New Testament Commentary - Romans 15

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 15 True saints fellowship one another—Paul recounts his diligence in preaching the gospel—Gifts of the Spirit poured out upon the Gentiles
1 WE then that are strong ought to ^abear the infirmities of the ^bweak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his ^aneighbour for his good to ^bedification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The ^areproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me^a.	3^a The reproaches of then that reproached thee fell on me When one is reproached by another, as we are to be receptive, loving and forgiving unto all men, then that reproach falls upon Jesus Christ. It is the same doctrine which state, 'if ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren', ye have done it unto me. Thus the two edges of this is that one ought always to refrane from setting forth an offense against another, for in doing so it does not go unrecognized by the Lord as it does but fall upon him. And as it does fall upon him, in that through the atonement he take all of our infirmities and aflections upon himself unto our healing of them, we may look to be so healed through him and our faith upon his name that our suffering from such will be so relieved of him.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
4 For whatsoever things were ^awritten aforetime were ^bwritten for our ^clearning, that we through ^dpatience and comfort of the ^escriptures might have ^fhope. 5 Now the God of patience and ^aconsolation grant you to be ^blikeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the ^aFather of our Lord Jesus Christ.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the ^acircumcision for the truth of God^a, to ^bconfirm the ^cpromises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his ^amercy; as it is written, For this cause I will ^bconfess to thee among the ^cGentiles, and sing unto thy name.	8^a Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God Jesus Christ as Jehovah, the ministering God of this second estate of the Old Testament did indeed first minister the law of circumcision unto Abraham. He was the God of Abraham (See John 8:56-58, Acts 7:52, D&C 124:58). This order of Jesus Christ 'ministering' in the stead of God the Father in all things pertaining to this second estate was established from the beginning. Jesus as Jehovah was the creator of heaven and earth. He was the creator of the temporal body of Adam under the direction of God His Father, the Father of Spirits. And her Paul so states that Jesus Christ was the 'minister', he being the Ministering God of the Old Testament, of the circumcision as given unto Abraham through Jesus Christ as Jehovah under the direction of God the Father of Spirits. This is the order of Heanve and that of how the administration unto the second estate is done. As only those who pertain unto the second estate do minister unto it (D&C 130:5).	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye ^aGentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people^a. 12 And again, ^aEsaias saith, There shall be a root of ^bJesse^a, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles^b; in him shall the Gentiles trust. D&C 113:5-6 "What [Who] is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter [Isaiah 11:10]? "Behold, thus saith the Lord, it [he] is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days." Both the Priesthood and the Keys of the Kingdom are primarily held by Jesus Christ. It is his Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God and it is his Kingdom, as he is our Lord of Lords and King of Kings who does reign therein as given him by, of and through the Father, our Heavenly Father of our spirit bodies housing that intelligence which has become uniquely ours.	11^a Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people The Apostles Paul is speaking praise and testimony of Jesus Chrsit and what his relationship to the Gentiles shall be. 12^a There shall be a root of Jesse During this praise and testimony of Christ, Paul references Isaiah chapter 11 which speaks of the 'root of Jesse'. Paul presents that this is Christ and that he will rise to reign over the Gentiles and that the Gentiles shall trust in Christ. This is clearly in reference to the latter-days and the Millennial reign of the Savior. But here it is confirmed that this 'root of Jesse' of which Isaiah speaks and the Apostle Paul does reference, is indeed Jesus Christ. This takes on significant understanding in D&C 113 where it is disclosed that Christ is of the house of Joseph, being descended of Jesse as well as of Ephraim and Joseph. 12^b he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles The only being who has lived to rise and 'reign' over the Gentile as their Lord and God is Jesus Christ, thus for certain Paul speaks of Jesus Christ as being the root of Jesse. As Paul will explain in chapter 1 of 1 Corinthians, it is not who 'baptised or converted you' that you are of. You are not of Paul or Apolo. All are of and under one Lord and King, even Jesus Christ.	10^a Acts 9:15; 3 Ne. 30:2 (1-2) 12^a IE Isaiah ^b TG Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of Root of Jesse Some have attempted to make 'the root of Jesse' as spoken of in the scriptures to mean and refer to Joseph Smith, the prophet of the latter days. Like Moses, the children of Israel looked to him as 'the great deliverer' of his time and when Moses spoke of the Messiah to come, he even likened him unto himself. Of course it was Moses who was a type of Christ and not the other way around. In the same vein, it is Joseph Smith who is a similitude of Jesus Christ, being likened unto him, but certainly he is not him. Some even attemp to make Joseph Smith to be that Messiah ben Ephraim/Joseph who the Jewish Rabbis speak of. But they but divided the one Messiah into two naming the 'suffering Messiah' to be Messiah ben Ephraim or Joseph, and keeping the 'glorious Messiah' to be Messiah ben David. As reference here as Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of, the 'root of Jesse' spoken of here, in Isaiah 11:10 and in D&C 113:5-6 is in fact Jesus Christ (see Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph).
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and ^apeace in believing, that ye may abound in ^bhope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all ^aknowledge, able also to ^badmonish one another.
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in ^asome sort, as putting you in mind, because of the ^bgrace that is given to me of God, 16 That I should be the ^aminister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the ^boffering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being ^csanctified by the Holy Ghost. 17 I have therefore whereof I may ^aglory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19 Through mighty ^asigns and wonders, by the power of the ^bSpirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's ^afoundation:
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not ^aspoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. 22 For which cause also I have been much ^ahindered from coming to you. 23 But now having no more ^aplace in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain ^acontribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their ^aspiritual things, their ^bduty is also to minister unto them in ^ccarnal things. 28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this ^afruit, I will come by you into Spain. 29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the ^afulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 31 That I may be delivered from them that ^ado not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be ^arefreshed. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.