Romans 15:25-27
(25) But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
(26) For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
(27) It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
Paul balanced his tentative plans for the future with the business immediately at hand. I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there (lit., “ministering [diakonon] to the saints”). Paul’s visit to Jerusalem was to deliver the voluntary offering from churches for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 24:17; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:13-14; 9:12-13; Gal. 2:10). The churches of Asia Minor contributed to the offering also, but Paul mentioned only Macedonia and Achaia, the areas closest to Rome and those on his mind for obvious reasons. (See the location of these two portions of Greece on the map between Acts and Rom.)
The voluntary nature of the contribution (koinonian, “fellowship”) is stressed by the repetition of the verb, were pleased (cf. Rom. 15:26-27; 2 Cor. 8:10-12). At the same time Paul recognized the churches had an obligation: Indeed they owe it to them (lit., “and they are debtors to them”). This sense of moral obligation had undoubtedly prompted Paul to suggest the offering. Since the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings (lit., “in their spiritual things”; cf. Rom. 11:11-12, 17-18; 15:12; Gal. 3:14; Eph. 3:6), Gentile Christians certainly ought to share with (leitourgesai, “to minister to, serve”; cf. leitourgon in Rom. 15:16) the Jews their material blessings (lit., “in fleshly things”; cf. Gal. 6:6).
Excerpt from:
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
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