Rom 15.1-33 continues with the concept of the how the “weak” are those synagogue Jews who walk in the faith of Israel but did not believe in Yeshua as the Messiah, and the “strong” are those non-Jews in the synagogue who have a Torah-based faith in Yeshua as the Messiah, and how the strong should relate towards the weak (Rom 4.19-20); as far as salvation goes, the Jews and the non-Jews are one; Paul’s plans to come to Rome.
v 1…Now we who are strong (Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua) ought to bear the weaknesses (it is the strong, those who believe in Yeshua, that should understand and give place to the halachah of the Jewish people who do not believe by adjusting their behavior in order to not offend them so that they will not accept Yeshua) of those without strength (the weak-those who do not believe in Yeshua) and not to please ourselves.
v 2… Let each of us please his neighbor (notice that the weak are the neighbor of the strong) for his good (in good things), to his edification (building up, in this case, building his faith to accept Yeshua).
v 3… For even Messiah did not please himself (he did not pursue his own profit or pleasure); but it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell upon me (Psa 69.9).”
v 4… For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction (this is referring to the Tanach, or “old testament” because it was the only Scriptures at the time and the “new testament” had not been written, so it was the only Scriptures that Yeshua and the talmidim taught from. When they wanted someone to go and learn, it was to the Tanach that they were referred to-Luke 24.27; 2 Tim 3.15-17. Today, when a person comes to believe in Yeshua, their faith is based on some interpretation that is opposed to the Tanach. Terms are redefined and doctrines are taught that are totally opposite of what the faith in the first century actually was) that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures (the Tanach) we might have hope.
v 5… Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another (likeness of affection and respect toward one another) according the Messiah Yeshua (his doctrine);
v 6…that with one accord you may with one voice (the end result of affection and respect) glorify the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
v 7.. Wherefore, accept one another (in your hearts), just as Messiah also accepted us (into his heart from eternity) to the glory of God.
v 8… For I say that Messiah has become a servant to the circumcision (the Jewish people) on behalf of the truth (as found in the Tanach) to confirm the promises given to the fathers (of the Malkut Shamayim-the Kingdom of Heaven),
v 9… and for the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to thee among the Gentiles, and I will sing to they name (Psa 18.49).”
v 10… And again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people (Deut 32.43).”
v 11… And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him (Psa 117.1).”
v 12…And again Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse, and he who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles hope ( Isa 11.10-Paul talks about how Yeshua is the target of the Torah and a servant to the Gentiles, so the strong must do the same. Paul shows that the plan of God involved the Gentiles worshipping with Israel because he is the God of the Jew and the Gentile, and this unification had already begun).”
v 13… Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
v 14…And concerning you, my brethren (the Gentile believers), I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness (not in the natural, but from God), filled with all knowledge (Da’at=spiritual knowledge in Torah facts), and able also to admonish one another.
v 15… But I have written very boldly to you (or freely, to point out their points of contention) on some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given to me from God,
v 16… to be a minister of Messiah Yeshua to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest of the Gospel, that my offering of the Gentiles (themselves) might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
v 17… Therefore in Messiah Yeshua I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God (Jer 9.23).
v 18…For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Messiah has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed (Paul’s goal was to teach obedience by word and deed to the Gentiles. They were to be hearers and doers of the Torah, the same thing James taught in Jam 1.22-27),
v 19… in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Messiah.
v 20…And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Messiah was already named, that I might not build upon another man’s foundation;
v 21… but as it is written, “They who had no news of him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand (Isa 52.15).”
v 22…For this reason I have been hindered from coming to you (he preached the gospel in many places but he wanted to preach the gospel in Rome. Why? They were already believers, but they lacked something in what they were doing, which was a Torah-based foundation. This congregation in Rome was not founded by an apostle but came about following Acts 2.1-47);
v 23… but now, with no further place for me in these regions (he has covered the area), and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you
v 24… whenever I go to Spain-for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for awhile (Clement of Rome said Paul made it to Spain and died there)-
v 25…but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.
v 26… For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
v 27…Yes, they were pleased to do so and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.
v 28…Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs (delivered their gifts), I will go on by way of you to Spain (Clement of Rome, who lived in the first century, said he went to Spain and died there).
v 29…And I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Messiah (although they know of Yeshua, they did not have the entire picture of what they were in need of, which was how their faith “fit in” with the calling upon Israel. They needed to understand that they did not “replace” the faith of Israel and that point was made plain in chapter 11, but he needed to establish that in person. The fullness of this gospel has been obliterated by false teaching over the years by replacement theology and replaced with something foreign to Paul’s understanding).
v 30…Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,
v 31… that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints,
v 32…so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find rest in your company.
v 33… Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
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