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CHAPTER XV. - John Calvin, Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans [1539]

Edition used:

Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans, trans. from the original Latin by the Rev. John Owen (Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1849).

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CHAPTER XV.

1Now we who are able ought to bear the infirmities of the2 unable, and not to please ourselves: let indeed each of us3 please his neighbour for good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The reproaches4 of those who reproached thee, fell upon me.” For whatsoever things have been before written, have been written for our instruction, that through the patience and consolation5 of the Scriptures we might have hope: and may the God of patience and of consolation grant you to have the same mind6 towards one another, according to Christ Jesus, that ye may unanimously, with one mouth, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7Receive ye then one another, as Christ has received us, to the8 glory of God. Now I say, that Jesus Christ became the minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the9 promises made to the fathers: the Gentiles also ought to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written, “On this account will I confess to thee among the Gentiles, and to thy name will I10 sing:” and again he says, “Exult, ye Gentiles, with his people;”11 and further, “Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and praise him12 together, all ye nations:” and again Isaiah says, “There shall be the root of Jesse, and he who shall rise up to reign over the13 Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope.” And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

14But I am persuaded, my brethren, even I myself, concerning you, that ye are also yourselves full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, being able to admonish one another.15 The more boldly, however, have I written to you, my brethren, in part, as putting you in mind, on account of the16 grace given to me by God, that I should be the minister of Christ to the Gentiles, consecrating the gospel of Christ, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17I have therefore reason for glorying, through Jesus Christ,18 in the things of God. I will not indeed dare to speak anything of those things which Christ has not done through me, as to19 the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and work, through the power of signs and of wonders, through the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about to Illyricum,20 I have spread more fully1 the gospel of Christ; thus endeavouring to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, that I21 might not build on another’s foundation; but, as it is written, “They to whom it has not been declared concerning him, shall see; and they who have not heard, shall understand.”

22I have on this account also been often hindered from coming23 to you: but now, having a place no longer in these regions,24 and having a desire for many years to come to you, when I go to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope that when I go there I shall see you, and that I shall be brought on my way thither by you, if however I shall first be in part filled by a converse with you.

25But I am now going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints:26 for it has pleased Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution27 to the saints who are at Jerusalem: it has pleased them, I say, and their debtors they are; for if the Gentiles have partaken of their spiritual things, they ought also to minister28 to them in temporal things. When therefore I shall have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by29 you to Spain: and I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

30Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive with me in your prayers31 for me to God, that I may be delivered from the unbelieving in Judea, and that my service, undertaken for Jerusalem, may32 be acceptable to the saints; that with joy I may come to you by the will of God, and may, together with you, be refreshed. And the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

[1 ]“I have supplemented,” is what Calvin approves: the gospel had already been partially preached, but Paul had filled up or supplied what was deficient.