heard, used to justify outreach to unreached peoples.
- Isaiah 53:1 (allusion): Closely related prophetic tradition ('Who has believed our report?') about proclamation and unbelief; Paul elsewhere (Rom 10:16) cites Isa 53:1 in connection with proclamation and reception of the gospel.
- Isaiah 49:6 (thematic): Prophetic commission to bring light and salvation to the nations ('I will make you a light for the Gentiles'), thematically supporting Paul's mission to those who had not heard.
- Acts 28:28 (verbal): Paul's declaration in Rome that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles and that they will listen echoes Rom 15:21's focus on proclamation to those who had not heard/been told.
Alternative generated candidates
- but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard shall understand.”
- but as it is written, “Those to whom no news of him came shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand.”
Rom.15.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Διο: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- ενεκοπτομην: VERB,impf,mid,ind,1,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- πολλα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ελθειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- προς: PREP
- υμας·: PRON,acc,pl,2
Parallels
- Romans 1:13 (verbal): Paul similarly states he had often planned to visit the Roman believers but was prevented—language and motive (to impart spiritual benefit) closely parallel Rom 15:22.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (verbal): Paul reports repeated attempts to come thwarted—here explicitly ‘Satan hindered us’—echoing the theme of repeated prevention of visits.
- Acts 16:6-7 (thematic): Accounts of Paul’s missionary journeys showing travel restrictions (forbidden by the Spirit) illustrate the external, providential or circumstantial hindrances that kept him from visiting certain churches.
- 2 Corinthians 1:15-17 (thematic): Paul explains plans to visit and why he did not follow through (changing or postponing journeys), reflecting the same pattern of intended visits altered or prevented as in Rom 15:22.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this reason I have often been hindered from coming to you.
- For this reason I have often been hindered from coming to you.
I myself am persuaded, brothers, that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to instruct one another. But I have written to you more boldly on some points — as a reminder — because of the grace given me by God,
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my service to God.
For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me for the obedience of the Gentiles — by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. And thus I make it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, so that I might not build on another’s foundation;
but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”
For this reason I have often been hindered from coming to you.