Romans 15:16

the minister The Gr. word (not the same as that in e.g. Romans 15:8,) is the original of our word liturgy;and is the same as in Romans 13:6; Philippians 2:25; Hebrews 1:7; Hebrews 8:2; &c. The word in Biblical Greek has a frequent sacerdotal reference; which is certainly present here, as the rest of the verse shews. For the word rendered "ministering" just below is lit. "doing priest's-work with;" and it is followed, in the next clause, by "the offering-upof the Gentiles." The whole passage is strikingly pictorial and figurative; representing the Gospel as the sacerdotal rule;the Apostle as the sacrificing priest;and the converts from heathenism as the victimsof the sacrifice. A passage of somewhat similar imagery is Philippians 2:17, where the Gr. of "service" is kindred to the Gr. of "minister" here. There (in Bp Lightfoot's words) "the Philippians are the priests; their faith (or their good works springing from their faith) is the sacrifice; St Paul's life-blood the accompanying libation."

It is clear that the Apostle here speaks of himself as a Sacrificer in a sense wholly figurative; and this passage and Romans 1:9 (where see note,) are the only examples of his application of the sacrificial idea, in even a figurative sense, to himself. Dr Hodge remarks that we here see the true nature of the priesthood which belongs to the Christian ministry: "It is by the preaching of the Gospel to bring men to offer themselvesas a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God." See Romans 12:1.

the offering up of the Gentiles i.e. the offering which consists of the Gentiles; the Gentiles, as "yielding themselves to God" to be His dedicated servants. For the phraseology, cp. Hebrews 10:10.

being sanctified by the Holy Ghost Lit. having been sanctified in the Holy Ghost. His Divine grace was, so to speak, the water in which the sacrifice was washed; it alone made the self-dedication real, and therefore acceptable.