Or, comfort; so also in v. 5.

The preceding verse mentions the Scriptures and the instructions contained in them. However, in the concluding word in this verse, God sets up Christ Jesus as the standard for the church life that we may do everything in the church life according to Him, not taking any doctrine or knowledge as the standard. This will issue in the one accord mentioned in v. 6.

The Greek word means with the same mind, will, and purpose. This is to be one in our whole being and results in our being one in our outward speaking. Whenever we are in one accord, we speak the same thing; we speak with one mouth. This oneness is the reverse of Babel, where the division among mankind caused their language to become confused and divided into many different speakings (Gen. 11:7, 9). The only way to be with one accord and one mouth is to allow Christ the room to be everything in our heart and in our mouth that God may be glorified.

Verse Rom. 14:3 says that we should receive people according to God's receiving, but here we are told that we should receive people according to Christ's receiving. Christ's receiving is God's receiving. What Christ has received, God has received. Those whom God and Christ have received we must receive, regardless of how they differ from us in doctrine or practice. This will be to the glory of God.

The same Greek word as for deacon in 16:1 (there rendered deaconess) and 1 Tim. 3:8. In vv. 8-9 Christ is shown to be the servant of both the circumcision (the Jews) and the nations (the Gentiles). For the Jews, Christ is a servant for the sake of God's truthfulness, to fulfill and confirm all the promises God gave to their fathers. For the Gentiles, Christ is a servant so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy.

See note Rom. 3:7^1a. Christ has become a servant of the circumcision to confirm the promises God gave to the fathers. This is to prove God's truthfulness.

Or, confess.

Although Christ is the root of Jesse (David's father, signifying the Jewish people), He will also be the ruler of the Gentiles. The apostle quoted this word and the word in vv. 9-11 to prove that Christ brings together the Gentiles and the Jews. Since Christ is such an all-embracing Lord (Acts 10:36), bringing together the Jews and the Gentiles, we must receive all the different believers according to Him.

Lit., public servant; as in Rom. 13:6.

In Greek, from the same root as energizing.

Paul's being a priest of the gospel of God to minister Christ to the Gentiles was a priestly service to God, and the Gentiles whom he gained through his gospel preaching were an offering presented to God. By this priestly service many Gentiles, who were unclean and defiled, were sanctified in the Holy Spirit and became such an offering, acceptable to God. They were set apart from things common and were saturated with God's nature and element, and were thus sanctified both positionally and dispositionally (see note Rom. 6:19^2b). Such a sanctification is in the Holy Spirit. This means that, based on Christ's redemption, the Holy Spirit renews, transforms, and separates unto holiness those who have been regenerated by believing into Christ.

See note Rom. 5:2⁴.

A region in southeast Europe adjacent to Macedonia. This shows Paul's widespread preaching of the gospel. He desired to travel even farther, all the way to Spain (v. 24).

Lit., fulfilled.

The Greek word means serving as a deacon.

Lit., fellowship. The Greek word denotes participation and fellowship. The same word is translated fellowship in Phil. 1:5 and sharing in Heb. 13:16, and is from the same root as contribute in Rom. 12:13 of this book. The fellowship of love, the fellowship in love between the Gentile and the Jewish saints, developed out of the ministering of Christ to the Gentiles and the offering of the Gentiles as a sacrifice to God. Paul went to the Gentiles with Christ; now he was returning to the Jews with the fellowship of the Gentile saints in material things. This fellowship of love was the practical result of Paul's ministry.

The Greek word denotes the service performed by priests and Levites in the temple. It is the same word as for ministering in Heb. 10:11. In v. 16 Paul's thought was that he was a priest. Here he might have had the thought that the Gentiles were serving as Levites.

Paul went to the Gentiles with Christ, returned to the Jewish brothers with material possessions, and expected to visit Rome in the fullness of the blessing of Christ to minister the riches of Christ to the people there. This shows us the proper church life. Through the apostle, the church life was being filled with Christ, filled with love in the fellowship of material possessions, and filled with the mutual participation in the blessing of Christ's fullness.

The Greek word denotes the service of a deacon. In v. 25 and in this verse Paul might have had the thought that he was serving as a deacon.