Pelagius — Commentary on Scripture

Paul has not tried to claim that he has done anything in his own strength. God did all these things through him.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Paul was talking not about words here but about miracles. The gospel is fully disseminated when the Gentiles also believe.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:20

A man who builds on someone else’s foundation is not doing anything wrong, as long as he builds with gold and such. Here Paul is referring to those false apostles who always went to converts and never to the Gentiles because they could not work miracles. Paul also shows that he had done a good job, for he both laid the foundation and also built on top of it.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:21

Paul shows that his work was foretold. Christ was made manifest in the apostles through the miracles which they performed in his name.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:23

Where all the people have already heard the gospel, Paul has no reason for laying a foundation. Observe from this that there are some desires which are good!

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:24

It is not certain whether Paul ever got to Spain.… The reason he says that he will enjoy their company “for a little” is that they did not need to come to faith but only to be strengthened in faith. Or it may mean that no amount of time can satisfy love.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:25

In Jerusalem there were saints who had sold all their possessions and laid them at the feet of the apostles, devoting themselves to prayer, reading and teaching. It is clear from this text that their character was such that Paul is traveling in order to attend them in person, and he hopes that his offering will be received by them … thereby showing that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:26

They thought it would be good for them to make some collection for the expenses of the saints who had voluntarily become poor for their edification.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:27

By example Paul incites the Romans to a similar effort, indicating that there was a good reason why it seemed good to them. The Gentiles had obtained teachers from the Jews and so … they ought to share their abundance with them.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:29

If the Romans behave well, Paul will be full of good teaching for them, for the teacher is incited to teach to the extent that the student shows progress.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:30

Paul asks the whole church to pray for him, because he knows that when many people pray together their prayers have great effect. When James was killed, Peter was set free from prison by the prayers of the brethren, who prayed not so much for his good as for their own, so that they could be strengthened by his teaching. Spiritual love leads us to pray for one another.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:31

Paul says this either so that they may all believe or else so that he may not fall into the hands of unbelievers while he is trying to serve believers, with the result that it would be impossible for him to come to them.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:32

Paul will come to Rome in joy if his offering is accepted at Jerusalem and will then speak the Word of God with peace of mind.… For heaviness of heart is a great hindrance to teaching.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 15:33

The God of peace dwells only in those who are peaceable. It is good that he has concluded with peace, because the two parties are here called back to peaceful agreement with each other.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:1

Although the text of the letter is already finished, as it were, Paul has attached this material for the purpose of commendation and greeting, as was his custom.Even today, women deaconesses in the East are known to minister to their own sex in baptism or even in the ministry of the Word, for we find that women taught privately, e.g., Priscilla, whose husband was called Aquila.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:2

Help her with expenses or support, says Paul, because she also helped many people as long as she had the means.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:3

They are said to have established Apollos in the faith. Paul calls them helpers because they helped him in his work of instruction.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:4

By supporting Paul’s teaching, they exposed themselves to danger. Therefore all the churches thank them, for Paul was kept from harm by them.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:5

Paul shows that a gathering of believers is called a “church.” Epaenetus was the firstborn of the church in Asia Minor. We learn from their names that all the people Paul greets were foreigners, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that the Romans came to faith through their example and teaching.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Romans 16:13

These were Jews, and because they had suffered tribulation along with Paul but like him they had not been intimidated, they are deservedly held in esteem. Among others, they had been sent to further the progress of the Romans, and according to the testimony of Paul himself they are reported to have been believers before him.

PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS