Read & explore together
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
Paul explains why he has written boldly to the Roman believers. He affirms their goodness, knowledge, and ability to admonish others, then describes the grace God gave him to serve Christ Jesus among the Gentiles and why he has often been hindered from coming.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, Paul speaks directly about his ministry. He says the believers are able to instruct one another, yet he has written to remind them. He then describes his service to the Gentiles, what Christ has worked through him, and the aim that has shaped his travels.
Romans 15:14–22Main takeaway
This passage shows Paul describing his ministry as God-given service, centred on what Christ has done and aimed at people who had not yet heard.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Paul affirms the Roman believersPaul begins by saying he is persuaded that these brothers are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish others.
Explanation
Paul begins by saying he is persuaded that these brothers are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish others. “Admonish” is a word for warning or guiding one another. Even so, he says he has written more boldly in part as a reminder.
02Grace gave Paul a ministry to the GentilesPaul says grace was given to him by God so that he should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.
Explanation
Paul says grace was given to him by God so that he should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He describes this work in priestly language connected to the good news of God. He says the Gentiles are to be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
03Paul speaks about what Christ worked through himPaul says his boasting is in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. He will not speak of anything except what Christ worked through him.
Explanation
Paul says his boasting is in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. He will not speak of anything except what Christ worked through him. The result he names is the obedience of the Gentiles, and he says this happened by word and deed.
04His ministry had power and a clear aimPaul says this work took place in the power of signs and wonders and in the power of God’s Spirit.
Explanation
Paul says this work took place in the power of signs and wonders and in the power of God’s Spirit. He states that he fully preached the good news of Christ from Jerusalem and around as far as Illyricum. His aim was to preach where Christ was not already named.
05That aim helps explain his delayPaul supports his aim with the written words, “They will see, to whom no news of him came.
Explanation
Paul supports his aim with the written words, “They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven’t heard will understand.” He then says, “Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you.” His stated ministry pattern helps explain why he had often been hindered.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Paul say about the Roman believers before explaining his own ministry?
Look for the three qualities he names and the ability he says they already have in Romans 15:14.
02How does Paul describe the source and goal of his ministry to the Gentiles?
Notice that grace was given to him by God, and that he speaks about the Gentiles being acceptable and sanctified in Romans 15:15 and Romans 15:16.
03Why had Paul often not come to the Roman believers yet?
Connect his aim to preach where Christ was not already named with his statement that he was hindered many times from coming in Romans 15:20 and Romans 15:22.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 15:14–22
14I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.
15But I write the more boldly to you in part as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,
16that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
18For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
19in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ;
20yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation.
21But, as it is written, “They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven’t heard will understand.”
22Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,