Calvin

1:11

Paul rightly describes his object as being to impart his spiritual gifts, for his doctrine, his exhortations, and his prophecies were all gifts of God, and such gifts are distributed to the individual that he might in turn use them to help others. (Ro 12:3 - God has given a measure of faith to each, so none should think more highly of himself. 1Co 12:11 - The Spirit distributes gifts individually as He wills). He then makes clear that he didn't think them uninstructed, but that he wished to confirm their belief by his added teaching (Eph 4:13 - for we have yet to attain to the full stature of the man of Christ, [and so, can always use confirming]).

1:12

Paul seeks mutual benefit - theirs by his teaching, and he by theirs. Every Christian has something that they can share with us to our benefit. It is only our pride that keeps us from being so edified by them, the vain belief that we have sufficient unto ourselves.

1:13

Paul makes clear that he was not speaking idle words when he prayed to come to Rome, but that he had put forth every effort and yet been prevented. Thus the Lord often changes the plans of His saints, teaching them to rely more fully upon His providence, for it is great impiety to 'pass by God, and without Him to determine on things to come, as though they were in our power.' (Jas 4:13 - So speak those who fail to realize the Lord's power over their lives). When the believer is hindered by the hand of God, it is to be employed in a more urgent matter. The unbeliever sees only the blocking of their plans, the believer recognizes the hand of God and is satisfied to remain where He would have them. He seeks the fruit for which the apostles were sent (Jn 15:16 - They were appointed to go and bear fruit that would remain). That he calls it his fruit merely shows the degree to which the worker in Christ identifies himself with his Lord.

1:14

Paul gives the Romans yet another reason not to consider him presumptuous inasmuch as he was under obligation to both foolish and wise. His desire to come to them implied nothing as to their current standing in Christ, it is the duty attendant on Paul's office to preach to all - both foolish and wise. In this verse, we see that God has mandated the Word to be preached to the wise so that He may in doing so subject all earthly wisdom to Himself, making all the learned humble before the simplicity of His teaching. In this He also causes the learned to become more tolerant of the unlearned, considering as brothers in Christ those they might otherwise not have associated with. Here, furthermore, is a rule for all teachers to take to heart, "modestly and kindly to accommodate themselves to the capacities of the ignorant and unlearned. Hence it will be, that they will be able, with more evenness of mind, to bear with many absurdities and almost innumerable things that may disgust them, by which they might otherwise be overcome."

1:15

Paul is prepared and anxious to fulfill God's call to spread the gospel, and gather fruit for the Lord, but only so far as the Lord would allow.

 

 

Matthew Henry

1:11

Having heard of their faith, he was all the more anxious to become better acquainted with them for "fruitful Christians are as much the joy as barren professors are the grief of faithful ministers." Paul put the less pleasant but more pressing duties of his office first, as is proper for all good ministers. What he received he longed to communicate to them, for 'a good sermon is a good gift.' He sought to deepen their spiritual roots as they grew, which deep rooting all the saints need, which is the use of the spiritual gifts.

1:12

It is ever a comfort to share with those of mutual faithfulness and fidelity, to join in the mutual work of faith. Christians are refreshed by comparing notes with each other as regards spiritual matters.

1:13

Inasmuch as Paul's words edified the Romans, they would be accounted to him as fruitful labor.

1:14

As receiver of God's talents, he was indebted to put them to use. "All our receivings put us in debt; we are but stewards of our Lord's goods." Paul had sharpened his talents to be able to preach equally well to the wise and the foolish, as can be seen by a comparison of his preaching to the Lycaonians (Ac 14:15), and to the Athenians (Ac 17:22). (1Co 2:6 - Among the mature, he spoke wisdom not of this age).

1:15

Paul was ready and willing to face the risks and perils of Rome, if God called him to it, for his work was not for money but for Christ.

 

 

Adam Clarke

1:11

Spiritual gifts refer to those special gifts of the Spirit, which it seems likely were only given through the apostles.

1:12

Paul indicates that it will require the action of mutual faith - theirs joined with his own - to receive the blessings of these gifts.

1:13

God had forbidden that Paul visit earlier.

1:14

The Greeks were known to consider all other nations as barbarous. Paul considered himself as sent to all people, even as the divine commission indicates.

1:15

Paul is mentally prepared to preach, but has been restrained by God from visiting. That he writes is in itself by God's providence alone.

 

 

Barnes' Notes

1:11

Paul's earnest desire is to visit (Ro 15:23 - for no further place remains for him to work in his current lands, Ro 15:32 - and so he hopes by the will of God to come to them for a time of rest in their company). He hopes to preach when he comes, and so confirm their hope in Christ. To take this as a reference to the gifts of the Spirit requires an unnatural interpretation of the text. (Ro 15:29 - He knows he will come in the full blessing of Christ). One purpose of ministry is to confirm the truths of the gospel to them that have heard, and this is Paul's goal in Rome (Eph 4:13 - teachers are given until we all reach unity of faith, and full maturity in Christ. 2Co 1:24 - Pastors don't lord it over us, but work with us for our joy, helping us to stand firm in our faith). Paul's wish was "to preach not simply where he must, but where he might."

1:12

"One effect of religion is to produce the desire of communion of saints." Such communion ought to be had by every Christian, each having at least one fellow believer with whom to discuss experiences. The strength of faith in new believers is a great source of encouragement to older believers (3Jn 4 - There is no greater joy than knowing your children walk in the truth). Paul was ready to be taught by the humblest of Christians, and to so be strengthened in his own faith.

1:13

Acts 19:21 records at least one time that Paul had thought to head for Rome, after his trip to Jerusalem. This provides a germ of evidence for the validity of both Romans and Acts, for such confirmations are beyond the efforts of a forger to contrive. Paul may refer to the many local opportunities for preaching of the gospel, or to the opposition thereto, as things that hindered his coming sooner. Paul was not interested in sightseeing, but in bringing about the conversion of sinners even in the capital of the Roman Empire. (Jn 15:16 - Jesus chose his apostles to go and bear fruit that will remain).

1:14

Paul's debt was not to them specifically, but was a debt to God due to God's favor in making him a preacher of the gospel. (Ac 9:15 - He was a chosen instrument of God, to bear His name before Gentiles and kings and Israelis, Ro 11:13 - apostle to the Gentiles). To Paul, this required making the "gospel known as far as possible among all the nations of the earth." By Greek, Paul means the same as by wise, and in this, he doubtless intends to include the Romans, who were, after all, of Greek descent. By Greek definition, all who spoke a language other than Greek were barbarians (1Co 14:11 - If I speak in another language, I am as a barbarian to you, and you to me). The wise are referred to as synonymous with the idea of the Greeks. (1Co 1:22 - The Greek search for wisdom, 1Co 1:19 - but God will destroy the wisdom of the wise. 1Co 3:18-19 - The wise in worldly wisdom ought to become foolish, for such wisdom is foolishness before God. 1Co 4:10 - We are fools for Christ's sake. 2Co 11:19 - Those wise in the world find themselves gladly entertaining fools). The gospel has power to instruct all of mankind, and so its preachers must be willing and able to teach the wise and learned, but must also be willing and able to teach the ignorant among men.

1:15

Paul is prepared to preach to them, knowing no fear, and concerned for their welfare. But his preaching to them, as to any other, was only as God gave opportunity.

 

 

Wycliffe

1:11

The spiritual gift that Paul hoped to impart was not a special gift (Ro 12:6-8 - such as prophecy, service, exhortations, or mercy), but a growing knowledge of the truth of God.

1:12

If such an evangelist as Paul felt the need for Christian fellowship, how much more should we not dare to isolate ourselves from such fellowship? Faith is personal, yours and mine.

1:13

Paul hoped that his preaching amongst the Gentiles in Rome would be just as fruitful as it had been elsewhere.

1:14-15

In differentiating between Greeks and barbarians, Paul speaks of cultural divides. In speaking of wise and unwise, he addresses intellectual divides. All of these divisions existed in Rome, and Paul fully expected his message to be effective amongst all those divisions, even though the largest portion of Christianity had come thus far from the lower levels of society (1Co 1:26-29 - not many were considered wise, strong, or noble according to the flesh, but God has chosen base things that none should boast before Him).

 

 

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1:11

Paul's gift is not supernatural, but a purely spiritual gift as indicated in the next verse. (1Co 1:7 - We are enriched in all knowledge in Christ Jesus, and so lacking in no gift).

1:12

Paul expresses his hope that both he and the church might be improved by their meeting, showing himself ready to learn from even the newest Christian, and showing a great difference between his style, and that that has since developed in the papacy.

1:13

One hindrance to Paul's reaching Rome sooner was his great desire to preach where Christ was not yet known. That Paul refers to the Roman church as being 'even as among other Gentiles,' seems to indicate pretty clearly that the Roman church was largely Gentile in composition.

1:14

Many in Rome prided themselves on their development in Greek culture. Some see this verse as indicating the purpose of speaking in tongues, inasmuch as it would ease the promoting of the gospel amongst diverse nations (1Co 14:18 - a thing of which Paul, himself, was wont to brag a bit). However, there is little evidence in the records to indicate that this was the case [other than Paul's own.]

1:15

Paul was driven by the overwhelming obligation to deliver the Gospel to 'men of every class, from the rudest to the most refined.'

 

 

New Thoughts (3/3/01)

I see my thoughts from almost a year ago, wondering what all this study was in preparation for, and still, I have not seen it put to work in any recognizable way. But I have seen the beginnings of movement, being asked to teach at one of the home groups in our church. And in this, I see I am challenged, because learning and teaching are two vastly different things. This section reminds me that if I am to teach well, I must be able to teach in a fashion matched not to my own understanding, but to the level of those I would teach. This is a weakness for me, and I know it. Even in one on one situations, I can find it very difficult to tune myself to the one I am talking to. How then shall I handle this in a situation where many people are listening, and coming from many different backgrounds? Lord, it can only be by Your grace! Oh, but I shall have to lean on You more fully, if I am to put these talents to work for You. Paul recognized that it was grace alone that had made of him a preacher of the gospel, and there is great truth in that recognition. For I see in myself that any success I may have in teaching can only be by Your hand.

There is also a great lesson regarding pride in these verses, as Calvin points out, for Paul displays a recognition we all need to grab hold of: that every member of the body of Christ has something to offer us that will increase our own faith and understanding. He has given us diverse talents, a variety of gifts, but all for one purpose. When we come together, what is to occur, but that each one of us ought to have some bit of wisdom to impart, some psalm to bring forth, some cause for praise to our God. This is church. This is the fellowship of the saints. This is the primary reason we are called not to forsake our assembling together. Because in our assemblies, all are to feel their worth in the economy of God's kingdom, all are to be a source of strength and joy one to another, all are to be so strengthened and encouraged. Yes, there ought to be those connections within the fellowship that we can call upon in our times of greatest need, those brothers special to us, to whom we can bare our souls, and pour out our worst doubts. But we must, I must learn to crush my pride beneath the recognition of what God does through every one of my brothers.

Father, I pray for this morning's men's breakfast, that You would bring forth wisdom from the least of those who come, that You would make of this breakfast a time such as You have declared our fellowships ought to be, with every man there having his part to add, to the edification of us all.