Romans 15:4-13

Paul had to be very careful in writing to this congregation and about these issues. The Jews were particularly sensitive to how Paul may challenge them. Was Paul cognizant of the special privileges found in the Jewish people? Did he properly accept their prophets, the Jewish roots of the Messiah, the rite of circumcision?

Paul was keenly aware of their scrutiny and their perspective. His problem was how to write about the Messiah's Kingdom and the nations that He included, while also honoring the Jews' position. A tip of the hat in their direction would not do. His argument must reflect true appreciation of the Jewish position while also pointing very clearly that their Messiah's view goes well beyond what they see.

The congregation was one of those that looked great on paper - lots of Jews in it as well as a very diverse ethnic group. Isn't that what the Lord wanted? Yes, but - those Greeks! Those Arabs! Those Cyreneans! Take it off the paper and live within the congregation for a bit, and you have issues! Much of Paul's letter to this church dealt with harmony, getting along, cutting each other some slack, giving the foundations for accepting each other.

We see how he took on this sensitive situation in this very passage. He dealt with the Jewish terms, Jewish history, and Jewish peculiarities. Then he proceeded to show, from their own starting point, how their view was too narrow.

Case in point, our lesson, chapter 15:4-13. Harmony is the issue. "Live in harmony with one another," and "Welcome one another." (5,7) Then he moves to Jewish imagery and references. He mentions the patriarchs, the circumcised, the scriptures, and the promises. All very good and acceptable to the Jews. In fact they may have anticipated Paul using them to reinforce their position of privilege.

Instead he used these to strip them of their defenses from which they constructed a false sense of privilege and a missionary provincialism.

He quotes from their scriptures (Deuteronomy, the Psalms, and Isaiah) to show that the promises of God intend that the nations glorify God as well as the Jews. The root of Jesse - how Jewish can he get!!! - will be the hope of the nations and will bring the ethnic groups to Himself.

The passage culminates Paul's argument of the last several chapters where harmony has been the issue. The disharmony here is not the same as in Corinth or Philippi. This congregation hasn't made peace with Jew and Greek sitting beside each other. The solution for Paul is to look at the Kingdom, prepare for the coming of the Lord, and share hope in that. (15:4, 13)