December 11: Romans 14-16

December 11, Romans 14-16

Romans Continued… All of today’s summaries will be by various commentators… My thoughts are at the end.

“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God…” 

“As Paul is approaching the end of this epistle he is aware that there is one important problem on which he has not yet touched, namely, that of the relation between the weak and the strong. The strong were those who were able to grasp the significance of Christ’s death for daily living; that is, for eating and drinking, etc., the weak were not.” Bakers Commentary

Romans 14:1-13 “The Lord, Not Man, Will Judge Both the Weak and the Strong.

Rome was a cosmopolitan city, and the believers there came from differing backgrounds and cultures. Some practices of the Jews and the Gentiles were mutually unacceptable. Here Paul provided guidelines for believers’ actions where there had been no specific revelation. He called these believers from different backgrounds to mutual acceptance (14:1–12) and brotherly obligation (14:13–23). The issues are different for modern believers, but the principles are still applicable.

The “weak” (14:1) is the believer whose faith is not strong enough to enable him to perceive the full liberty he has in Christ to partake of all things. “We” (15:1) refers to the strong believer whose faith is mature enough to appreciate and apply his full liberty in Christ, while at the same time not demanding the exercise of this right. In Romans 14:11 Paul appealed to Isaiah 45:23 to support the fact that God would judge all men (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10–15; 2 Cor. 5:10). In Romans 14:13 Paul appealed for believers to do nothing that would cause a brother to fall spiritually or become ensnared by a temptation to sin. The kingdom of God (14:17) is focused not on outward but on inward realities.

Note the link between 14:3 and 14:10 concerning looking down on or showing contempt toward “weaker” Christians (cf. also 15:1, “please ourselves”). The focus is on the end (service to God), not the means. The “weak” here were for the most part Jews who still held to strict obedience to the Mosaic Law without understanding how it was fulfilled in Christ. The stronger believers should always seek to live with and encourage those who are weak in faith.” Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary.

Romans 14:13–15:13  “The Responsible Support of the Strong for the Weak

One way of supporting the weaker Christian is to remove activities or objects that might cause him to sin (14:13–23). Paul moved to a consideration of stumbling as in Romans 12. Another way of support is by living out the Christlike perspective of pleasing others before self (15:1–13). Believers are exhorted to follow Christ’s example of self-denial in order to edify others (15:1–3). In 15:3 Paul appealed to Psalm 69:9 to support his exhortation. Throughout, the Old Testament is used to support Paul’s words. Having “complete harmony” (15:5; “the same mind,” nasb; “likeminded,” kjv) does not mean total uniformity. It means unity regarding the object of the believer’s love and glory (15:6).

The conclusion of this section on acceptance (15:7–13) clearly shows how Jew and Gentile Christians must be unified. Christ was a servant to both Jew and Gentile (15:8–9). Paul used a series of quotations from the Old Testament to demonstrate God’s plan to include Gentiles in his plan for world blessing (cf. Ps. 18:49; Deut. 32:43; Ps. 117:1; Isa. 11:10). Romans 15:13 serves as the conclusion for section 12:1–15:13.” Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary

Romans 15:14-16:27 “In close connection with the immediately preceding prayer-wish Paul assures the Romans that he recognizes their excellent spiritual qualities. Nevertheless, he has at times felt it necessary to express himself rather boldly for their own benefit, exercising his duty as a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, his aim being to bring the Gentiles to God (15:14–16).

In pleasing humility, ascribing all the glory to God alone, the apostle describes not what he has done but what Christ has accomplished through him in leading many Gentiles to God. He had been privileged to proclaim the gospel of Christ all the way from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum (Yugoslavia-Albania). By means of signs and wonders, performed through the power of the Holy Spirit, that work had been signally blessed. Paul had been a trail-blazer for the gospel. From the very beginning his purpose had been to proclaim the gospel in places and regions where Christ was not known (cf. Isa 52:15). That explains why he had not been able to make an earlier visit to Rome (verses 17–22).

Paul informs the Romans that since his work of establishing churches in the eastern part of the Roman Empire is finished and since for many years he had been yearning to visit his fellow-believers in Rome, he plans to do so on his way to Spain. However, he cannot come immediately, for he must first of all supervise the handing over of a generous bounty which the Gentile believers of Macedonia and Achaia had been collecting for the needy saints in Jerusalem. He adds, “They were pleased to do it and, indeed, they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. When I have completed this task … I will go to you on my way to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ” (verses 23–29).

In need of the intercession of the church, Paul asks the Romans to remember him in prayer:

a. that he might be rescued from the plots of the unbelieving Jews:

b. that his ministry to Jerusalem—a ministry of benevolence—might be acceptable to the Jews, so that

c. his coming to the Romans might be a matter of joy, and, together with them, he might be refreshed.

This prayer was certainly answered, though not, in every respect, in a manner Paul had been able to foresee.

As to a, there was indeed a plot against his life by the Jews, but it was discovered in time, so that traveling plans were changed (Acts 20:3);

As to b, Acts 21:17 reports that the brothers in Jerusalem did indeed extend a hearty welcome to Paul and his companions, and glorified God when they heard Paul’s report about the results of mission work among the Gentiles. Whether the Jerusalem saints also received the generous collection with grateful enthusiasm is not reported.

As to c, that petition too was granted, though not at the time and in the manner Paul had envisioned. But see Acts 28:11–15: Phil. 1:12.

The little paragraph ends with the prayer-wish of verse 33 (verses 30–33).

The apostle warmly commends to the church Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrea, a seaport of Corinth. In all probability she was the lady who delivered the letter to the Roman Church.

Next, he extends his own greetings to many persons—men and women, Gentile and Jewish believers—members of the Roman Church and known to Paul. The list of individuals to whom greetings are sent begins with Prisca and Aquila with whom Paul had made his home when this couple was still living in Corinth. They were tent-makers as was Paul. But of even greater importance was the fact that they were “fellow-workers in Christ Jesus.” So very loyal had they been to Paul that once they had even hazarded their lives for his sake. That may have happened during the riot of Ephesus described in Acts 19:23–41. But we cannot be certain about this.

Paul adds, “(Greet) also the church (that meets) at their house.” It seems that wherever Prisca and Aquila were living—whether in Corinth, Ephesus, or Rome—they were always inviting their fellow-believers to meet with them for the worship service.

Next, Paul sends greetings to Epenetus, “Asia’s firstfruits for Christ.” Among several others to whom greetings are extended is also Rufus. Paul adds, “and his mother and mine,” indicating that the mother of Rufus had been a mother to the apostle also; that is, had rendered motherly service to him. This Rufus reminds us of the Rufus mentioned in Mark 15:21, but whether the same person is indicated in both places is uncertain. At the conclusion of the list Paul writes, “All the churches of Christ extend greetings to you” (16:1–16).

Paul now tells the Roman church to watch out for false teachers. Let the members be on their guard, and this especially for two reasons: (a) by means of smooth talk and flattery these troublemakers try to deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting; and (b) the Roman believers should not spoil the good reputation (for obedience to the truth) they have gained everywhere. Using an expression that reminds us of a saying of Jesus (Matt. 10:16), the apostle adds, “I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” In addition to placing emphasis on the responsibility the Romans should shoulder, he comforts them by reminding them that God, in the exercise of his sovereignty, will crush Satan under their feet soon. He adds, “The grace of our Lord Jesus (be) with you” (verses 17–20).

The greetings which friends are sending to the Roman church follow. The greeters include Timothy, a very dear friend and fellow-worker of Paul; Tertius, the apostle’s secretary, to whom the apostle had dictated the letter; and Gaius, at whose home Paul was staying and who was ever ready to reveal his hospitality in the interest of the entire church (verses 21–23).

By means of a very impressive doxology, one which in many ways reflects the opening verses of the epistle, Paul brings his marvelous epistle to an appropriate close (verses 25–27).” Bakers Commentary.

To sum it all up: 

• Don’t do anything that will cause another brother to stumble. Your liberty in Christ is not so that you can be selfish. God put down rules so that people would not defile themselves. Now that we have Christ, the list of clean and unclean has disappeared as it falls under the laws of sin vs the laws of conscience. In Mark 7, Jesus declared all foods were clean.
• Like Paul clearly pointed out, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Let us not get bogged down in the mud and miss this - yes we have freedom & liberty because of Christ, but at the end of the day - we will all bow down before the King of Kings and give an account of our actions & words & thoughts. Our lives must reflect Christ and our desires for Him - we need Him…
• If you are strong in Christ, help others on their journey, not hindering them, but helping them. 
• There is great debate over whether Phoebe was a servant or deaconess. After a lengthy explanation, Bakers Commentary puts it this way, “The lesson is clear. Two extremes should be avoided: (a) that of ordaining women to an ecclesiastical office when there is no warrant for doing so in Scripture; and (b) that of ignoring the very important and valuable services devout and alert women are able to render to the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
• At the end of the day, we are to “to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” Enough dividing over smaller issues - enough creating issues! We are to be unified in Christ Jesus.