What does Romans 15:21 mean?
Paul quotes Isaiah 52:15 to drive home his recent point. The work he has done around the world has not ultimately been his own work. He is not taking credit for the results. He has been tasked by God to bring the good news about salvation through faith in Jesus to people who have never heard it before.This passage from Isaiah 52:15 pointed forward to Christ. Paul is showing that his ministry to the Gentiles is a fulfillment of centuries-old prophecies. While Paul was proud to see himself used by God (Romans 15:17), he understood that God had long planned to accomplish this work in this way.
Paul also understood his great privilege in being the one to help those who had never been told about Christ to see and understand for the first time.