I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus towards God.
εχω ουν καυχησιν εν χριστω ιησου τα προς τον θεον
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Since the Apostle had greatly humbled himself, he again raises his speech. He does this so that the Romans not regard him as contemptible. Yet in exalting himself and saying, "I have a boast," he does not depart from his custom. I boast, he says, not in myself and not in my own zeal, but in the grace of God.
Because he had greatly humbled himself just before, he now raises his speech again, so that they not consider him contemptible. He says: I boast not in myself and not in my own cares, but in the grace of Christ. In what, then, do I boast? In the things that pertain to God, that is, not in anything trivial, but in spiritual things.
Paul, declaring that for the profit of the Gentiles he glories in the works accomplished through him by the Savior, says: "I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in the things pertaining to God. For I dare not speak of anything which Christ has not wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Therefore, if Christ performs signs and wonders through Paul by the power of the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit is a certain natural and living energy and, so to speak, a quality of the Godhead of the Son. If this is so, how can That which exists by nature in God and from God be a creature? How can the whole power of the Son be in a creature? Even to say such a thing is impious.
Therefore I have a boast, that is, I can boast, not outside Christ, but in Christ Jesus, in what pertains to God.
Believing in Christ Jesus and serving Him with a pure conscience, Paul counts this to himself as merit before God the Father. Thus he can say that there is nothing Christ did not accomplish through him for the encouragement of the Gentiles in faith. Through him Christ displayed signs and wonders, so that their power would assist the preaching of the Gospel.
"I have a boast in Christ Jesus in the things that pertain to God." In Russian: "I can boast in Jesus Christ in what pertains to God." This not entirely clear expression is rendered more clearly in German: I boast in Jesus Christ that I serve God.
As a new reason for his zeal and boldness in the epistle to the Romans, the Apostle points to his usual success in preaching: "in bringing the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. Thus the Gospel of Christ has been spread by me," the Apostle adds, "from Jerusalem and the surrounding region as far as Illyricum."
Having indicated the great purpose of his epistle, the Apostle does not allow anyone to suspect him of self-confidence. He declares that his calling to preach is confirmed by many signs of apostolic ministry.
Fruitful seeds of Christian teaching were sown by him over an immense expanse, from Jerusalem to Illyricum on the Balkan Peninsula. Moreover, his preaching sounded chiefly where no one had preached before.
But in Rome the evangelical proclamation had been sown earlier. Therefore the Apostle of the Gentiles, though he wished to be there, did not dare to go, since this would have violated his custom of preaching chiefly to those who had not heard of Christ.
Now, however, after proclaiming the gospel within the indicated boundaries, he resolves to appear in Rome, but only on his way to Spain. He expresses hope that the Roman Christians will receive him joyfully and accompany him onward with concern.
As he himself related to the Romans with the greatest heartfelt affection, so he also hoped to meet heartfelt affection from their side.
Explaining the words "on another man's foundation," Saint John Chrysostom says: "Saint Paul calls the foundation laid by other Apostles another man's foundation, not because the persons themselves were strangers to him, or because their preaching was different.
He says this with reference to each one's reward, since for him the reward for labors borne by others was another man's reward."
Then, pausing over the words, "I shall go to Spain and come to you," John Chrysostom says: "He wrote this so that they would not think highly of themselves.
He wished both to show his love and to prevent them from becoming puffed up. For the same reason, lest the Romans say, 'He wants only to pass by us in transit,' the Apostle added, 'and to be sent on my way by you.'
That is, you yourselves will be witnesses that I hurry on, not out of contempt for you, but from extreme necessity. Yet since even this could have seemed offensive to them, he calms them with a consoling word: 'if first I may be somewhat filled with your company.'"
Yes, I have cause for praise. I am praised, or I may boast, for I have something in which to boast. Yet this is not for anything earthly or human, but "in the things pertaining to God."
I boast in God's work, because I proclaim the word of God to all and bring all to God. I tear them away from what is earthly, corruptible, and created, and lead them to what is heavenly, eternal, and divine.
Yet I do not appropriate this praise to myself, but refer everything to Christ Jesus my Lord. In myself I have nothing praiseworthy. The Lord accomplishes everything. To Him be glory.
Saint Chrysostom sees the following motive for these words: "Since the Apostle had humbled himself greatly just before this, he again raises his discourse. He does this so that the Romans may not think him contemptible.
Yet in exalting himself and saying, 'I have cause for praise,' he does not change his character. I boast, he says, not in myself or in my own labors, but in the grace of God.
It cannot be said that I was appointed by God but did not fulfill what was entrusted to me. I fulfilled it, yet not I, but Christ.
Therefore I boast in Him. I boast not in some insignificant matters, but in spiritual things. This is precisely what the words 'pertaining to God' mean."
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 11 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS