independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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Bear with the weak — as Christ bore reproach 15:1–6
vv. 1–4 — the strong's debt; Christ's example, and Scripture's purpose
1
Ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶindependent — the debt of the strong — Paul includes himself
τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν,content — complement infinitive 1 — carry, not merely tolerate
καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν.content — complement infinitive 2 — the negative twin
2
ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτωindependent — the positive command — each one, the neighbor
εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν·purpose — the double goal — good, defined as upbuilding
3
καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν,cause — καὶ γάρ — the supreme example
ἀλλὰ καθὼς γέγραπται·comparative — ἀλλά — what he did instead, said in Scripture's words
Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσαν ἐπ' ἐμέ.content — Ps 69:9 (LXX 68:10) — the righteous sufferer's words on Christ's lips
4
ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν ἐγράφη,cause — the hermeneutic warrant — why a psalm can carry this weight
ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν.purpose — on the second ἐγράφη — Scripture's end: hope
vv. 5–6 — wish-prayer: one mind, one voice
5
ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν,independent — wish-prayer (optative δῴη) — God named by v. 4's gifts
6
ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.purpose — the goal of unity — doxology in unison
Welcome one another — the catena of Gentile praise 15:7–13
vv. 7–9a — welcome as Christ welcomed: truth to Israel, mercy to the nations
7
Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους,independent — Διό — the whole weak/strong argument gathered into one imperative
καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς,comparative — the measure — Christ's prior welcome
εἰς δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.purpose — read with Christ's welcoming — though it crowns the command too
8
λέγω γὰρindependent — the solemn declaration — what Christ's welcome amounted to
Χριστὸν διάκονον γεγενῆσθαι περιτομῆς ὑπὲρ ἀληθείας θεοῦ,content — accusative + infinitive — Messiah as servant of Israel
εἰς τὸ βεβαιῶσαι τὰς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων,purpose — purpose 1 — the promises made good
9
τὰ δὲ ἔθνη ὑπὲρ ἐλέους δοξάσαι τὸν θεόν·purpose — purpose 2 — coordinate with βεβαιῶσαι, not a second content of λέγω
vv. 9b–12 — the catena: four scriptures, the nations praising
καθὼς γέγραπται·comparative — introducer 1 — the catena opens
Διὰ τοῦτο ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι ἐν ἔθνεσινcontent — Ps 18:49 (LXX 17:50) — David praising among the nations
καὶ τῷ ὀνόματί σου ψαλῶ.content — Ps 18:49 — the couplet's second colon
10
καὶ πάλιν λέγει·independent — introducer 2 — coordinate with καθὼς γέγραπται
Εὐφράνθητε, ἔθνη, μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ.content — Deut 32:43 LXX — nations rejoicing WITH the people
11
καὶ πάλιν·independent — introducer 3 — elliptical, the verb of saying omitted
Αἰνεῖτε, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, τὸν κύριον,content — Ps 117:1 (LXX 116:1) — the shortest psalm, all nations summoned
καὶ ἐπαινεσάτωσαν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ λαοί.content — Ps 117:1 — the parallel colon
12
καὶ πάλιν Ἠσαΐας λέγει·independent — introducer 4 — the prophet named, the catena's climax
Ἔσται ἡ ῥίζα τοῦ Ἰεσσαί, καὶ ὁ ἀνιστάμενος ἄρχειν ἐθνῶν·content — Isa 11:10 LXX — the Davidic root risen to rule
ἐπ' αὐτῷ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν.content — Isa 11:10 — ἐλπιοῦσιν: the word that launches v. 13
v. 13 — wish-prayer: the God of hope
13
ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ἐλπίδος πληρώσαι ὑμᾶς πάσης χαρᾶς καὶ εἰρήνης ἐν τῷ πιστεύειν,independent — wish-prayer (optative πληρώσαι) — God named from Isaiah's last word
εἰς τὸ περισσεύειν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἐλπίδι ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος ἁγίου.purpose — εἰς τό + infinitive — filled in order to overflow
Paul's priestly ministry to the Gentiles 15:14–21
vv. 14–16 — the bold reminder, and the grace that makes Paul a priest
14
Πέπεισμαι δέ, ἀδελφοί μου, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ περὶ ὑμῶν,independent — the captatio — Paul's confidence before his boldness
ὅτι καὶ αὐτοὶ μεστοί ἐστε ἀγαθωσύνης,content — the content — the Romans need no correction
πεπληρωμένοι πάσης τῆς γνώσεως,participial — the fullness doubled — goodness and knowledge
δυνάμενοι καὶ ἀλλήλους νουθετεῖν.participial — the consequence — competent to admonish each other
15
τολμηρότερον δὲ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν ἀπὸ μέρους,independent — the admission — epistolary aorist, ἀπὸ μέρους limiting the boldness
ὡς ἐπαναμιμνῄσκων ὑμᾶς,participial — ὡς + participle — reminder, not new teaching
διὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦcause — διά + accusative — apostolic grace as warrant for boldness
16
εἰς τὸ εἶναί με λειτουργὸν Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὰ ἔθνη,purpose — the grace's design — λειτουργός, a cultic servant
ἱερουργοῦντα τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ,participial — ἱερουργέω — the gospel administered as priestly work
ἵνα γένηται ἡ προσφορὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν εὐπρόσδεκτος,purpose — the priest's aim — the Gentiles themselves the offering
ἡγιασμένη ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.participial — the consecration — the Spirit, not ritual, makes it holy
vv. 17–19 — the boast: only what Christ has worked, Jerusalem to Illyricum
17
ἔχω οὖν τὴν καύχησιν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν·independent — the boast owned — but located ἐν Χριστῷ
18
οὐ γὰρ τολμήσω τι λαλεῖνcause — why the boast is safe — a self-limiting rule
ὧν οὐ κατειργάσατο Χριστὸς δι' ἐμοῦ εἰς ὑπακοὴν ἐθνῶν, λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ,relative — on τι (attracted ὧν) — litotes: ONLY what Christ worked through me
19
ἐν δυνάμει σημείων καὶ τεράτων, ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος θεοῦ·phrase modifier — the means — twin ἐν δυνάμει phrases
ὥστε με ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ κύκλῳ μέχρι τοῦ Ἰλλυρικοῦ πεπληρωκέναι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ,purpose — ὥστε result — the arc of the completed circuit
vv. 20–21 — the pioneer principle, sealed by Isaiah
20
οὕτως δὲ φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγελίζεσθαι οὐχ ὅπου ὠνομάσθη Χριστός,participial — accusative participle agreeing with με — the pioneer's ambition
ἵνα μὴ ἐπ' ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον οἰκοδομῶ,purpose — the negative purpose — no building on others' work
21
ἀλλὰ καθὼς γέγραπται·comparative — the principle's warrant — the Servant's mission
Οἷς οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη περὶ αὐτοῦ ὄψονται,content — Isa 52:15 LXX — the untold nations will see
καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἀκηκόασιν συνήσουσιν.content — Isa 52:15 — the unhearing will understand
Travel plans, the collection, and the prayer appeal 15:22–33
vv. 22–24 — the long hindrance, and the road to Spain through Rome
22
Διὸ καὶ ἐνεκοπτόμην τὰ πολλὰ τοῦ ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς·independent — the hindrance was the mission itself (vv. 19–20)
23
νυνὶ δὲ μηκέτι τόπον ἔχων ἐν τοῖς κλίμασι τούτοις,participial — anacoluthon — suspended participle, leaning forward for a verb
ἐπιποθίαν δὲ ἔχων τοῦ ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ πολλῶν ἐτῶν,participial — the second suspended participle — the long-held longing
24
ὡς ἂν πορεύωμαι εἰς τὴν Σπανίαν·comparative — ὡς ἄν temporal — the visit set inside the Spain plan
ἐλπίζω γὰρindependent — the verb the anacoluthon never supplied — ἐλπίζω steps in
διαπορευόμενος θεάσασθαι ὑμᾶςcontent — hope 1 — Rome as a station, θεάσασθαι its joy
καὶ ὑφ' ὑμῶν προπεμφθῆναι ἐκεῖcontent — hope 2 — προπέμπω: Rome enlisted as the mission's patron
ἐὰν ὑμῶν πρῶτον ἀπὸ μέρους ἐμπλησθῶ.conditional — backward ἐάν — the proviso: enjoyed first, though never enough
vv. 25–29 — but first Jerusalem: the collection as debt repaid
25
νυνὶ δὲ πορεύομαι εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμindependent — the present duty — the opposite direction first
διακονῶν τοῖς ἁγίοις.participial — purpose-tinged participle — the journey IS the service
26
εὐδόκησαν γὰρ Μακεδονία καὶ Ἀχαΐα κοινωνίαν τινὰ ποιήσασθαι εἰς τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῶν ἁγίων τῶν ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ.cause — the collection named — κοινωνία, fellowship in money
27
εὐδόκησαν γάρ, καὶ ὀφειλέται εἰσὶν αὐτῶν·cause — εὐδόκησαν repeated and deepened — willing, and indeed obligated
εἰ γὰρ τοῖς πνευματικοῖς αὐτῶν ἐκοινώνησαν τὰ ἔθνη,conditional — protasis — leans on the a-fortiori conclusion below
ὀφείλουσιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς σαρκικοῖς λειτουργῆσαι αὐτοῖς.cause — apodosis — spiritual debt repaid in σαρκικά, with cultic λειτουργῆσαι
28
τοῦτο οὖν ἐπιτελέσας,participial — fronted — leans on ἀπελεύσομαι below: the collection finished first
καὶ σφραγισάμενος αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπὸν τοῦτον,participial — fronted — σφραγισάμενος: the fruit delivered under seal
ἀπελεύσομαι δι' ὑμῶν εἰς Σπανίαν·independent — the itinerary fixed — Jerusalem, Rome, Spain
29
οἶδα δὲindependent — the confidence — whatever Jerusalem holds
ὅτι ἐρχόμενος πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν πληρώματι εὐλογίας Χριστοῦ ἐλεύσομαι.content — the content — a full-freighted arrival
vv. 30–33 — strive with me in prayer; the peace benediction
30
Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ πνεύματος,independent — the appeal — under a double διά of authority and affection
συναγωνίσασθαί μοι ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν θεόν,content — συναγωνίζομαι — prayer as shared combat
31
ἵνα ῥυσθῶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀπειθούντων ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳpurpose — petition 1 — deliverance from the unbelieving
καὶ ἡ διακονία μου ἡ εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ εὐπρόσδεκτος τοῖς ἁγίοις γένηται,purpose — petition 2 — εὐπρόσδεκτος echoes the offering of v. 16
32
ἵνα ἐν χαρᾷ ἐλθὼν πρὸς ὑμᾶς διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ συναναπαύσωμαι ὑμῖν.purpose — the second-level ἵνα — the issue of both petitions: joy and shared rest
33
ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν· ἀμήν.independent — verbless benediction — peace over the whole church, weak and strong
Analysis. Romans 15 alternates argument and prayer, and the shape shows it: each of the first two sections ends in a flush-left purple wish-prayer (ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς… δῴη, v. 5; ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ἐλπίδος πληρώσαι, v. 13) with a single amber goal line beneath — and the chapter closes the same way, with the verbless peace benediction of v. 33. In vv. 7–12 the catena of Gentile praise hangs as one suspended column: the four introducers (καθὼς γέγραπται, καὶ πάλιν λέγει, καὶ πάλιν, καὶ πάλιν Ἠσαΐας λέγει) stand side by side at one depth, each carrying its blue quotation — Ps 18:49; Deut 32:43; Ps 117:1; Isa 11:10 — all of them ultimately under the one infinitive δοξάσαι: Scripture piled up to prove that the nations were always meant to praise. In vv. 15–16 Paul's apostolic self-description descends step by step from the grace given him to the priestly picture — λειτουργόν, ἱερουργοῦντα, ἵνα γένηται ἡ προσφορά, ἡγιασμένη — the layout's deepest sustained chain, matched only by the Isa 52:15 quotation under the mission principle of vv. 20–21. Interpretive choices the layout takes a side on: εἰς δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ (v. 7) is read with Christ's welcoming rather than with the imperative; τὰ δὲ ἔθνη… δοξάσαι (v. 9) is taken as a second purpose coordinate with εἰς τὸ βεβαιῶσαι (not as a second content of λέγω), so that truth-to-Israel and mercy-to-the-nations hang as twin goals of Christ's servanthood; the participles of v. 23 are laid out as the anacoluthon they are — suspended, leaning forward, with ἐλπίζω γάρ (v. 24) stepping in as the verb the sentence never formally supplies; ὧν οὐ κατειργάσατο (v. 18) is read as attraction with litotes — 'only what Christ has worked through me'; and the fronted participles of v. 28 lean forward on ἀπελεύσομαι like a protasis, the collection completed before Spain.