Romans 15:20

Romans 15:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
• English Standard Version (ESV)and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,
• New Living Translation (NLT)My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.

Context of Romans 15:20

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— 19by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” 22This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Romans 15:20 word by word

οὕτως δὲ φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγελίζεσθαι οὐχ ὅπου ὠνομάσθη Χριστός, ἵνα μὴ ἐπ᾽ ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον οἰκοδομῶRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Yeaδέde · thenG1161
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• have I strivedφιλοτιμέομαιphilotimeomai · to aspireG5389
• to preach the gospelεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
• notοὐou · noG3756
• whereὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• was namedὀνομάζωonomazō · to nameG3687
• ·ἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• lestμήmē · notG3361
• I should buildοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• another man’sἀλλότριοςallotrios · another’sG245
• foundationθεμέλιοςthemelios · foundationG2310

Cross-references for Romans 15:20

• 2 Corinthians 10:14We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
• 2 Corinthians 10:13We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.
• Ephesians 2:20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Commentaries on Romans 15:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20So have I strived to preach the Gospel - ̔ · For I have considered it my honor to preach the Gospel where that Gospel was before unknown. This is the proper import of the word ; from , a friend, and , honor. As I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, so I esteem it an honor to preach it, and especially to proclaim it among the heathen; not building on another man's foundation - not watering what another apostle had planted; but cheerfully exposing…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Yea, so have I strived - The word used here ́ philotimoumenonmeans properly “to be ambitious, to be studious of honor;” and then to “desire” earnestly. In that sense it is used here. He earnestly desired; he made it a point for which he struggled, to penetrate into regions which had not heard the gospel. Not where Christ was named - Where the gospel had not been before preached. Lest I should build … - That is, he desired to found churches himself; he…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. 14-33This final section includes elements often found at the end of New Testament letters: a discussion of travel plans (15:14–29), requests for prayer (15:30–33), references to ministry partners (16:1–2, 21–23), greetings (16:3–16), and a short hymn of praise (16:25–27). Only the warning about false teachers is a non-standard feature in this conclusion (16:17–19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2218-22. For I will not dare to speak of any--"to speak aught" of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me--a modest, though somewhat obscure form of expression, meaning, "I will not dare to go beyond what Christ hath wrought by me"--in which form accordingly the rest of the passage is expressed. Observe here how Paul ascribes all the success of his labors to the activity of the living Redeemer, working in and by him. by word and deed--by preaching…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 15:20

• House
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Ought
• Partaker
• Romans, Epistle to the
• Seal
• Sign
• Strive
• Acts of the Apostles
• Ambitious
• Bible, the

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