Romanos 15

ARC · Chapter 15/16

1Mas nós, que somos fortes, devemos supportar as fraquezas dos fracos, e não agradar a nós mesmos.

2Portanto cada um de nós agrade ao seu proximo no que é bom para edificação.

3Porque tambem Christo não agradou a si mesmo, mas, como está escripto: Sobre mim cairam as injurias dos que te injuriavam.

4Porque todas as coisas que d'antes foram escriptas, para nosso ensino foram escriptas, para que pela paciencia e consolação das Escripturas tenhamos esperança.

5Ora o Deus de paciencia e consolação vos conceda que entre vós sintaes uma mesma coisa, segundo Jesus Christo.

6Para que concordes, a uma bocca, glorifiqueis ao Deus e Pae de Nosso Senhor Jesus Christo.

7Portanto recebei uns aos outros, como tambem Christo nos recebeu para gloria de Deus.

8Digo pois que Jesus Christo foi ministro da circumcisão, por causa da verdade de Deus, para confirmar as promessas feitas aos paes;

9E para que os gentios glorifiquem a Deus pela sua misericordia, como está escripto: Portanto eu te confessarei entre os gentios, e cantarei ao teu nome.

10E outra vez diz: Alegrae-vos, gentios, com o seu povo.

11E outra vez: Louvae ao Senhor, todos os gentios, e celebrae-o, todos os povos.

12E outra vez diz Isaias: Uma raiz de Jessé haverá, e n'aquelle que se levantar para reger os gentios esperarão os gentios.

13Ora o Deus de esperança vos encha de todo o gozo e paz na fé, para que abundeis em esperança pela virtude do Espirito Sancto.

14Porém, meus irmãos, certo estou, a respeito de vós, que tambem vós mesmos estaes cheios de bondade, cheios de todo o conhecimento, e poderosos para tambem vos admoestardes uns aos outros.

15Mas, irmãos, em parte vos escrevi mais ousadamente, como trazendo-vos outra vez isto á memoria, pela graça que por Deus me foi dada;

16Para que seja ministro de Jesus Christo entre os gentios, administrando o evangelho de Deus, para que seja agradavel a offerta dos gentios, sanctificada pelo Espirito Sancto.

17De sorte que tenho gloria em Jesus Christo nas coisas que pertencem a Deus.

18Porque não ousaria dizer coisa alguma, que Christo por mim não tenha feito, para obediencia dos gentios, por palavra e por obras;

19Pelo poder dos signaes e prodigios, pela virtude do Espirito de Deus: de maneira que desde Jerusalem, e pelos arredores, até ao Illyrico, tenho prégado o evangelho de Jesus Christo.

20E assim afectuosamente me esforcei em annunciar o evangelho, não onde Christo houvera sido nomeado, para não edificar sobre fundamento alheio,

21Antes, como está escripto: Aquelles a quem não foi annunciado o verão, e os que não ouviram o entenderão.

22Pelo que tambem muitas vezes tenho sido impedido de ir ter comvosco.

23Mas agora, que não tenho mais demora n'estas partes, e tendo já ha muitos annos grande desejo de ir ter comvosco.

24Quando partir para Hespanha irei ter comvosco; pois espero que de passagem vos verei e para lá serei acompanhado de vós, depois de ter gozado em parte da vossa presença.

25Mas agora vou a Jerusalem para ministrar aos sanctos.

26Porque pareceu bem á Macedonia e á Achaia fazerem uma collecta para os pobres d'entre os sanctos que estão em Jerusalem.

27Porque lhes pareceu bem, e são-lhes devedores. Porque, se os gentios foram participantes dos seus bens espirituaes, devem tambem ministrar-lhes os temporaes.

28Assim que, concluido isto, e havendo-lhes consignado este fructo, de lá, passando por vós, irei a Hespanha.

29E bem sei que, chegando a vós, chegarei com a plenitude da benção do evangelho de Christo.

30E rogo-vos, irmãos, por nosso Senhor Jesus Christo e pelo amor do Espirito, que combataes comigo em orações por mim a Deus;

31Para que seja livre dos rebeldes que estão na Judéa, e que esta minha administração, que em Jerusalem faço, seja acceite aos sanctos;

32Para que, pela vontade de Deus, chegue a vós com alegria, e possa recreiar-me comvosco.

33E o Deus de paz seja com todos vós. Amen.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Paul asks those who are strong in faith to bear with the weaknesses of those who are weaker, following the example of Christ, who did not please himself. He then speaks of his travel plans, including a visit to Rome on his way to Spain, and asks for prayer for his safety in Jerusalem.

Explanation

Continuing the theme of the previous chapter, Paul points to Christ as the supreme model of self-denial for the sake of others. His citation of several Old Testament texts about Gentiles praising God reinforces, once again, that the inclusion of non-Jews had always been part of God's plan, not a last-minute change of direction. The final, more personal section reveals Paul's ambitious missionary plans (reaching all the way to Spain, then the western edge of the known world) and his very real vulnerability: he asks for prayer because he fears retaliation from unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem — a reminder that even great servants of God feel fear and need support.

Fun facts

  • The 'collection for the poor' that Paul mentions, gathered by the churches of Macedonia and Achaia for the Christians in Jerusalem, is also discussed in detail in 2 Corinthians 8-9, showing how Paul organized relief efforts among churches across different regions of the empire.
  • Paul's intention to travel to Spain is never confirmed with certainty in Scripture, but early Christian traditions (including the first-century Letter of Clement of Rome) suggest he may have made that journey after the events recorded in Acts.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Romanos 15:1He directly picks up chapter 14's theme of food and personal convictions: whoever considers himself “strong” on these matters has the responsibility to bear with those who still have scruples, instead of only pleasing himself.
  2. Romanos 15:2He turns the previous principle into a positive goal: the aim is not just to tolerate the other, but to actively pursue what builds up and strengthens one's neighbor.
  3. Romanos 15:3He uses Christ as the ultimate example of not living to please himself, citing Psalm 69 to show that He even bore on Himself the hostility that was aimed at God.
  4. Romanos 15:4He explains why Paul quotes the Old Testament so often throughout the letter: those ancient texts were recorded to instruct present-day readers, serving as a source of patience, comfort, and hope.
  5. Romanos 15:5This turns into a prayer: that the same God who gives patience and comfort (mentioned in the previous verse) would help the readers think with one mind, following Christ's example.
  6. Romanos 15:6The goal of this unity is not just internal harmony, it is being able to praise God “with one mouth,” together, without the divisions that had been discussed in the previous chapters.
  7. Romanos 15:7He sums up the argument about mutual acceptance with a direct comparison: receive one another the way Christ received each of them, excluding no one over differences of conviction.
  8. Romanos 15:8“Circumcision” here is a way of referring to the Jewish people, identified by that rite, and “minister” means someone in service of. Paul is saying that Jesus's mission included, first of all, fulfilling ancient promises made to Israel's ancestors.
  9. Romanos 15:9He cites Psalm 18 to show that the inclusion of the Gentiles in the worship of God was already foreseen in the Jewish scriptures, not a new idea of Paul's.
  10. Romanos 15:10A second quotation, from Deuteronomy, directly calling the Gentiles to rejoice together with the people of Israel, reinforcing the same idea of inclusion.
  11. Romanos 15:11A third quotation, from Psalm 117, the shortest psalm in the book, calling “all ye Gentiles” and “all ye people” to praise the Lord.
  12. Romanos 15:12A fourth quotation, from Isaiah, about a “root of Jesse” (David's father), a descendant who would rise to reign and be a hope also for the Gentiles, not just for Israel.
  13. Romanos 15:13He closes this sequence of quotations with another prayer, asking that the “God of hope” fill the readers with joy and peace through faith, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
  14. Romanos 15:14Paul softens his tone after so many direct instructions: he acknowledges that the Romans themselves already have enough maturity and knowledge to counsel one another, without needing him to teach everything from scratch.
  15. Romanos 15:15He explains why, even while acknowledging that maturity, he felt free to write so boldly: it is part of the grace and mission God gave him, a reminder, not a correction from someone who doubts them.
  16. Romanos 15:16Paul uses temple-priest vocabulary to describe his own work, as if he were offering the converted non-Jews as a kind of offering to God. It is an image, not an account of a literal rite.
  17. Romanos 15:17After mentioning his special mission, Paul clarifies the kind of pride he feels: it is not personal vanity, it is gratitude for what God did through him.
  18. Romanos 15:18He reinforces that humility: he only speaks of what Christ truly accomplished through him, both in word and deed, to bring the Gentiles to the obedience of faith.
  19. Romanos 15:19Illyricum was a region that corresponds roughly today to the Balkans, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Paul is describing the real geographic reach of the journeys he had already made preaching, from one end of the known territory to the other.
  20. Romanos 15:20He explains his specific missionary strategy: preferring to preach the gospel where it had not yet been preached, so as not to repeat work someone else had already begun.
  21. Romanos 15:21He cites Isaiah to justify this strategy: his calling is precisely to reach those who had never heard of Christ before.
  22. Romanos 15:22This same dedication to still-unreached places is the reason, according to Paul, why it took him so long to visit the Romans, who already had an established church.
  23. Romanos 15:23Now that this kind of pioneering work is further along in the regions where he was, Paul reveals that his long-standing desire to visit Rome can finally come true.
  24. Romanos 15:24Spain was, at the time, the known western edge of the Roman Empire. Paul planned to use Rome as a support base to reach it, which shows the scale of his missionary ambition.
  25. Romanos 15:25Before heading to Rome, however, he has a more urgent commitment: taking financial help to the Christian community in Jerusalem.
  26. Romanos 15:26This collection was a fund organized by Paul among the Greek churches, Macedonia and Achaia, to help poor Christians in Jerusalem. It was a practical gesture of unity between Jewish and non-Jewish communities that, historically, did not always get along.
  27. Romanos 15:27He explains the logic of this financial help: Gentile Christians received spiritual blessings that originally came from Jerusalem, so he considers it fair for them to give back with material help.
  28. Romanos 15:28After delivering this help to Jerusalem, he reveals the next stop of his journey: passing through Rome on the way to Spain, territory even further beyond the gospel's reach.
  29. Romanos 15:29He expresses confidence that, when he finally arrives in Rome, he will bring with him the full blessing of the gospel of Christ.
  30. Romanos 15:30He asks the readers for spiritual support, described with the image of striving together in prayer, for the challenge he is about to face in Jerusalem.
  31. Romanos 15:31He details two specific prayer requests: protection from hostile opponents in Judea, and that the offering he is bringing be well received by the Christians of Jerusalem.
  32. Romanos 15:32The ultimate goal of these requests is practical: to arrive in Rome with joy, free of the weight of unresolved problems, and to be able to rest together with the readers.
  33. Romanos 15:33He closes this block of the letter with a brief blessing, asking that the “God of peace” be with all the readers.

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