Paul Not Daring to Speak Romans 15:18

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God”, and in chapter fifteen and verse eighteen of Romans, Paul shared how he, “will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not worked by me” where we read:

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not worked by me,

to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, .

The verse begins, “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not worked by me, ...” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “I will not dare” or “Paul would not dread or shun in fear” “to speak” which means “to utter, declare and proclaim” “of any of those things which” or “anything that” “Christ” or “that the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “has not worked” which means “has not performed, accomplished or achieved” “by me” or “through Paul himself”. Paul would not in any way “speak” about anything other than what Jesus Christ “accomplished and achieved” in him.

The verse continues, “... to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,”. Paul added the words, “to make” which means “towards or unto” “the Gentiles” which refers to “the companies, troops and multitudes of individuals who are from nations and people groups who are not Jews” “obedient” which means “in compliance and submission” “by word” or “through and by means of what has been said, speech, utterance, decree and mandate” “and deed” which means “and business, employment, enterprise, undertaking and that which one is occupied”. Paul shared how “the Gentiles” demonstrated their “compliance and submission” to the gospel not only by their “speech” but also in their “actions”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we understand his determination not to deviate from anything Jesus “worked” through him toward the “Gentiles”. The “gospel of Jesus Christ” was not only to be presented to the “Gentiles”, but was also to be given in such a way they had an opportunity to respond to it. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die for the “sins” of every person, and now that He has raised from the dead, the offer of “salvation” is presented to everyone. The opportunity to respond in “word and deed” is now, and those who are wise shall choose to do so immediately.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome how he operated, “through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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