Debtors to the Ministry Romans 15:27

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “ it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-seven of Romans, Paul told the believers how Macedonia and Achaia were as, “debtors” to the ministry where we read:

It has pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

The verse begins, “It has pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. ” Paul began with the words, “it has pleased them” which means “had good pleasure, prefer and were favorably inclined towards the giving of an offering to Jerusalem” “verily” or “even as and indeed”; “and their debtors” which means “ones who owes” “they are” which refers to “the believers in Macedonia and Achaia were to Jerusalem”. Paul shared how the believers in Macedonia and Achaia were not only “pleased” to send an offering to the believers in Jerusalem, but they were as people who were in “debt” to the Jerusalem believers as well.

The verse continues, “For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.”. Paul added the word, “for” which means “because and since” “if the Gentiles” or “whether the people who were from tribes, nations and people groups who were not Jews” “have been made partakers” which refers to “have come into communion or fellowship with, become a sharer of and made a partner” “of their spiritual things” or “of the believers in Jerusalem's divine, supernatural, regenerate and religious things”, “their duty is” which means “the believers who benefited from the spiritual things owe, are bound and are indebted” “also” or “even and indeed” “to minister” which means “to serve at the state of cost, perform a work and render public service” “unto them” which refers to “toward the believers in Jerusalem” “in carnal things” or “in fleshly, bodily and temporal things”. Paul shared how the “Gentiles” benefited from the “spiritual things” which were given to the believers in Jerusalem, and therefore it was their “responsibility” to serve them in the “temporary” things.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how the offering given to the “poor” believers in Jerusalem by the believers in Macedonia and Achaia was as a “debt” to them for the “spiritual things” given to them. God Almighty extended His “salvation” plan through Jesus Christ to the people in Jerusalem first, and then He gave it to the “Gentiles”. The “Gentiles” are indebted to the people of Jerusalem for all the “spiritual benefits” given to them, and when a person receives Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they not only benefit from what happened in Jerusalem, but also are indebted to them for their provision.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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