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Romans

About this book
Chapter 15

1 But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.⁠ 5 Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and thus the Gentiles glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name.”⁠ 10 And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”⁠ 11 And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.”⁠ 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope.”⁠ 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15 But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve the gospel of God like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation, 21 but as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” 22 This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you. 23 But now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and I have for many years desired to come to you 24 when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help me on my journey there,⁠ after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things.⁠ 28 Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you,⁠ 29 and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing. 30 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

Texts in conversation

Compare Romans 15:24 and 3 John 1:6

New Testament

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Summary

In Romans, Paul asks the Roman church to send him on his way to Spain, using a unique verb for preparing traveling teachers. 3 John uses this same verb when asking Gaius to send the brothers on their way in a manner worthy of God.

Passages

Romans 15:24

New Testament
23 But now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and I have for many years desired to come to you 24 when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
55–58 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Romans

3 John 1:6

New Testament
5 Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). 6 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans.
100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 3 John

References

... The verb propempein, ‘to send forward,’ in this context has almost a technical sense of providing missionaries with supplies that would enable them to journey to the next stop (Acts 15:3; 1 Corinthians 16:6, 11; 2 Corinthians 1:16; Titus 3:13; Romans 15:24). Polycarp, Philippians 1:1, sees the action described by this verb as a manifestation of love: ‘I rejoice greatly with you in the Lord Jesus Christ that you have followed the pattern of true love and have sent forward on their way those who were bound in chains.’ In a way worthy of God. It is not clear whether this adverbial expression modifies what Gaius is to do (outfit the journey), or what the missionaries are to do (make the journey), or both (most likely). In any case the journey must be worthy of its goal, which is about to be explained in verse 7. The language throughout this passage probably stems from Christian paraenesis. In 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, when he is exhorting and consoling as a father does his own children, Paul writes, ‘You are to walk worthily of God’ — an impressive parallel since in 3 John 4 the Presbyter has rejoiced that his ‘children are walking in the truth’ and now he is urging such a child to help others on their journey ‘in a way worthy of God.’ ...
Raymond E. Brown, The Epistles of John (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1982), 711.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Romans 15:24 and 3 John 1:6

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