Righteousness shared with others (15:19–33)
This relatively short section of 19 verses is a highly personal portion of the letter, in which Paul leaves the doctrinal and practical matters that have engaged his attention so far and now turns to his own situation and his personal relationship to the Romans. Although the section is short, it is very interesting, because it gives us a glimpse into the heart and mind of the greatest apostle ever. It lets us see what makes Paul tick.
Actually, this section is a follow-up to what Paul briefly introduced already in the opening chapter of the letter (it might be useful at this point to review the commentary on 1:8-15, pages 15-18). For our purposes here, a brief summary of the main thoughts of that section will have to suffice:
• Paul has not yet visited Rome.
• For years Paul has been wanting to come to Rome but has been prevented until now.
• When he now finally can come, he looks forward to edifying them with the Word—or rather, he trusts that there will be mutual edification between Paul and the Romans.
In chapter 15 Paul explains more fully why he has been prevented from visiting Rome until now. In addition, he also alerts the Romans to one very important new subject: their role in the outreach plans he has for sharing the gospel—the righteousness of God that comes by faith in Christ—with those beyond Rome to the west, including the inhabitants of Spain.
I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
One of the striking features of Paul’s epistles is his generous estimate of the faith and spiritual maturity of his readers. Almost every letter begins with a long, glowing sentence in which Paul thanks God for the progress in faith that his readers have made.
Paul did not put people down! He doesn’t here either. Note the commendation he gives the Romans: “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” The Romans are assumed to be competent to instruct not only one another but even great Paul himself. That’s why he could expect mutual edification when he comes to them (1:12).
Although the apostle obviously knew many of the Romans (witness the number of people he greets in chapter 16), Paul had not necessarily been the one who taught them. Yet he credits them with knowing scriptural truth. His letter dealing “quite boldly on some points” was not written to bring them new teachings but simply to remind them again of known truths.
Why did Paul remind them of truths they already knew? He continues with his reasoning: “because of the grace [gift] God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God.”
And what did Paul hope to accomplish by such a ministry? He himself supplies the answer: “so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
The apostle is using Old Testament imagery to describe his privileged New Testament task of ministering with the gospel. In Old Testament times, a priest would present the worshiper’s offering to the Lord. So too Paul, in a manner of speaking, is bringing believing Gentiles to God as an acceptable offering. But Paul immediately points out that their being an acceptable offering is no credit to him. Rather, these gentile converts are God’s handiwork. They have been “sanctified by the Holy Spirit."