Latest Commentaries

Paul finishes listing the believers whom he wishes to greet in Rome, and likely also his allies in contending against the competing Jewish “authorities” who have slandered Paul’s gospel of grace.

Paul continues listing believers whom he wants the believers in Rome to greet.

Paul continues listing believers who have served Christ well. He wants the Roman believers to greet them. Likely these believers would be primary allies to contend for Paul’s gospel of grace against the competing Jewish “authorities.”

Prisca and Aquila are prevalent Christians in the New Testament. Paul greets and thanks them for their ministry. It is possible that they took a leading role in contending for Paul’s gospel of grace in Rome.

Phoebe was a servant of the church in Cenchrea, a seaport of Corinth. Paul admonishes the believers in Rome to receive her in the Lord. She may have been the original bearer of this letter.

Christians should not do things that may cause other believers to stumble. If believers cannot do something in faith, then they should not do that thing. 

God wants believers to live harmoniously together. One way we accomplish this is by not taking part in things that other believers might see as evil.

Christians should not condemn one another over opinions, but instead should live sacrificially and harmoniously with each other.

We all have to answer to God for the way we’ve individually lived our lives. If something we do in the freedom Christ gives us is going to harm someone’s conscience, it’s not worth doing. Don’t look down on a believer who has weak faith. We will all be judged by God for the ways we personally failed and succeeded.

Paul requests prayer from the Roman believers and says that if his prayers are answered he will be able to come to them with joy and find rest.

Paul says again that he plans to go to Spain by way of Rome.

Paul is not planning to travel to Spain by way of Rome immediately; first, he will make a trip to Jerusalem to deliver a contribution to the poor believers there. The contribution was voluntary, and yet the Gentiles are indebted to the Jews due to their shared spiritual blessings in Christ.

Paul saw that his ministry was complete in the region from Jerusalem east to Illyricum (modern Croatia) and he made plans to visit the believers in Rome, as he traveled west to Spain.

Paul prioritized his travel so that he could preach the gospel to those who did not know Christ. He again explains that he had not visited the believers in Rome because he had been preaching the gospel to those who had not heard the gospel.

God commissioned Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles, and now many Gentiles are obeying God. Paul says this is a reason to boast in what Christ has accomplished through Paul, in Gentile obedience as well as in signs and wonders which the Spirit has worked through Paul’s ministry.

The Roman believers’ faith was already famous throughout the world and Paul knew they were living righteously by their reputation. He explains that he wrote this letter to make sure they would continue to pursue God through faith, not religious rules, and he defends his role as a minister to Gentiles. His gospel is God’s gospel, and his teaching is meant to sanctify the Gentiles.

Paul shows that Isaiah predicted/prophesied that Jesus would be a descendant of Jesse and would become the ruler of the Gentiles and bring hope to them. Paul offers a blessing, asking that God would give peace to Christians and that we would hope in the power of the Spirit.

Christ made us acceptable in the presence of God, though we did not deserve it. In light of this, we should accept one another as we are, Gentile or Jew. Christ came to earth to be a servant to the Israelites, to prove that God keeps His promises to His people, and to bring salvation to the Gentiles. There are many Old Testament prophecies that tell of the Gentiles praising God.

The Bible (Scripture) was written down so that we would be able to learn from it. The Bible encourages us to persevere in faith, which gives us hope. One reason God gave us the Scriptures is to provide hope. Paul’s hope is that God would also give us unity so that we may glorify Him.

Living harmoniously by faith means strong believers helping weaker believers. We should not live in a self-centered way but should help fellow believers build their faith and their relationship with God. Christ is the perfect example of this selflessness.