New International Version
Romans 15:16
16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
- English Standard Version (ESV)to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit.
Context of Romans 15:16
14I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—
Read all of Romans 15Romans 15:16 word by word
εἰς τὸ εἶναί με λειτουργὸν Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὰ ἔθνη ἱερουργοῦντα τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα γένηται ἡ προσφορὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν εὐπρόσδεκτος ἡγιασμένη ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- should beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the ministerλειτουργόςleitourgos · ministerG3011
- of JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
- ministeringἱερουργέωhierourgeō · to ministerG2418
- the gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- the offering upπροσφοράprosphora · offeringG4376
- might beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- acceptableεὐπρόσδεκτοςeuprosdektos · acceptableG2144
- being sanctifiedἁγιάζωhagiazō · to sanctifyG37
- byἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- theπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
Cross-references for Romans 15:16
- Romans 15:18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—
- Romans 11:13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry
- Acts 9:15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
- Acts 13:2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- Acts 22:21“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
- Acts 26:17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
- 1 Corinthians 3:5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
- Galatians 2:7On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
- Ephesians 3:1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
- Philippians 2:17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
- 1 Timothy 2:7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
- 2 Timothy 1:11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.
- Romans 15:29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
Commentaries on Romans 15:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Ministering the Gospel of God - ̔, Acting as a priest. Here is a plain allusion, says Dr. Whitby, to the Jewish sacrifices offered by the priest, and sanctified or made acceptable by the libamen offered with them; for he compares himself, in preaching the Gospel, to the priest performing his sacred functions - preparing his sacrifice to be offered. The Gentiles, converted by him and dedicated to the service of God, are his sacrifices and oblation. The…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The minister - ̀ leitourgonThis is not the word which is commonly translated “minister” ́ diakonosThis word is properly appropriated to those who minister in public offices or the affairs of the state. In the New Testament it is applied mainly to the Levitical priesthood, who ministered and served at the altar; Hebrews 11:11. It is however applied to the ministers of the New Testament, as discharging “substantially” the same offices toward the church…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 The apostle was persuaded that the Roman Christians were filled with a kind and affectionate spirit, as well as with knowledge. He had written to remind them of their duties and their dangers, because God had appointed him the minister of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul preached to them; but what made them sacrifices to God, was, their sanctification; not his work, but the work of the Holy Ghost: unholy things can never be pleasing to the holy…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16a minister: The Greek word leitourgos means “servant” or “minister.” It can describe many kinds of service, but Jews often used it for priests. Paul likely chose this word to highlight the priestly nature of his work. so that the Gentiles: Paul emphasizes that the church in Rome included many Gentiles (see also 1:6–7). This does not mean there were no Jews in the church, but Gentiles had become the majority (see 16:3–16). become an offering acceptable to…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. that I should be the--rather, "a" minister--The word here used is commonly employed to express the office of the priesthood, from which accordingly the figurative language of the rest of the verse is taken. of Jesus Christ--"Christ Jesus," according to the true reading. to the Gentiles--a further proof that the Epistle was addressed to a Gentile church. (See on Ro 1:13). ministering the gospel of God--As the word here is a still more priestly one, it…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 15:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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