Rom. xv. 15, 16. [The] grace [that] is given to me of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, minis- tering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
THE calling of the Gentiles was, with the Apostle Paul, a very favourite subject of contemplation : and no wonder : for he had been appointed of God to be the minister of the Gentiles : and, in proportion as the prejudices of the Jews were hostile to their con- version, there was need of more abundant zeal in him who was ordained to promote it.
In the chapter before us he speaks very strongly on this subject. He affirms, indeed, that Jesus Christ was, in the first instance, " a minister of the circum- cision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers :" but that a further end of his mission was, " that the Gentiles also should glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, O ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse ; and He that shall rise to reign over the Gen- tiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust a."
On this subject the Apostle wrote most explicitly to the Church at Rome, which consisted chiefly of Gentile converts. With the Jews he was more re- served upon it, because of the inveteracy of their prejudices, which he did not wish unnecessarily to excite; though, when occasion required, he was as firm in maintaining it with them, as with the Gentiles themselves. But to the Church at Rome, which consisted chiefly of Gentiles, he wrote more boldly, " because of the grace given to him of God, to be in a more especial manner the minister of Christ to them."
a ver. 8 — 12.