In Romans 14, Paul addresses disagreements among believers over food, days, and personal convictions, emphasizing that each person answers to God and should not judge or despise another based upon personal convictions. He urges those who are “strong” in understanding their freedom to avoid causing others to stumble, even limiting themselves out of love. Flowing directly from this, Romans 15 deepens the call: the strong are not just to avoid harm, but to actively bear the weaknesses of others and build them up, following Messiah’s example of selfless love, shifting the focus from merely not offending a brother to intentionally strengthening him in his walk.
1 Owing now we who [are] strong the doubts of the weak to bear and not ourselves to please
2 Each of us the neighbor let us please (by serving) unto the good towards edification
The Greek behind “edification” oikodomē is building a literal house; figuratively this means
- building someone up spiritually
- strengthening their faith
- making their walk with God more stable
Edification is not simply making people “feel good”, its helping to construct spiritual strength in another person’s life.
3 Even indeed Messiah not Himself served, but as it has been written “The reproaches of those reproaching You have fallen on Me.”
Paul is quoting from Psalm 69, when David cries out to YHVH because he us being hated “without cause”
That zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
– Psalm 69:9
So he has said now:
- v1: Don’t live to please yourself
- v2: Live to build others up- “edify” them
- v3: Messiah is the model: He didn’t please Himself either
The deeper connection here is that often, edification requires sacrifice
You cannot truly “build someone up” if you are only protecting your own comfort; you must
- have patience with those weaker in understanding
- limit your freedom at times
- be able to absorb misunderstanding or criticism without resentment
Messiah embodies this fully: He endured shame, rejection, misunderstanding and gave Himself as an offering- not because it benefited Him, but because it served God and His will.
4 Whatever indeed was written in the past all unto our instruction was written, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures hope we might have.
5 The God of endurance and of exhortation, may He give you the same. To be seeking with one another by way of Yeshua Messiah
6 so that with one mind, with one mouth, you may glorify the God and Father of our Adonay, Yeshua Messiah.
One- mind, homothumadon, from homo (same) and thymos (passion, desire, inner feeling). It describes the community as having
- shared direction of heart
- aligned desire and purpose
- unified emotional and spiritual focus
Not necessarily the same convictions (as spoken about in Romans 14), but they are unified in heart and intent to obey God together, as they follow in the teachings and example of Messiah.
7 On this account, receive one another as also Messiah received you, unto the glory of God
8 I say indeed Messiah a servant to have become of (those of) [the] circumcision for the sake of [the] truth of God, in order to ratify the promises given to the fathers.
9 and of the Nations for mercy, towards glorifying God, as it has been written,
“Upon thus I give thanks to You among the goyim (nations) YHVH and to Your name sing praises.”
– Psalm 18:49
10 And further it says, “Rejoice nations [with] His people…”
11 And further,
“Praise YHVH all the nations, sooth Him all you ummah (peoples, tribes)”
– Psalm 117:1
12 And further, Isaiah says, “There shall be the root of Jesse; and the One arising to rule over the Nations, in Him shall the Nations have hope.”
Paul is dealing with a major misunderstanding here:
- Messiah is not only for Yisrael
- He fulfills the promises that extend blessing to the nations
- Therefore unity between Jewish and “Gentile” believers is not optional- it is prophetic fulfillment
“And there shall be in that day a root of Yishay (Jesse), who shall stand as a banner to the people [of] Elohim. The goyim shall seek Him and shall be His resting place glorious.”
– Isaiah 11:10
When Paul paraphrases the Hebrew text to say “In Him the Nations will have hope” (elpizo- trust) it means
- the nations will rely on Him
- they will find rest and security in Him
- they will be drawn into His kingdom rule
So Meessiah becomes the focal point where the nations come to find peace under YHVH’s rule.
13 And the God of hope may fill you with joy and shalom in trusting for to abound you in hope in [the] powerful Spirit Holy
14 I am myself confident now my brothers concerning you, that also you yourselves full are of kindness, being filled with all wisdom, being able also one another to counsel.
15 More boldly however I have written you in part as reminding you through the grace having been given to me by God
16 unto being myself a minister of Yeshua Messiah to the Nations, ministering in sacred service of the good news of God, so that might become the offering of the Nations acceptable, having been sanctified in Spirit holy.
17 I have therefore the boasting in Yeshua Messiah in the things pertaining to God
18 Not indeed will i dare anything to speak of what not has achieved Messiah through me towards obedience of [the] Nations, by word and deed.
Paul is explaining he will not boast about anything he has done, only what Messiah has done through him “towards obedience of the Nations. by word and deed.”
That means the Nations are being brought into covenant obedience; not as ethnic Yisrael, but as people responding to the God of Yisrael through Messiah; thus fulfilling the prophecy of the Nations coming under the rule of the root of Jesse.
19 By [the] ability of signs and wonders, by ability of [the] Spirit of God, so that for me from Jerusalem and around unto Illyricum, to have full proclaimed the good news of Messiah.
20 Thus now being zealous to preach the good news not where had been named Messiah, so that not upon another’s foundation I might build.
21 Rather as it has been written, “They will see to whom not it was proclaimed concerning Him, and those that not have heard will understand.”
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is the final “Servant Song” prophesizing Messianic events:
So shall He sprinkle Nations many; at Him shall shut Kings their mouths. For what not had been told to them they shall see, and what not they heard they shall discern.
– Isaiah 52:15
The Hebrew word for “sprinkle” nazah can carry sacrificial or cleansing imagery; the Servant’s work has a purifying effect that reaches the Nations, so it is not just limited to physical Yisrael.
In the same pattern, Paul confirms
- God’s servant- Messiah- is exalted
- the message reaches beyond Yisrael to the Nations
- even those outside prior covenant knowledge can receive understanding
So Paul’s mission is to minister to the Nations who have not heard the good-news; bringing the message of Messiah where He has not yet been named, so that those who had not heard may see, understand, and come into obedience by faith.
22 Therefore also I have been detained often to come to you
23 Now however no longer a place having in the regions these, a great desire now having had to come to you for many years
24 When I may go to Spain I hope indeed going through to see you and by you to be accompanied there- if of you first in portion I should be filled.
25 Now however I am going to Jerusalem, ministering to the set-apart.
26 Were please indeed Macedonia and Achaia a contribution certain to make for the poor among the set-apart in Jerusalem.
27 They were pleased indeed, and debtors the are to them. If indeed the things spiritual of them have contributed to the Nations, they owe also in the material to serve them.
This is different than the modern “tithing” system–
“They were pleased to do it”- Giving here is voluntary, joyful & not forced, so this is not a mandated system or required percentage.
In Torah, the “Tithe” included:
- support for Levites (who ministered spiritually)
- provision for the poor
- communal responsibility
What Paul describes mirrors that pattern:
- those who serve spiritually are supported materially
- those in need are cared for by the community
He doesn’t frame it as a “give a specific percentage” or a stipulation for blessing-
But as a right response to shared covenant life: Giving should
- Flow from gratitude and love
- Reflect unity between Yisrael and the Nations
- Support real established needs
28 This therefore having finished and having sealed to them the fruit this, I will set off through you into Spain
29 I know now that coming to you in fullness of the blessing of Messiah I will come.
30 I exhort you now brothers, by the Adonay of us Yeshua Messiah, and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in the prayers concerning me to God
31 So that I may be delivered from those refusing to be persuaded in Judea, and my service which [is] in Jerusalem acceptable to the set-apart may be.
32 So that in joy having come to you, by [the] will of God I may be refreshed with you
33 and the God of shalom be with all of you, amen.
Paul explains that his work preaching Messiah where He had not been named is what has delayed him from visiting Rome. Now that his foundational work in those regions is complete, he plans to travel to Spain and hopes to see them along the way, and be helped by them in his journey.
First, however, he is going to Jerusalem to deliver material support from the believers in Macedonia and Achaia to the poor there- an act he sees as fitting, since the nations have shared in their spiritual blessings.
He asks for prayer:
- that he would be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea
- that his service in Jerusalem would be accepted
- and that he may come to them with joy by the will of God
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