Romanos 15

BLIVRE · Chapter 15/16

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

2Portanto, cada um de nós agrade ao próximo no que é bom para a edificação.

3Pois também Cristo não agradou a si mesmo; mas, como está escrito: “Os insultos dos que te insultavam caíram sobre mim”.

4Pois todas as coisas que foram escritas com antecedência foram escritas para o nosso ensino; para que, pela paciência e consolação das Escrituras, tenhamos esperança.

5O Deus da paciência e da consolação vos dê a mesma mentalidade uns para com os outros, segundo Cristo Jesus,

6a fim de que, em comum acordo, como uma só boca, glorifiqueis ao Deus e Pai de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo.

7Portanto, recebei uns aos outros, assim como também Cristo nos recebeu para a glória de Deus.

8E digo que Jesus Cristo se tornou servidor da circuncisão por causa da verdade de Deus, para confirmar as promessas [feitas] aos patriarcas;

9e para que os gentios glorifiquem a Deus por causa de [sua] misericórdia, como está escrito: “Por isso entre os gentios te confessarei, e ao teu nome cantarei.”

10E outra vez diz: “Alegrai-vos, gentios, com o povo dele.”

11E outra vez: “Louvai ao Senhor todas as nações, e celebrai-o todos os povos.”

12E outra vez Isaías diz: “Haverá a raiz de Jessé, e aquele que se levantará para governar as nações; nele os gentios esperarão.”

13O Deus da esperança vos encha de toda alegria e paz na fé, para que abundeis em esperança no poder do Espírito Santo.

14Porém, meus irmãos, convencido estou acerca de vós de que também estais cheios de bondade, plenos de todo conhecimento, e capazes de também aconselhardes uns aos outros.

15Mas, irmãos, em parte vos escrevi com mais ousadia, como que para vos relembrar, por causa da graça que me foi dada por Deus,

16a fim de que eu seja um servidor de Jesus Cristo entre os gentios, ministrando o evangelho de Deus, para que a oferta dos gentios seja agradável, santificada pelo Espírito Santo.

17Assim eu me orgulho em Jesus Cristo das coisas relacionadas a Deus,

18Pois eu não ousaria falar coisa alguma, a não ser o que Cristo fez por meio de mim, para tornar os gentios obedientes, por meio da palavra e da obra,

19com poder de sinais e milagres, no poder do Espíritode Deus; de maneira que desde Jerusalém e redondezas até Ilírico, cumpri a pregação do Evangelho de Cristo.

20E assim quis muito anunciar o Evangelho onde Cristo não houvesse sido pregado, para que eu não construísse sobre fundamento alheio;

21ao contrário, como está escrito: “Aqueles a quem dele não foi anunciado [o] verão; e os que não ouviram entenderão.”

22Por isso também muitas vezes tenho sido impedido de ir até vós.

23Mas agora, como nessas regiões não há mais lugar em que eu precise trabalhar, e já por muitos anos tive grande desejo de ir até vós,

24quando eu for para a Espanha pois espero vos ver no caminho, e receber ajuda de vossa parte para a viagem, depois de primeiramente ficar um tempo satisfazendo o desejo de estar convosco.

25Mas por ora, vou a Jerusalém, a fim de auxiliar os santos.

26Pois, aos da Macedônia e Acaia pareceu bem fazer uma contribuição para os pobres dentre os santos que estão em Jerusalém.

27[Isso] lhes pareceu bem, como quem está em dívida para com eles; porque, se os gentios foram participantes dos seus [bens] espirituais, devem também ajudá-los com os materiais.

28Assim que eu concluir isso, e garantir [a entrega] desse fruto a eles, partirei para a Espanha passando para vos visitar.

29E sei que, quando chegar até vós, virei com a plenitude da bênção do Evangelho de Cristo.

30Rogo-vos, porém, irmãos, pelo nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, e pelo amor do Espírito, que luteis comigo em orações a Deus por mim,

31para que eu esteja livre dos rebeldes na Judeia, e que este meu serviço em Jerusalém seja bem aceito pelos santos,

32a fim de que eu possa chegar até vós com alegria, pela vontade de Deus, e que eu possa descansar convosco.

33E o Deus da paz esteja com todos vós. Amém!

📖 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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