Romans 15:7-13

The Gentiles Heirs of Israel's Hope. The differences discussed ran up into the great cleavage between Jew and Gentile, on which Paul has a final word to say.

Romans 15:7. Wherefore in order to glorify God togetherreceive one another, as the Christ has received you (cf. Romans 14:1; Romans 14:3; also Luke 15:2; John 6:37) unto the glory of God a glory to be realised in the united worship of mankind (Romans 15:8).

Romans 15:8 f. With this aim Christ has become, in the first place, minister of circumcision not minister to the Circumcision (omit the), but Servant of the covenant bearing this seal (Romans 4:11; cf. Galatians 4:4 f.): the parallel is Matthew 5:17, rather than Romans 15:24. The truth of God, which Christ thus asserted, lay in the promises made to the fathers concerning mankind (Romans 4:11; Acts 3:24 f.), expressing the grand purpose that the nations should glorify God for mercy shown to them. That the Israelite fathers cherished this large anticipation, is proved by the chain of citations drawn from Scripture in Romans 15:9 b - Romans 15:12. The catena of Romans 3:10 attested the universality of sin; this, the universality of redemption.

Romans 15:13. The closing citation gives the key-note to the Benediction; Now the God of the (i.e. Israel's) hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (cf. Romans 14:17, Romans 15:1 f., etc.), by the Holy Spirit's power. Such faith will make you overflow with hope for yourselves (Romans 5:2), for the race (Romans 11:30), for the universe (Romans 8:18).