New Living Translation
Romans 15:21
21I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.”
Romans 15:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
- New International Version (NIV)Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."
- New King James Version (NKJV)but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”
Context of Romans 15:21
19They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. 20My 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. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.” 22In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places. 23But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you.
Read all of Romans 15Romans 15:21 word by word
ἀλλὰ καθὼς γέγραπται· οἷς οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη περὶ αὐτοῦ ὄψονται καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἀκηκόασιν συνήσουσιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butἀλλάalla · butG235
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- To whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- wasἀναγγέλλωanaggellō · to reportG312
- notοὐou · noG3756
- ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
- they shall seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- they that haveἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- shall understandσυνίημιsuniēmi · to understandG4920
Cross-references for Romans 15:21
- Isaiah 52:15And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.
- Isaiah 65:1The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.
Commentaries on Romans 15:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21But as it is written - These words, quoted from Isaiah 52:15, the apostle applies to his own conduct; not that the words themselves predicted what Paul had done, but that he endeavored to fulfill such a declaration by his manner of preaching the Gospel to the heathen.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21But as it is written - Isaiah 52:15. This is not literally quoted, but the sense is retained. The design of quoting it is to justify the principle on which the apostle acted. It was revealed that the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles; and he regarded it as a high honor to be the instrument of carrying this prediction into effect.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 15:21
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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