Romans 15 explained: Making Room for One Another

Carry the weak (vv. 1-6)

The 'strong' and 'weak' continue the previous chapter's dispute over food rules and holy days, and Paul asks those who feel free to put others' good ahead of their own preferences. He quotes Psalm 69, which he applies to Jesus, as someone who took on insults aimed at God instead of pleasing himself.

One family of praise (vv. 7-13)

Paul says Jesus came first to serve the Jewish people, keeping God's promises to their ancestors, and also so that non-Jewish people would praise God for his mercy. As Paul reads them, his quotes from the Psalms, Deuteronomy and Isaiah show the nations were meant to join in all along; the 'Root of Jesse' means a promised king from David's family.

Paul's mission so far (vv. 14-21)

Paul pictures his work like a priest's, presenting non-Jewish believers to God as an offering made holy by the Holy Spirit. He has spread the message from Jerusalem to Illyricum, a region on the Adriatic coast in today's Balkans, always aiming for places that had never heard it.

Plans for Rome and Spain (vv. 22-24)

With no untouched ground left in those regions, Paul hopes to visit Rome on his way to Spain and to have the church there help him on that journey. Whether he ever reached Spain is unknown, because the New Testament does not say.

A gift for Jerusalem (vv. 25-29)

First he must deliver money from churches in Macedonia and Achaia, northern and southern Greece, to poor believers in Jerusalem. He sees it as non-Jewish believers repaying a debt, since the spiritual blessings they received came to them through the Jewish people.

A request for prayer (vv. 30-33)

Paul fears hostile opponents in Judea and worries the Jerusalem believers might not accept the gift. According to the book of Acts, he was arrested in Jerusalem and did reach Rome, but as a prisoner.

Key verse: Romans 15:7

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on who exactly 'the weak' were, whether mainly Jewish believers keeping food and festival laws or anyone with stricter scruples, and so on how far giving way to others' consciences should go today.

Something to think about

When is putting up with someone else's scruples an act of kindness, and when does it stop being one?