Verses 14-33
At the fourteenth verse the Apostle, in the course of his long letter, turns to speak of these dear Christians at Rome, many of whom he had never seen. He will have much more to say of them in the last chapter; here he speaks of them in a general way: they were full of goodness, the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their hearts; filled with all knowledge, knowledge that is after godliness; able also to admonish one another, to put one another in mind of neglected or forgotten words or ways pleasing to God.
The Apostle Paul had a special position given to no other in the ordering of God, and of this he tells in the next two verses:
“But I have written to you the more boldly, brethren, in part as putting you in mind, because of the grace given to me by God, for me to be minister” (the word here signifies an administrator officially appointed) “of Christ Jesus to the nations, carrying on as a sacrificial service the message of glad tidings of God, in order that the offering up of the nations might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (N.T.).
He was, like a priest, offering up the Gentiles acceptable to God, because of the Spirit’s sanctification; as Aaron in Numbers 8 was to offer the Levites before the Lord, sanctified by their birth and by ceremonies for His service. The Apostle had therefore to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God, as he says in the 17th verse.
In the following verses Paul tells with becoming modesty, in language provided by the Holy Spirit, of his labors to that time among the Gentiles, an account of which is given in seven chapters (13 to 19) of the Acts. He would mention only that Christ had wrought by him, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem in a circuit round to Illyricum—through what we now know as Syria, Turkey and Greece, and to at least the border of Albania on the Adriatic Sea opposite Italy—he had fully preached the gospel.
He had gone where the name of Christ was unknown, announcing the salvation of God among the idolatrous Gentiles of the Roman world. Hearts had been opened to receive the gospel in Antioch of Pisidia, in Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Troas, Ephesus, Colosse and Laodicea in Asia; in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth and Cenchrea in Europe; and no doubt in many more places not named in the Acts.
That account of his travels in the service of his Master is plainly not intended to be a complete one, the Holy Spirit having caused to be recorded therein only what suited Him to tell as evidences of the grace of God in penetrating the strongholds of Satan.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 we have a bare outline of much that is not mentioned in the Acts, and in our chapter the devoted Apostle is telling that he has fully preached the gospel through that great region. We shall learn the full story in the glory above.
It had been for many years Paul’s wish to go to Rome, to visit the dear saints of God there, and now having no longer place in the scene of his past labor, he was looking forward to a journey to Spain, by way of the Roman capital, after the journey to Jerusalem upon which he was about to set out.
We know that the beloved Apostle reached Rome as a prisoner, and the pages of inspiration do not record his death, though the Second Epistle to Timothy was evidently written not long before it. It is not certain that he got to Spain, but as Paul was given his liberty for a time, it may be that that desire of his was fulfilled.
It will be asked, How did the gospel get to Rome? God has not told us. That it was not through Paul is clear from this epistle, and there is no indication in the Scriptures, that it was carried there by Peter; indeed Peter’s name is never linked with Rome in the Word of God, and we do not know that he ever reached the city. Tradition of course cannot be relied upon; the Word of God is our only safe resource. Some have thought that the gospel was carried to Rome by men from that city who were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10).
The Apostle speaks (verses 25-28) of a contribution made by the believers of Macedonia and Achaia -northern and southern Greece—for the poor saints at Jerusalem. We read of this in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, and 2 Corinthians 8-9 also. The contribution is referred to as a debt of love; the Gentiles, having been made partakers of the spiritual privileges of the Jewish believers, ought to supply their needs in fleshly things. All were one in Christ, we know; in Him, racial distinctions are gone, but the gospel was offered first to the Jews, and by believers among them carried to the Gentiles.
Paul was confident that when he should come to them at Rome, it would be in the fullness of the blessing of Christ; would the fact that he got there in chains alter that? Surely not. When at length he neared the city, the Apostle was met by the brethren at the Appii Forum, 43 miles outside of the capital, and seeing them, he “thanked God and took courage” (Acts 28:15). A joyful meeting it must have been, both for the way-worn prisoner, and the Roman Christians. How vivid a contrast does not this present to the pageantry and pomp attached to the name of Christ in that city today!
Paul well knew the hearts of his unbelieving fellow-countrymen, and that his intended visit to Jerusalem might have serious results for himself (Acts 20:22-23). Here (verses 30,32) he asks for the prayers of the believers at Rome in connection with that journey.
“But I beseech, you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in prayers for me to God” (N.T.).
The Apostle knew the value of the prayers of the godly, and counted on them for himself, first, that he might be delivered from the unbelieving Jews in Judea; second, that the ministry he was taking to the saints at Jerusalem in their poverty might be acceptable to them; and third, that he might come to the saints at Rome in joy by the will of God, and might be refreshed with them.
We have already found in this chapter the God of patience (or endurance) and consolation (encouragement), (verse 5); the God of hope, (verse 13), and now at the close, He is seen as the God of peace,
“Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
We may know Him in all these characters here on earth: in the difficulties of the way, as the God of endurance and encouragement; if the way seems long, He gives us joy and peace in thinking of our heavenly hope; and amid the contentions of men who are strangers to His grace, He as the God of peace will be with us.
May He be better known, both to you, dear young Christian, and to the writer, in all three ways!
(To be continued, D. V.)