Paul is coming to the close of his letter to the Roman church and in chapter 15:14 to 21, we see him laying down his credentials before the believers in Roman church. But before that, he tactfully compliments them for that congregation has grown up entirely without his labor. He cannot take any credit for it.
Paul praises the Roman church that they are full of goodness; complete in knowledge of spiritual matters, which includes discerning what is right and wrong according to the Word and they are competent enough to instruct each other, which would mean, guide, correct, exhort, edify and build up each other.
So, in the light of their knowledge and competence, Paul’s writings, though bold, are only to refresh their memory. He is not trying to teach them anything new. However, Paul asserts his credentials, by reminding them that he is what he is because of the grace of God, which had made him a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. As a minister to Christ, he is empowered to instruct, teach and train people, including the Romans in Christian living.
It is a priestly duty entrusted to him by God, that of proclaiming the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus Christ, to the Gentiles. The purpose is to bring the Gentiles also as an offering acceptable to God, consecrated by the Holy spirit.
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul has urged every Christian to offer their bodies as living sacrifices to God. In Philippines 2:17, he points out that he is happy that he is being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice offered by the faith of the believers. This is the priestly duty entrusted to him by God and he is happy to have accomplished that.
Nonetheless, this has not been accomplished by Paul himself and he is humble enough to admit that it was God who has used him so. He is only an instrument in the hands of God. That is what Paul will glory in. Leading the Gentiles to God has been accomplished by Christ Himself, through Paul, by signs and wonders that happened by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus had promised that his disciples’ ministries will be accompanied by signs and wonders, giving credence to their following the risen Christ. Mark 16:17-18. This has happened in the case of the Apostles and in Paul’s ministry too. This has been evident in all his ministry, starting from Jerusalem on wards to all the way to Illyricum and beyond, wherever he has proclaimed the Gospel of Christ. By the way, Illyricum was a Roman territory lying in between today’s Italy and Greece.
Paul is satisfied and happy in the ministry entrusted to him by God and what God has accomplished through him. Still he did not want to build on someone else’s labors, but proclaim Christ to people who have not heard of Him.
He quotes Isaiah 52:15 here, which was a messianic prophecy, indicating that people who were not told will see and those who have not heard, will understand. Basically, it means Gospel will reach people who have not been told or heard about it so far and that was what Paul was striving to do too. He would like to be a pioneer rather than preach where others have already preached.
Now, in verses 22 to 33, Paul lays before the Roman believers his plans to visit them. He had been hindered from coming to them earlier due to his ministry, which had taken him all over the Roman world. In his three voyages he had almost touched every important town or city lying around the Mediterranean Sea in the Roman world. There are no more places for him to work on.
Paul would actually like to go to Spain, the very Western end of Europe, the limits of the then civilized world. On the way he would like to visit Rome. As a policy, Paul would like the Roman church to sponsor his visit to Spain, by providing the financial and physical needs for the journey.
However, Paul’s immediate plan was to go to Jerusalem, to hand over the collections he had made for the poor in the Jerusalem church. Believers in Macedonia and Achaia had made contributions and he was taking it to Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem much of the employment was around the Temple. When a Jew became a follower of Christ, he lost his job in the Temple, as the Temple authorities were against Christians. It is possible that they were reduced to poverty, also due to persecution.
Moreover, many in the early church in Jerusalem, had sold their properties for communal living, as explained in Acts 2:44-45 and 4:34-5:5. Nothing was done to recoup the lost capital and they had no reserves. This could be another reason for their poverty.
The Gentile churches, according to Paul, were duty bound to make such contributions to the Jerusalem Church. The Gentiles churches had a debt to pay to Jerusalem church, as they shared the spiritual blessings of the Jews, since they had been admitted into the family of Abraham. So, they owed it to make physical contributions to the Jerusalem church, when they were in need.
Again, all churches, whether Gentile of Jewish, are part of the great Church of Christ and as such are bound to each other in love and in unity and those who can afford need to help those who are in need. This is a principle which will apply to us even today as it was in Paul’s time.
Fortunately, the Gentile church in Antioch was rich and they sent gifts to the elders in Jerusalem to help the Jewish Christians living in Judea. Acts 11:29-30. In the council held in Jerusalem, approving the ministry of Paul among the Gentiles, the condition laid down by the pillars of the Jerusalem church, James, Peter and John, was that Paul and Barnabas should remember the poor in Jerusalem. Galatians 2:8-10.
Collections were made while Paul was in Corinth 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, where we learn that every week people were asked to set aside a sum of money for the purpose. It was gathered week by week, quite sacrificially. It is time to remind ourselves, do we offer our tithes to the Lord honestly and willingly?
Finally, when Paul took all these collections, which he so meticulously collected for the poor in Jerusalem church, he was arrested and imprisoned. Paul went to Jerusalem, knowing fully well that such a thing could happen. Acts 20:22-24. But he didn’t flinch from his duty, much like Jesus who traveled to Jerusalem, knowing fully well the fate that awaited him. Luke 9:51.
Paul spent two years in prison in Caesarea and went to Rome as a prisoner in chains. That is how his desire to visit Rome got fulfilled. I am sure he met many of the believers from Roman church, when he was a prisoner in Rome for two years, where he welcomed all who came to see him in the rented house which he was allowed to take and reside. He preached the Gospel even there in chains. Acts 28:30-31.
Paul concludes his plans with a request for prayers for his safety in Jerusalem and blessings and peace to all those on the Roman church. He says he will come in full measure of the blessings in Christ, so that those blessings could be passed on to them. He wishes to come in joy to them and to be refreshed by them. That was not to be. He prays that God of peace be with them all.
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