Read & explore together
Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles
Romans 15:7–13 urges believers to accept one another because Christ accepted them. The passage links this shared welcome with God’s glory, God’s truth, God’s mercy, and a strong hope filled with joy and peace.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are letter and teaching. The passage gives an instruction about accepting one another, explains Christ’s service to the circumcision in relation to God’s truth and the promises to the fathers, includes repeated quoted lines about Gentiles praising God, and ends with a prayer for hope.
Romans 15:7–13Main takeaway
Because Christ has accepted his people, they are to accept one another and join in shared praise, joy, peace, and hope before God.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Accept one another for God’s gloryThe passage begins with a clear command: “accept one another”. The pattern for that welcome is Christ himself, who “also accepted you”.
Explanation
The passage begins with a clear command: “accept one another”. The pattern for that welcome is Christ himself, who “also accepted you”. This is more than good manners between people. The verse says this acceptance is “to the glory of God”, so welcoming one another is tied to honouring God.
02Christ served the circumcision in God’s truthVerse 8 says Christ “has been made a servant of the circumcision”. In this verse, the focus is on Christ’s service to the circumcised people named there.
Explanation
Verse 8 says Christ “has been made a servant of the circumcision”. In this verse, the focus is on Christ’s service to the circumcised people named there. That service is “for the truth of God” and has a purpose: “that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers”.
03Gentiles glorify God for mercyThe next purpose is “that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy”. The passage then repeats quoted lines about Gentiles praising God.
Explanation
The next purpose is “that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy”. The passage then repeats quoted lines about Gentiles praising God. One speaks of praise among the Gentiles, another tells Gentiles to rejoice “with his people”, and another calls “all the peoples” to praise the Lord.
04The Gentiles will hope in the rulerThe final quotation says, “There will be the root of Jesse”, and this one “arises to rule over the Gentiles”.
Explanation
The final quotation says, “There will be the root of Jesse”, and this one “arises to rule over the Gentiles”. The verse then adds, “in him the Gentiles will hope”. So the repeated theme of praise grows into hope, centred on the one named in the quotation.
05The closing prayer asks for overflowing hopeThe passage ends with a prayer to “the God of hope”. It asks that believers be filled with “all joy and peace in believing”.
Explanation
The passage ends with a prayer to “the God of hope”. It asks that believers be filled with “all joy and peace in believing”. The result is that they “may abound in hope”, and this hope is said to be “in the power of the Holy Spirit”.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reason does verse 7 give for accepting one another?
Look at the comparison in the verse and notice both Christ’s action and the goal at the end of the sentence.
02According to verse 8, why was Christ made a servant of the circumcision?
Find the purpose words in the verse and note what they say about God’s truth and the promises to the fathers.
03What repeated ideas connect verses 9–12, and how does verse 13 add to them?
Trace the words about Gentiles glorifying, rejoicing, praising, and hoping, then connect them with joy, peace, and hope in believing.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 15:7–13
7Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.
8Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
9and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.”
10Again he says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11Again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him.”
12Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.