The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 432

the hope Rpokon of in vor. 4, with a prayer (lwToup-ybv) of Jeeua Christ 11J1to the Gentilet, for the abuncl11nce of which to his readers, milliatering (1,poup-yovna) the gospel of God, as tho rosuU of peace in the faith among that the offering up of the Gentiles might each other, the apostle now eonclucles his be e.ccepte.ble, being 10.nctifted in the Holy exhortation). Now the God of hope fill you Ghoat. As to the worcl3 >..«Tourr1~r and with e.ll joy e.nd pee.oe in believing, the.t 11.«Tourr•iv, see on eh. xiii. 6; and on }..a;Tpdx.J, ye me.y abound in hope, through the power >..a.-rp,,a.. on eh. i. 9 and xii. I. Here they of the lloly Ghost. a.re eviclently used in their sacrificial mean- ing, but applied metaphorically ; the " a.o- Vera. 14-33.-I. Ezp1·ession of confidence cepte.ble offering" which Panl offers to God in the general disposition of the Roman is that of the Gentiles whom he brinu3 to Ohrietians, and of the wril.4r' e desire to 'Di.sit the faith. "Th~ p~eachin~ of the g~spel he calls e. sacnficial service (iepoup-1 ,&v), them, and his intentio1111 in accordance with e.nd gennine faith _an _acceptable offering" that desire. (Theodoret). "This 1s my priesthood, to preach e.nd to proclaim" (Chrysoatom); c£. Ver.14.-And I myself e.lso e.m persuaded Phil. ii. 17. of you, my brethren, the.t ye yourselves e.lso Ver. 17.-I have therefore whereof I may a.re full of goodness, filled with e.ll know- glory through (rather, I ha~e mv boasting ledge, e.ble e.lso to admonish one another. in) Christ 1esus in the thiugs that pertain It is St. Paul's courteons e.s well e.s kindly unto God (Td -rpb~ ee&v-the same phrase we.y to compliment those to whom he writes o.s is need in Heb. v. 1 with reference to on what he believes to be good in them, e.nd priestly service). St. Pe.nl's purpose in to cling to a good opinion of them, even this and the four following venes is t.o where he has some misgivings, or has he.d a.liege proof of his being e. true apostle with reason to find fault ( of. 1 Cor. i. 4, seq.; 11, right t.o speak with authority to the 2 Cor. i. 7; iii. 1, seq.; vii. 3, seq.). Here Gentiles. It is evident, he ee.ys, from the "I myself e.lso" (1<11I 11bTbs /-ycl,) me.y he.ve extent e.nd success of my apostolic labours, tacit reference t.o the general good report and the power of God the.t has e.ocompe.nied of the Roman Church (of. oh. i. 8 e.nd xvi. them. So e.lso, still more earnestly e.nd e.t 19), which he means t.o se.y he himself by length, in 2 Cor. :xi. e.nd xii As to his no meaIIS doubts the truth of, notwithstand- reason for frequently thns insisting on hie ing his previons warnings. " Ye yourselves true apostleship, e.nd for asserting it in also" (Keil a.bTol) implies his trust the.t even writing to the Romans, see note on eh. i. 1. without such warnings they would of them- Vere. 18, 19.-J'or I will not dare to selves be e.s he would wish them to be ; "full epee.k of e.ny of those things which Christ of goodness" ( ci-y1160,a-ov71s), so e.s to be kind he.th not wrought through me unto the to one another, e.s they were enlightened obedience of the Gentiles (meaning, I will and replete with knowledge (-yv@a-ews). not de.re t.o speak of e.ny mere doings of my Ver. 15.-But I he.ve written unto you own, but only of those in which the power the more boldly, brethren, in some measure of Obrist working throagh my ministry has (so, e.s in the Revised Version, or, in part beeu displayed) by word e.nd deed, by the ( ci1rb µlpovs ), rather the.n in some sort, e.s power of signs e.nd wonders (Le. displays in the Authorized Version. The allusion of miraculous power. It is noteworthy how seems to be t.o the passages in the Epistle St. Pe.ul alludes incidente.ll v in l.ti;i lettera in which he hlLB been bold to admonish to such "signs e.nd wonders,; having e.ocom- urgently ; such as oh. xi. 17, se9-.; xii. 3 ; pe.nied his ministry, BS to something familiar o.nd espeoio.lly oh. xiv.), as putting you in e.nd e.oknowledged, so as to suggest the mind (reminding you only of what you idea. of their having been more frequent doubtless know), because of the gre.oe given tbe.n we might gather from the Aots of me of God; i.e., ne o.ppen.rs from wh11,t follows, the Apostles. Had the e.lleged " signs nnd of 11,postloehip to the Geutiles ( of. eh. i. 5, wonders" been unreal, we might have 14; also Aole uii. 21: Gn.l. ii. 9). Though expected thew to be wade more of in the the Ohurch of Rome wns not one of hie subsequent narrative of o.n admirer than in own foundo.tion, o.nd ho hnd no desire, oontemporary letters), by the power of the there or oleowhere, to build on another Spirit of God (o.l. thd Holy Spirit. This man's foundntion (ver. 20), yot his peoulinr po1oer, if to.ken e.s distinct from that of •-igna mission o.s o.postle to the (hmtiles gnve him and wonders, way denote the powt>r of the 11, clo.iw to 11clmonish thew. The re1LBon Holy Spirit displayed in the conversion of thus givon is, it will be obsorved, 11 oon- beliovera, and tho gifts bestowed upou 1lrmoLion of the viow, otherwise 11ppru-ent, them); 10 the.t from 1eruso.lem, e.nd round tho.t tho Romnu Churoh oonsietod prinoi- about a.a fe.r a.a lliyrioum, I he. ve fully po.lly of Gontilo boliovorn. pree.ohed (litern.lly, 1 hm·d /11~rill,d,) the Ver. 16,-That I ahould be the minister goapel of Christ. 1n th~ J.c~igu"ting the  THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [011. xv. 1-33,