Or, Striving Together to Bless the Saints
Scripture: Romans 15:22-33
Date: February 25, 2024
Speaker: Sean Higgins
I keep lowering my bucket into this paragraph and my bucket keeps coming back up full. The main body of the letter ended in Romans 15:13; now we’re reading parts most consider unremarkable, the last chapter and a half of Paul’s extended good-bye. Verses 22-33 contain “Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome” per the ESV section heading, and so be it. But he could have just said, “Hope to see you soon. Amen.” There’s more to it.
The point of this section concerns Christians sharing and extending the network of blessings in Christ and for Christ.
Paul wanted to visit the believers in Rome, to encourage and be encouraged by them, and then to have them help him on his way west into Spain to preach the gospel where Christ had not yet been named. These were his partnership plans in verses 22-24. But he had a stop to make first, that was in the opposite direction from where he was in Corinth. He’d been collecting a contribution for the saints in Jerusalem who needed aid. This was his service project described in verses 25-29. We got into this part last time.
And we’ve got some TABs open, that is, Truths About Blessings.
The contribution /koinonia (verse 26) increased camaraderie/koinonia between Gentile and Jewish Christians. Material blessings were not merely redistributed, they were given away for sake of building a network of support that increased thanks, unity, and witness, which are spiritual blessings.
The 6th TAB is key to the paragraph as it explains Paul’s personal investment in the service project. He calls the money koinonia, he postpones his mission for this money, and he asks for prayer that the money would be accepted. He knew the material blessings were doing more than putting food in the saints’ mouths.
We pick up in verse 28, When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by you. The ESV is fine, really, but the KJV captures a unique phrase, “when I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit” Delivered fits with how we talk about packages, but “sealed” suggests more about identity, value, and security. It mattered that the entire gift arrived at the right address, along with the explanation card, so to speak. Paul sealed the deal. And why fruit? The metaphor connects the blessings shared out as the yield of root and branch blessings shared in.
This project was worth postponing his missionary push into Spain, even though he expected that their company would be a great support. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ . Is Paul going to bring the blessing to them or is he going to benefit from the blessing from them? It’s probably more one big-blessing cloud, with the fullness of the blessing due to Christ’s pleasure at their connection.
The blessing of Christ enables and obligates koinonia.
Prior to partnership to push into Spain, Paul urged them to strive together to bless the saints. He did not ask the Roman Christians to contribute materially, but they could join the battle spiritually.
I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
It’s the same way he started Romans 12:1. I prefer “urge” (as in NASB), though “beseech” has the right amount of unusual (Tyndale, KJV). He wants them join with him in his effort, to “fight along with” him. It’s a form of sunagonizomai, and maybe you hear agonize in the middle, the struggle; he urges them to “with-struggle.” There are a couple fronts he’d be fighting, mentioned in verse 31, but he’s urging them to enter the fray as they pray with him.
Note the Trinitarian appeal: by our Lord Jesus and by the love of the Spirit to God (the Father).
There are two requests: that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. He wanted protection and reception.
We happen to know from the book of Acts that on his way to Rome a prophet named Agabus saw Paul in Caesarea and prophesied that Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem, and the believers there urged Paul not to go (Acts 21:8-12). And actually, Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, and you may remember the 40 men who made an oath not to eat or drink until they killed Paul (Acts 23:12-13). He did need protection.
As for his request for reception, it stands out, because what kind of principle keeps poor people from accepting money? And these are saints , serving the same Lord, having the same Spirit of love. Why would they not be glad to get the relief?
One of the great middle-to-late first century problems in the church was a “too-good-for-them” attitude from Jewish Christians to Gentile Christians. The believing natural branches weren’t so sure about the grafted-in believing wild branches. Some were suspicious about, if not actually bigoted against, the nations (ta ethne) receiving the blessings of Christ. It’s as if they were sons of Jonah, irritated that the Ninevites repented.
They should have known, and welcomed, better.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. (Romans 10:11–12 ESV)
How ironic if the Gentile koinonia/contribution would have been rejected, if their token of peace would have provoked the Jews to prefer their poverty. Paul prayed that the material blessings would be received and increase spiritual riches.
The desired outcome: so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company . Did Paul make it to Rome? Even he knew that his ambitions depended on God’s will . This is such a proper frame, so Deo volente or even D.V., “God willing,” belongs with letters in English by people who knew Latin and the Lord.
And a benediction: May the peace of God be with you all. Amen. It’s a good word, not the final one in the letter, and God of peace returns in 16:20. The phrasing rings true from earlier descriptions in the chapter:
Prayer and ministry is a spiritual battle, and we strive together to bless the saints.
I can’t help but think about other problems that all this could have caused. Is this fair? What about all the other poor people? What about the poor in Rome, did Paul even think about them? Blessings make jealousable, and that can go wrong. Are you supposed to give money to people with bad attitudes? What about all the people dying who hadn’t heard the gospel?
Paul knew it was good. Christians (receive and) share and extend the network of blessings in Christ and for Christ. Koinonia has a lot of faces. Participate in, and pray for, the extending of blessings by God’s will.
Serve the God of peace not to avoid troubles but so that you are not troubled in troubles. Strive to see the blessing of Christ extended in a way that might make some people mad. That’s okay, the God of peace will soon crush all His enemies. The God of peace is WITH YOU.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20 ESV)