Romans 15:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

NIV: Rather, as it is written: 'Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.'

NASB: but just as it is written: 'THEY WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT HIM WILL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD WILL UNDERSTAND.'

CSB: but, as it is written,Those who were not told about him will see,and those who have not heard will understand.

NLT: 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.'

KJV: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

NKJV: but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

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.

Romans 15:14–21 begins with Paul's assurance to the Roman Christians that, though he has been bold in instructing them, he knows that they are full of goodness and knowledge. His mission from God is to preach the gospel to the Gentiles who have never heard it before. He is proud of the work that Christ has accomplished through him in bringing Gentiles to faith in Christ. He knows Christ has done this through the power of miraculous signs and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15 begins with Paul's encouragement to those strong in faith: to please other Christians before themselves so the church can be unified. Christ came to fulfill God's promises to Israel and about the Gentiles. Paul is satisfied with the faith and practice of the Roman Christians. His work of taking the gospel to unreached regions of Gentiles in his part of the world is completed, and he longs to come see them. First, he must deliver financial aid to Jerusalem, a trip about which he asks them to pray along with him.

Romans 15 concludes Paul's teaching that those strong in faith ought to sacrifice their own desires to live in harmony with other believers. Paul shows that God always planned to welcome the Gentile nations, and his mission is to introduce Gentiles to the message of salvation by faith in Christ. He longs to visit the Christians in Rome and plans to do so as soon as he delivers financial aid to poor Christian Jews in Jerusalem. He begins Romans 16 by greeting many friends and acquaintances in Rome by name, as part of a drawn-out ending to this letter.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 5/6/2024 5:04:36 PM