Romans 15:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He even pauses over these words (Rom 15:25), and gives proofs, saying, "they are debtors." Again he says, "if the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in bodily things," so that the Romans too might learn to imitate them. Here one must especially marvel at the Apostle's wisdom, because he devised such a way to give counsel. He could influence the Romans more by this than by direct exhortation. They would have considered it offensive if the Apostle had set the Corinthians and Macedonians before them as an example to imitate. Therefore, in the epistle to the Corinthians, he exhorts them in this way: "I make known to you the grace of God given in the churches of Macedonia" (2 Cor 8:1).

He says, “There is nothing new in this, if they wished to make a contribution to the saints. They are their debtors.” In what way? Christ comes from the Jews and came for them. From there came the apostles, the prophets, and every blessing. Yet the whole inhabited world became a partaker of all this. Therefore converts from the Gentiles must share their bodily goods with them, and so must you. He did not say “permit them to share,” but “minister,” presenting them as deacons, as it were. Nor did he say, “in what is their own bodily good.” Concerning spiritual blessings he said that they belong to the Jews. But bodily goods do not belong to the Gentiles alone, since possession is common to all, not only to those who own it.

For they are paying their debts by what they allow to be carried to them. If they have become partakers in their spiritual blessings, understand this as the Gospel itself. Then they must also become their tributaries in bodily blessings, through the generosity of their contributions.

Thus the believers from among the Jews will praise the providence of God in the salvation of the Gentiles through their ministry. For these Gentiles, having wholly given themselves to the service of God and having no concern for the affairs of this world, showed the believers a good example of conduct. Further, the Apostle wants us to be humane and merciful, so that we feel bound to give alms and to do good works according to the desire of the heart. One who hopes in the mercy of God must himself be merciful, lest this hope be without cause. For if man is merciful, how much more is God merciful! This is the payment or reward: those who receive mercy must be merciful. Therefore the Lord also says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mt 5:7).

“For they were pleased, and they are their debtors.” From what did this debt arise? “For if the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in bodily things.” Their fathers, says the Apostle, are the patriarchs. To them the promises were given. Their prophets foretold the common blessings. From them, according to human nature, came the Master Christ. From them came the apostles, preachers of the inhabited world. Through them the gifts of the Spirit were apportioned. Therefore it is just that those who distributed the greater things should become partakers of the lesser. For this reason he called the monetary contribution above “fellowship,” and below “service.” By “fellowship” he shows that this is a return of what was given. By “service” he shows that it is a tribute owed.

Now the Apostle is going to Jerusalem to minister to the poor Christians there, the saints, and to carry the offerings collected for them in Macedonia and Achaia. Thus the Gentiles show zeal for the Jews, and they ought to do so. With material things they repay the spiritual blessings they received from Jerusalem. By his own example, and by the example of the Macedonians and Achaeans, the Apostle teaches the Romans the mutual relation that should exist among Christians. After fulfilling this ministry to the saints and faithfully delivering it to them, he will then go to Spain through Rome. He will have sealed the alms of the Macedonians and Achaeans by placing them, as it were, in the royal treasury.

“And they are their debtors.” The Apostle shows that the alms sent by the Corinthians to Jerusalem were not compelled by a demand, for “they were pleased.” Yet it was not merely a gift of mercy, because they were obliged to minister to the Jews in bodily things. They had become partakers of spiritual blessings through the preaching of the Gospel, which passed from the Jews to the Gentiles.

He then appoints the time of his arrival in Rome. For many years his preaching labors in countries far from Rome had prevented it. The Apostle now only has to deliver monetary assistance to the Christians of Jerusalem from the brethren of Macedonia and Achaia. “When I have completed this and have faithfully delivered to them this fruit of zeal,” the Apostle says to the Romans, “I shall go by way of you to Spain” (Rom 15:28). Therefore the Apostle asks the Romans for prayers, “that by the will of God I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you” (Rom 15:32).

The Apostle describes his situation to the Romans not without purpose. By pointing to the fruits of Christianity in Greece, he gives the Romans a lesson in the same manifestation of living Christian love. At the same time, he indicates approximately when he might arrive among them. In the Apostle's reference to his journey to Jerusalem, Chrysostom sees a skillful lesson and therefore writes: "Here one must especially marvel at the Apostle's wisdom, because he devised such a way to counsel them. He could influence the Romans more by this than by exhortation itself. They would have considered it offensive if the Apostle had set the Corinthians and Macedonians before them as an example to imitate.

He was not even satisfied with this, but added, "they are debtors." Then he proves why they are debtors: "For if the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in bodily things." This means: to them belong the promises. From them is Christ, and to them He first came. For this reason He Himself said, "Salvation is from the Jews" (Jn 4:22). From there are the Apostles, from there the Prophets, from there all blessings. Yet the whole world has become a partaker of all this. Therefore, the Apostle concludes, if you have become partakers of the greater things, then you also ought to admit them to participation in bodily goods and share them with them.