Read Romans 15 at Bible Gateway.
Outline:
Rom 1:1-7, Greeting and benediction;
Rom 1:8-15, Desire to visit Rome;
Rom 1:16-17, Theme of the letter: the Gospel reveals the righteousness of God;
Rom 1:18-5:21, Justification and the righteousness of God;
Rom 6:1-8:39, Sanctification and the righteousness of God;
Rom 9:1-11:36, God’s righteousness and Israel;
Rom 12:1-15:14, Practical Application of God’s righteousness;
Rom 12:1-21, Filled with the Spirit for service, not conformed to the world but to God’s will;
Rom 13:1-14, Be subject to governing authorities, to love, and to the Lord Jesus Christ;
Rom 14:1-15:7, Proper conduct in differences of practice in gray areas;
Rom 15:8-14, For edification with a servant’s heart (Messiah being our example) admonishing one another in knowledge;
Rom 15:14-16:27, Conclusion.
Rom 15:1-14 chiastic structure:
1a) Rom 15:1-3, We who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, not to please ourselves;
1a) Rom 15:1a, We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak;
1b) Rom 15:1b, And not to please ourselves;
central axis) Rom 15:2, Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification;
2b) Rom 15:3a, For even Christ did not please Himself;
2a) Rom 15:3b, But as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me;”
1b.1) Rom 15:4a, For whatever things were written before were written for our learning;
1b.2) Rom 15:4b, That we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope;
1c) Rom 15:5-6, Be like-minded that you both may with one mouth glorify God;
1a) Rom 15:5a, Now may the God of patience and comfort;
1b) Rom 15:5b, Grant you to be like-minded toward one another;
central axis) Rom 15:5c, According to Christ Jesus;
2b) Rom 15:6a, That you may with one mind and one mouth;
2a) Rom 15:6b, Glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;
central axis) Rom 15:7a, Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us;
2c) Rom 15:7b-9a, The circumcision + Gentiles both glorifying God for His mercy;
1a) Rom 15:7b, To the glory of God;
1b) Rom 15:8a, Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision;
central axis) Rom 15:8b, For the truth of God;
2b) Rom 15:8c, To confirm the promises made to the fathers;
2a) Rom 15:9a, And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy;
2b.1) Rom 15:9b-12, As it is written;
2b.2) Rom 15:13, May the God of hope fill you with all joy + peace in believing, that you may abound in hope;
2a) Rom 15:14, I am confident that you are full of goodness + knowledge/ able to admonish one another.
The A pair is teaching us, that the stronger in faith and in the sure foundation of true doctrine, bears with the weaker, and not to lord it over him or to make him feel like a second-class citizen. But rather, accepting him as Christ accepted us, which He did when we ourselves were weak and ignorant of the truth of God’s word. For Christ even bore reproach — which He neither earned nor deserved, nor is it hardly fathomable that He, through whom the universe was made, should be reproached by His creation — in order to bear with the weak (us) for our own good and edification. However, weak faith and weak doctrine will not now be the standard to which everyone repairs, for in gentleness, mercy, and goodness, the weak and all the brethren, may be admonished — really, instructed — by the truth of God.
And just as when the Jerusalem Council debated how much of the Law of Moses Gentile converts should have learned and conformed to, before they were admitted to fellowship in the churches (Act 15), organic growth (i.e., dealing with things as they come up, preaching and teaching through the cycle of Scripture as the whole church learns together) is best, trusting in the Holy Spirit to convict of sin and righteousness as He works in each believer’s heart.
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