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Romans 15:18

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For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

For {G1063} I will {G5111} not {G3756} dare {G5111} to speak {G2980} of any {G5100} of those things which {G3739} Christ {G5547} hath {G2716} not {G3756} wrought {G2716} by {G1223} me {G1700}, to make {G1519} the Gentiles {G1484} obedient {G5218}, by word {G3056} and {G2532} deed {G2041},

for I will not dare speak of anything except what the Messiah has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience by my words and deeds,

I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,

For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,

Commentary

Context of Romans 15:18

Romans 15:18 is part of Paul's concluding remarks in his letter to the Roman believers. In this chapter, Paul discusses his apostolic mission, particularly his burden for the Gentile world, and his plans to visit Rome on his way to Spain. He emphasizes the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ, a theme he has developed throughout the epistle. Here, Paul defends the legitimacy and effectiveness of his ministry, not by exalting himself, but by highlighting the divine power at work through him. This verse sets the stage for his subsequent mention of signs and wonders (Romans 15:19), demonstrating the supernatural backing of his mission.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Christ-Centered Ministry: Paul emphatically states that he will only speak of what "Christ hath wrought by me." This underscores a fundamental principle of Christian ministry: it is not about human ability or accomplishments, but about God working through willing vessels. Paul consistently redirected glory to God, acknowledging his own weakness and God's strength (2 Corinthians 12:9).
  • The Gentile Mission: The explicit purpose of Christ's work through Paul was "to make the Gentiles obedient." Paul saw himself as the apostle to the Gentiles, commissioned to bring them into the "obedience of faith" (Romans 1:5). This highlights the expansive nature of the Gospel, breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile.
  • Holistic Evangelism ("Word and Deed"): Christ accomplished His purpose through Paul "by word and deed."
    • Word: Refers to the preaching of the Gospel, the verbal proclamation of truth.
    • Deed: Encompasses the tangible demonstrations of God's power, including miracles, signs, and wonders, as well as the transformed lives and practical acts of love that accompanied Paul's preaching. This shows a comprehensive approach to ministry that wasn't just theoretical but powerfully active.
  • Divine Empowerment: The phrase "Christ hath wrought by me" points to the supernatural enabling of Paul's ministry. It was not Paul's eloquence or wisdom alone, but the active power of Christ that brought about conversion and transformation among the Gentiles.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "wrought" is energeō (ἐνεργέω), from which we get "energy." It signifies an active, effective working or operation, often implying divine power. Paul emphasizes that it was Christ's dynamic working, His active power, that produced the results in his ministry, not merely Paul's own efforts. The phrase "to make... obedient" (εἰς ὑπακοήν, eis hypakoēn) denotes a movement "unto obedience," signifying that the aim of Christ's work was to bring the Gentiles into a state of submission and faithfulness to God.

Practical Application

Romans 15:18 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  1. Humility in Ministry: Like Paul, we should always attribute any success or effectiveness in our service to Christ working through us. Our focus should be on what God is doing, not on our own achievements.
  2. Dependence on God: True impact in ministry comes from divine empowerment, not human strength or cleverness. We must constantly rely on the Holy Spirit to equip us for God's purposes.
  3. Comprehensive Witness: Our witness for Christ should involve both "word" (proclaiming the Gospel, sharing our faith) and "deed" (living out our faith through love, service, and demonstrating God's transformative power in our lives and actions). A powerful Christian witness often combines both clear communication of truth and tangible expressions of God's love.
  4. Fulfilling God's Purpose: God calls each of us to participate in His larger plan, whether it's reaching our neighbors, communities, or the nations. This verse reminds us that Christ's work through us has a specific purpose: to bring others to obedience and faith in Him.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 15:12 (9 votes)

    Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

  • Romans 1:5 (8 votes)

    By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

  • Acts 21:19 (6 votes)

    And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

  • Galatians 2:8 (4 votes)

    (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

  • Proverbs 25:14 (4 votes)

    ¶ Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:17 (3 votes)

    Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

  • Romans 16:26 (3 votes)

    But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: