Communications received from E. M. B. —Yod. —Nemie. C. H. P. —G. K. 11 —Edo. —T. H.
Romans 15
E. M. B. —The following main points are all touched on in this chapter. —
God of patience and consolation, v. 5
God of hope, v. 13
God of peace, v. 33
Example of Christ, v. 3
Ministry of Christ, v. 8
Gospel of Christ, v. 19
Power of the Holy Ghost, v. 13
Sanctified by the Holy Ghost, v. 16
Love of the Holy Ghost, v. 30
The glory of God, v. 7
The truth of God, v. 8
The mercy of God, v. 9
The grace of God, v. 15
The will of God, v. 32
We are to:
Help others, v. 1
Please others, v. 2
Receive others, v. 7
Admonish others, v. 14
Minister to others, v. 27
Pray for others, v. 30
Be filled with joy and peace, v. 13
Be filled with Goodness, v. 14
Be filled with Knowledge, v. 14
Be filled with Blessing, v. 29
T. H. —The apostle here, in the first verse, I think means those that are strong in faith should bear with the weak we that profess to be the Savior’s followers must not please ourselves in all things.
G. K. B. —Verse 1. The apostle identifies himself with the strong, but maintains the claims of conscience in the weakest of the saints. He put them in direct responsibility to Christ as Lord, and in view of the judgment-seat.
C. H. P. —Verse 1. In what way could any Christian say: “ We that are strong,” or “spiritual” (Galatians 6 I.)?
Ed. —It must be read in connection with the previous chapter.
Yod. —How eminently practical Paul is in these latter chapters. He has been teaching them the wonderful and eternal basis on which their faith is founded, and now he wants the practical outcome. What a lesson for us! We hear of great and marvelous truths from God’s word; we assent to them; probably we praise God for the gift. But the great thing is to embody them in our daily lives, making them the motive powers of our every action. This is one of the great purposes for which they are revealed.
E. M. B. —Verses 2, 3. There is nothing taught or commanded of God which is not presented to the conscience in immediate connection with the person of Christ. We are called to learn Him, that the mind which was in Him may be also in us.
G. K. B. —Verse 2. Love is better than knowledge, seeking not its own things, but those of others.
Edo. —Verse 2. How often “ let” occurs in the New Testament. Does it not imply hindering on our part? Christ will work in us, but we must “ let “ and not hinder His work.
G. K. B. —Ver. 3. Such was the perfection of devoted love in Christ. The zeal of His Father’s house ate Him up, and as the image of the invisible God, He bore the brunt of all that touched God.
T. H. —All things that were written which the apostle refers in ver. 4, were for our learning, i.e. instruction, comfort or exhortation.
Edo. —Verse 5. What two lovely titles of Christ we have in our chapters this month. “ God of patience,” and 16:20, “ God of peace.” God has “ all might unto all patience” to give us, let us ask and expect more. Colossians 1
G. K. B. —Verses 5, 6. If Christ Jesus engages the thoughts and mind of each, there will be the same mind. To have no other motive or object but Christ, this alone glorifies God.
Nemie. —Verse 5, God of patience and consolation; verse 13, God of hope; verse 33, God of peace. In Romans 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1), we have peace of conscience through faith in Christ, verse 4, patience, then hope, and these in exercise produce peace of mind and heart as in verse 5. They all spring from God, and rebound, as it were, towards Him. Thus He is God of patience, God of hope, God of peace.
Vod. —It is often forgotton that we can glorify God in everything. Now the Lord Jesus perfectly glorified His Father while upon earth, John 17 And how did he do it? Not only on special occasion in displaying divine power, but a close study of the gospels will reveal glory at each step. So Paul here prays that after his example we may glorify the Father in our actions one towards another, that is to say in our everyday life and walk.
T. H. —Please explain verse 8, “Christ as a minister of the Circumcision.”
Ed. —It refers to our Lord’s Jewish position contrasted here with Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles.
G. K. B. —Verses 8-12. The Psalms, the law and the Prophets bore concurrent witness to that mercy towards Gentiles which the Jew found it so hard to allow. The first citation is general, the second joins them in gladness with Israel, the third asserts the universality of the nations praise, and the fourth speaks distinctly of Messiah’s ruling Gentiles, and of their hope founded on Him.
C. P. H. —Verse 12. Why is Christ sometimes called the “Root of Jesse,” and sometimes the “Root of David?”
Ed. —We do not know any particular reason.
C. H. P.-Verses 13, 24. How little we come up to what these verses speak of; we seem to rest satisfied with a condition so far short of God’s intentions for us. Should we not be a very bright testimony to those around if we were “filled with all joy and peace in believing,” “ filled with all knowledge?” we often get the word “ full” in Scripture, connected with what the Lord Jesus was, and what we ought to be; do we not?
Stephen was “filled with the Holy Ghost,” Acts 2:44And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4). Stephen was “ full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,” Acts 6:55And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: (Acts 6:5), and 7:55: “ full of faith and power” Acts 6:88And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Acts 6:8). Barnabas was “full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,” Acts 11:2424For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. (Acts 11:24).
Nemie. —How are we to understand the expression in verse 14, “full of goodness, filled with all knowledge?” Surely not in a literal and absolute sense?
Ed. —Of course it means only up to their measure.
Nemie. —Verse 16. What is meant by the “ offering up of the Gentiles?” Is it the ascription of glory to God in verse 9. Praise and rejoicing, 10-12.
T. H. —We find in verse 20, that the apostle was very zealous in preaching the Word. We learn that he was very anxious to go to places where the word had not been preached, showing his great missionary spirit: what a beautiful example, how like the spirit of his Master.
C. H. P. —Verses 20, 21. Ought not these verses to lead the Lords’ servants to work among the heathen more than they do?
T, H. —Please explain verse 21.
Ed. —It refers to the conversion of the Gentiles.
C. H. P. —Verse 24. Is it known when Paul went to Spain?
Ed. —No.
T. H. —The apostle here in 27th ver. speaks of the Gentiles who were made partakers of the Gospel that they should minister carnal things, i.e. worldly goods.
G. K. B. —The knowledge of Christ, whilst it fills the soul with happiness, knits us up with all that all His, and enhances in our eyes the value of their prayers, always effectual on the part of godly men of all ages.
T. H. —The apostle in ver. 30, admonishes to strive together and unite in earnest prayer—to be of one mind: he asks them to pray to God for him.
G. K. B. — “That I may be refreshed with you,” ( not merely you by me).
Romans 16
C. H. P. —How beautifully this chapter shows what women can do for the Lord without going out of their proper places.
E. M. B. —The following things are said to be “ of God” in this Epistle: Gospel 1:1, 15:16
Son — 1:4
Beloved —1:7
Will — 1:10; 12:2; 15:32
Power — 1:16
Glory — 1:23; 3:23; 5:2; 15:7
Righteousness — 1:17; 3:5, 21, 22; 10:3
Wrath — 1:18
Truth — 1:25; 3:7; 15:8
Haters —1:30
Judgment — 1:32; 11:33; 2:2, 3, 5
Goodness — 2:4; 11:22
Praise — 2:29
Oracles — 3:2
Faith — 3:3
Fear — 3:18
Forbearance — 3:25
Promise— 4:20
Love — 5:5; 8:39
Grace — 5:15
Gift — 6:23
Law — 7:22, 25; 8:7
Spirit —8:9, 15; 15:19
Sons — 8:14, 19
Children — 8:16, 21; 9:8, 26
Heirs — 8:17
Elect — 8:33
Purpose — 9:11
Word —10:17
Answer — 11:4
Severity — 11:22
Gifts—11:29
Calling — 11:29
Wisdom — 11:33
Knowledge — 11:33
Ways — 11:34
Mind—11:33
Mercies — 12:1
Power — 13:1.
Ordinance — 13:2.
Minister — 13:4.
Kingdom — 14:7.
Work — 14:20.
Commandment — 16:26.
Does not this chapter afford an illustration of the doctrine of future reward and loss in the coming kingdom? Some were to be honored especially, because of their more abundant labors and more diligent devotedness, others were noted by no mark of personal approbation, while saluted equally in the love of Christ, as it will doubtless be in the coming day. The delicate adjustment of praise which did not confound laboring in the Lord with laboring much in the Lord, and which while greeting all in love sets some conspicuously in the light, that all might see and approve with joy appears instructive on this point. It is interesting to notice how assiduously the apostle labors to turn the hearts of the several saints to each other. Nothing is more easily deranged than Christian fellowship. The moment the principle of esteeming others more highly than self is practically lost sight of, the mainspring of happy fellowship is gone.
Nemie. —Is this the same mystery referred to in xi. 25? The gathering in of Jews and Gentiles into one body in Christ Jesus as in Ephesians 3:3-93How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:3‑9). Which are the “Scriptures of the prophets” by which it is to be “ made known to all nations?”
Ed. —Yes. The Scriptures of the prophets are the Old Testament prophets.
T. H. —Verse IS. Cenchrea near Corinth, Phebe-servant -deaconess: the apostle does not forget his helpers in the Lord, he here mentions their names.
Edo. —Verses 3, 9. “ Helpers,” something we can all be. In 1 Corinthians 12:2828And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28), the little word “helps” is such a comfort placed as it is among the higher offices, it is a niche the weakest child can fill. “For the Lord,” “ for Christ,” occurs eleven times in this 76th chapter. Verse 12, Laboring in the Lord, glorious results must follow.
G. K. B. —The trade of tent maker, if pursued in Rome, would naturally furnish him with a large room where not a few might assemble, as for a considerable time after this Christians were in the habit of so meeting. Not Achaia but Asia (R. V.) The household of Stephanas were the firstfruits there, see 1. Cor. 16:16.
T. H. —Verse 6. Mary who labored much is commended as well as many others, the apostle is giving a record of the names of those who did great service to the Church of God.
C. H. P. —Verse 13. Does this verse mean that Rufus’ Mother was like a mother to the Apostle Paul?
Yod. —Verse 25. From this verse we get a good idea of the use of the word “ mystery,” in the New Testament. It is not used so much to mean (as we use it now) anything dark, hard to be understood, misty, shadowy, vague, &c., but rather that which has hitherto been kept secret. See 1 Corinthians 15:5151Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:51), where Paul says “ Behold I spew you a mystery.” He was about to tell them something that had never been known, i.e., the resurrection and catching up at the coming of the Lord for His saints. But here Paul is speaking of the truths relating to the church which were specially revealed to him, see Ephesians 3:3, 4, 9; 5:323How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (Ephesians 3:3‑4)
9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9)
32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32).
T. H. —Verse 17 there is a caution with regard to divisions, offenses and scandals, the apostle says they are to be avoided.
T. H. —Explain verse 19. “For now obedience is come abroad unto all men,” etc.
T. H. —Verse 20, the apostle here gives a lovely assurance that God will defeat the purposes of Satan: soon the reward of immortality will be given to the faithful. “ Let no man take your crown.”