Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 15:19

ἐν δ. σημείων καὶ τεράτων. Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:12. There is no doubt that S. Paul himself claimed to work miracles; cf. Hebrews 2:4; Acts pass.

ἐν δυνάμει πν. ἁγ. Cf. 13, the climax of the manifestation of the power of the Gospel.

ὥστε after κατειργάσατο.

ἀπὸ Ἰερ.—Ἰλλυρικοῦ. This geographical measure of his work in the Gospel is in conception exactly |[303] 2 Corinthians 10:14-16 (there too, as he is addressing the Corinthians, Corinth itself is the limit): n. that in S. Paul’s view Jerusalem is the beginning for himself as for the other Apostles (cf. Hort, R. E. pp. 39 ff).

[303] | parallel to

κύκλῳ. With μέχρι τ. Ἰ., marking the course of his missionary journey: as S. H. with the Greek commentators whose verdict on such a question of language is weighty. Al[304] take it with Ἰερ. but (1) S. Paul did not preach as a missionary in Judea, (2) κύκλῳ could hardly include Syria, (3) it would need the article.

[304] Al. alibi

Ἰλλυρικοῦ clearly marks the furthest point as towards Rome which his preaching had reached at the time he was writing this letter (in Corinth). The name was given to the western districts of the province of Macedonia (Mommsen, Provv. I., p. 299 f.). It would mark his nearest approach to Rome: as at Thessalonica he had been on the direct road to Dyrrhachium, the most direct route from the East to Rome. It is most probable that μέχρι is exclusive; (1) it is not easy to find a place in the Acts for any preaching in the interior of the province of Macedonia, scarcely in Acts 20:2; (2) there were then no important towns till the sea coast was reached, the inhabitants being “a confused mass of non-Greek peoples.” It was not S. Paul’s practice to preach in such country districts: (3) in marking limits μέχρι would be more naturally exclusive; cf. Mommsen, ib[305], 256 n.; but see Ramsay, Gal. p. 276.

[305] ib. ibidem

πεπληρ. τὸ εὐ. τ. χρ. ‘The Gospel of the Christ’ has special reference to the call of the Gentiles and missionary work among them; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 2 Corinthians 10:14; Galatians 1:7; Philippians 1:27. πεπληρ. he has completed the preaching throughout all this area—by establishing the Gospel in all the principal centres. The statement must be taken in connexion with S. Paul’s own conception of his mission and of the methods by which it could be carried out: cf. again 2 Corinthians 10:13 f.; cf. Ramsay, Pauline Studies, p. 77 f. For constr. cf. Colossians 1:25; Acts 14:26.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 15:19

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