15:1 We 1 then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities
of the weak, and not to a please ourselves.
(1) Now the apostle reasons generally of tolerating or bearing
with the weak by all means, in so far that it may be for
their profit.
(a) And despise others.
15:2 Let every one of us please [his] neighbour for [his] b
good to edification.
(b) For his profit and edification.
15:32 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is
written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell
on me.
(2) A confirmation taken from the example of Christ, who
suffered all things, to bring not only the weak, but also
his most cruel enemies, overcoming them with patience, to
his Father.
15:43 For whatsoever things were written c aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and
comfort of the d scriptures might have hope.
(3) The preventing of an objection: such things as are cited
out of the examples of the ancients, are propounded unto us
to this end and purpose, that according to the example of
our fathers we should in patience and hope bear one with
another.
(c) By Moses and the prophets.
(d) The scriptures are said to teach and comfort, because
God uses them to teach and comfort his people with
them.
15:54 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be
likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
(4) We must take an example of patience from God: that both the
weak and the strong, serving God with a mutual consent, may
bring one another to God, as Christ also received us to
himself, although we were ever so unworthy.
15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also e
received us to the glory of God.
(e) He did not shun us, but received us of his own accord,
to make us partakers of God's glory.
15:85 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the f
circumcision for the g truth of God, to confirm the
promises [made] unto the fathers:
(5) An applying of the example of Christ to the Jews, whom he
granted this honour for the promises which he made to their
fathers, although they were ever so unworthy, in that he
executed the office of a minister among them with
marvellous patience: therefore much less ought the Gentiles
despise them for certain faults, whom the Son of God
esteemed so much.
(f) Of the circumcised Jews, for as long as he lived, he
never went out of their midst.
(g) That God might be seen to be true.
15:96 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his]
mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will h confess
to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
(6) An applying of the same to the Gentiles, whom also the Lord
by his incomprehensible goodness had regard for, so that
they are not to be condemned by the Jews as strangers.
(h) I will openly confess and set forth your name.
15:137 Now the God of i hope fill you with k all joy and
peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through
the power of the Holy Ghost.
(7) He seals up as it were all the former treatise with
prayers, wishing all that to be given them by the Lord,
that he had commanded them.
(i) In whom we hope.
(k) Abundantly and plentifully.
15:148 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren,
that l ye also are full of goodness, filled with all
knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
(8) The conclusion of the epistle, in which he first excuses
himself, that he has written somewhat at length to them,
rather to warn them than to teach them, and that of
necessity, by reason of his calling, which binds him in a
special way to the Gentiles.
(l) Of your own accord, and by yourselves.
15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the
Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the m
offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being
sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
(m) By the offering up of the Gentiles, he means the
Gentiles themselves, whom he offered to God as a
sacrifice.
15:179 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus
Christ in those things which pertain to God.
(9) He commends his apostleship highly by the effects, but yet
in such a way that even though he speaks all things truly,
he gives all the glory to God as the only author: and he
does not do this for his own sake, but this rather, that
men might doubt less of the truth of the doctrine which he
propounds to them.
15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which
n Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles
obedient, by word and deed,
(n) Christ was so with me in all things, and by all means,
that even if I had wanted to, yet I cannot say what
he has done by me to bring the Gentiles to obey the
gospel.
15:19 Through o mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the
Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about
unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of
Christ.
(o) In the first place this word "mighty" signifies the
force and working of the wonders in piercing men's
minds: and in the latter, it signifies God's mighty
power which was the worker of those wonders.
15:2210 For which cause also I have been much hindered from
coming to you.
(10) He writes in general to the Romans, and that familiarly, his
singular good will towards them, and the state of his
affairs, but in such a way that he does not swerve in the
least way from the end of apostolic doctrine: for he
declares nothing but that which appertains to his office,
and is godly: and commending by a little digression as it
were, the liberality of the churches of Macedonia, he
modestly incites them to follow their godly deed.
15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to p minister unto the
saints.
(p) Doing his duty for the saints, to carry to them that
money which was gathered for their use.
15:2711 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they
are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their
spiritual things, their duty is also to q minister unto
them in carnal things.
(11) Alms are voluntary, but yet we at the same time owe these
by the law of charity.
(q) To serve their turns.
15:28 When therefore I have performed this, and have r sealed
to them this s fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
(r) Performed it faithfully, and sealed it as it were with
my ring.
(s) This money which was gathered for the use of the poor:
and these alms are very fitly called fruit.
15:2912 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall
come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of
Christ.
(12) He promises them through the blessing of God, not to come
empty to them: and requiring of them the duty of prayers,
he shows what thing we ought mainly to rest upon in all
difficulties and adversities.
15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's
sake, and for the t love of the Spirit, that ye strive
together with me in [your] prayers to God for me;
(t) For the mutual union, with which the Holy Spirit has
united our hearts and minds together.
