WE THE STRONG (ημεις ο δυνατο). Paul identifies himself with this wing in the controversy. He means the morally strong as in 2 Corinthians 12:10; 2 Corinthians 13:9, not the mighty as in 1 Corinthians 1:26.THE INFIRMITIES (τα ασθενηματα). "The weaknesses" (cf. ασθενων in Romans 14:1; Romans 14:2... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THAT WHICH IS GOOD (εις το αγαθον). "For the good." As in Romans 14:16; Romans 14:19. Not to please men just for popular favours, but for their benefit.... [ Continue Reading ]
PLEASED NOT HIMSELF (ουχ εαυτω ηρεσεν). Aorist active indicative of αρεσκω with the usual dative. The supreme example for Christians. See Romans 14:15. He quotes Psalms 69:9 (Messianic Psalm) and represents the Messiah as bearing the reproaches of others.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE WRITTEN AFORETIME (προεγραφη). Second aorist passive indicative of προγραφω, old verb, in N.T. only here, Galatians 3:1 (which see); Ephesians 3:3; Judges 1:4.FOR OUR LEARNING (εις την ημετεραν διδασκαλιαν). "For the instruction of us." Objective sense of possessive pronoun ημετερος. See M... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF PATIENCE AND COMFORT (ο θεος της υπομονης κα της παρακλησεως). Genitive case of the two words in verse Romans 15:4 used to describe God who uses the Scriptures to reveal himself to us. See 2 Corinthians 1:3 for this idea; Romans 15:13 for "the God of hope"; Romans 15:33 for "the God of... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ONE ACCORD (ομοθυμαδον). Here alone in Paul, but eleven times in Acts (Acts 1:14, etc.).WITH ONE MOUTH (εν εν στοματ). Vivid outward expression of the unity of feeling.MAY GLORIFY (δοξαζητε). Present active subjunctive of δοξαζω, final clause with ινα "that ye may keep on glorifying." Fo... [ Continue Reading ]
RECEIVE YE (προσλαμβανεσθε as in Romans 14:1),RECEIVED (προσελαβετο, here of Christ as in Romans 14:3 of God). The repetition here is addressed to both the strong and the weak and the "us" (ημας) includes all.... [ Continue Reading ]
A MINISTER OF THE CIRCUMCISION (διακονον περιτομης). Objective genitive, "a minister to the circumcision." Διακονον is predicate accusative with γεγενησθα (perfect passive infinitive of γινομα in indirect assertion after λεγω, I say) and in apposition with Χριστον, accusative of general reference... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT THE GENTILES MIGHT PRAISE (τα δε εθνη δοξασα). Coordinate with βεβαιωσα and εις το, to be repeated with τα εθνη, the accusative of general reference and τον θεον the object of δοξασα. Thus the Gentiles were called through the promise to the Jews in the covenant with Abraham (Romans 4:11;... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE, YE GENTILES (ευφρανθητε). First aorist passive imperative of ευφραινω, old word from ευ, well and φρην, mind. See Luke 15:32. Quotation from Deuteronomy 32:43 (LXX).... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE GENTILES (παντα τα εθνη). From Psalms 117:1 with slight variations from the LXX text.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ROOT (η ριζα). Rather here, as in Revelation 5:5; Revelation 23:16, the sprout from the root. From Isaiah 11:10.ON HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE (επ' αυτω εθνη ελπιουσιν). Attic future of ελπιζω for the usual ελπισουσιν.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF HOPE (ο θεος της ελπιδος). Taking up the idea in verse Romans 15:12 as in verse Romans 15:5 from Romans 15:4.FILL YOU (πληρωσα υμας). Optative (first aorist active of πληροω) of wish for the future. Cf. δωιη in verse Romans 15:5.IN BELIEVING (εν τω πιστευειν). "In the believing" (ε... [ Continue Reading ]
I MYSELF ALSO (κα αυτος εγω). See Romans 7:25 for a like emphasis on himself, here in contrast with "ye yourselves" (κα αυτο). The argument of the Epistle has been completed both in the main line (Chapter s Romans 15:1-8) and the further applications (Romans 9:1-15). Here begins the Epilogue, the... [ Continue Reading ]
I WRITE (εγραψα). Epistolary aorist.THE MORE BOLDLY (τολμηροτερως). Old comparative adverb from τολμηρως. Most MSS. read τολμηροτερον. Only here in N.T.IN SOME MEASURE (απο μερους). Perhaps referring to some portions of the Epistle where he has spoken plainly (Romans 6:12; Romans 6:19; Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I SHOULD BE (εις το εινα με). The εις το idiom with the infinitive again (verses Romans 15:8; Romans 15:13).MINISTER (λειτουργον). Predicate accusative in apposition with με and see Romans 13:6 for the word. "The word here derives from the context the priestly associations which often atta... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THINGS PERTAINING TO GOD (τα προς τον θεον). Accusative of general reference of the article used with the prepositional phrase, "as to the things relating to (προς, facing) God.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANY THINGS SAVE THOSE WHICH CHRIST WROUGHT THROUGH ME (τ ων ου κατειργασατο Χριστος δι' εμου). Rather, "any one of those things which Christ did not work through me." The antecedent of ων is the unexpressed τουτων and the accusative relative α (object of κατειργασατο) is attracted into the geniti... [ Continue Reading ]
IN POWER OF SIGNS AND WONDERS (εν δυναμε σημειων κα τερατων). Note all three words as in Hebrews 2:4, only here δυναμις is connected with σημεια and τερατα. See all three words used of Paul's own work in 2 Corinthians 12:12 and in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 of the Man of Sin. See 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA (ουτως δε). "And so," introducing a limitation to the preceding statement.MAKING IT MY AIM (φιλοτιμουμενον). Present middle participle (accusative case agreeing with με) of φιλοτιμεομα, old verb, to be fond of honour (φιλοσ, τιμη). In N.T. only here and 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 5... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN (καθως γεγραπτα). From Isaiah 52:15. Paul finds an illustration of his word about his own ambition in the words of Isaiah. Fritzsche actually argues that Paul understood Isaiah to be predicting his (Paul's) ministry! Some scholars have argued against the genuineness of verses Rom... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS HINDERED (ενεκοπτομην). Imperfect passive (repetition) of ενκοπτω, late verb, to cut in, to cut off, to interrupt. Seen already in Acts 24:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; Galatians 5:7. Cf. modern telephone and radio and automobile.THESE MANY TIMES (τα πολλα). "As to the many things." In Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING NO MORE ANY PLACE IN THESE REGIONS (μηκετ τοπον εχων εν τοις κλιμασιν). Surprising frankness that the average preacher would hardly use on such a matter. Paul is now free to come to Rome because there is no demand for him where he is. For κλιμα (from κλινω, to incline), slope, then tract o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHENSOEVER I GO (ως αν πορευωμα). Indefinite temporal clause with ως αν and the present middle subjunctive (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:34; Philippians 2:23 with aorist subjunctive).INTO SPAIN (εις την Σπανιαν). It was a Roman province with many Jews in it. The Greek name was Ιβερια, the Latin _Hispan... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW (νυν δε). Repeats the very words used in Romans 15:23.I GO (πορευομα). Futuristic present as in John 14:2.MINISTERING UNTO THE SAINTS (διακονον τοις αγιοις). Present active participle of purpose like ευλογουντα in Acts 3:26. This collection had been one of Paul's chief cares for over... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT HATH BEEN THE GOOD PLEASURE OF MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA (ηυδοκησαν γαρ Μακεδονια κα Αχαια). "For Macedonia and Achaia took pleasure." The use of ηυδοκησαν (first aorist active indicative of ευδοκεω) shows that it was voluntary (2 Corinthians 8:4). Paul does not here mention Asia and Galatia.A... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR DEBTORS (οφειλετα αυτων). Objective genitive: the Gentiles are debtors to the Jews. See the word οφειλετης in Romans 1:14; Romans 8:12.FOR IF (ε γαρ). Condition of the first class, assumed as true, first aorist active indicative (εκοινωνησαν, from κοινωνεω, to share) with associative inst... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE SEALED (σφραγισαμενος). First aorist middle participle (antecedent action, having sealed) of σφραγιζω, old verb from σφραγις, a seal (Romans 4:11), to stamp with a seal for security (Matthew 27:66) or for confirmation (2 Corinthians 1:22) and here in a metaphorical sense. Paul was keenly sen... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I COME (ερχομενος). Present middle participle of ερχομα with the time of the future middle indicative ελευσομα (coming I shall come).IN THE FULNESS OF THE BLESSING OF CHRIST (εν πληρωματ ευλογιας Χριστου). On πληρωματ, see Romans 11:12. Paul had already (Romans 1:11) said that he had a χαρ... [ Continue Reading ]
BY (δια). The intermediate agents of the exhortation (the Lord Jesus and the love of the Spirit) as δια is used after παρακαλω in Romans 12:1.THAT YE STRIVE TOGETHER WITH ME (συναγωνισασθα μο). First aorist middle infinitive of συναγων ζομα, old compound verb, only here in N.T., direct object o... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY BE DELIVERED (ινα ρυσθω). First aorist passive subjunctive of ρυομα, old verb to rescue. This use of ινα is the sub-final one after words of beseeching or praying. Paul foresaw trouble all the way to Jerusalem (Acts 20:23; Acts 21:4; Acts 21:13).MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE SAINTS (ευπρο... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT (ινα). Second use of ινα in this sentence, the first one sub-final (ινα ρυσθω), this one final with συναναπαυσωμα, first aorist middle subjunctive of the double compound verb συναναπαυομα, late verb to rest together with, to refresh (αναπαυω as in Matthew 11:28) one's spirit with (συν), with... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF PEACE (ο θεος της ειρηνης). One of the characteristics of God that Paul often mentions in benedictions (1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; Romans 16:20). Because of the "amen" here some scholars would make this the close of the Epistle and... [ Continue Reading ]