7Therefore receive one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God. [15:8] For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises of the fathers, [15:9] and for the Gentiles to glorify God for mercy, even as it has been written: "Because of this I will praise You among the Gentiles, and to Your name will I sing." [15:10] And again it says: "Rejoice, Gentiles, with His people." [15:11] And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him." [15:12] And again Isaiah says: "There will be the root of Jesse, and the One arising to rule over Gentiles; in Him Gentiles will hope." [15:13] And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, for you to abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
ROM 15:7-13
Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman world, the concept of a servant carried connotations of humility and subordination, often associated with household slaves or low-status attendants. For Jewish listeners, circumcision was a deeply ingrained marker of covenantal identity, setting them apart from Gentiles. Paul’s claim that Christ became a servant to the circumcision would have been striking, as it reframed the Messiah’s role not as a conquering king but as one who humbly served to fulfill God’s promises to Israel. Gentile listeners, often marginalized in Jewish religious frameworks, would have been equally astonished to hear that Christ’s mission extended to them, inviting them into God’s mercy and praise. The citation of Old Testament texts (Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah) would have resonated with Jewish readers as authoritative, while Gentile readers would have seen their inclusion as legitimized by Scripture itself. This passage bridges the honor-shame dynamics of Jewish-Gentile relations, emphasizing mutual reception grounded in Christ’s servanthood.
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How other translations render this
ROM 15:7
- KJV
- Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
- BSB
- Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore receive one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.
ROM 15:8
- KJV
- Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
- BSB
- For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of Godʼs truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
- Koinōnos
- For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises of the fathers,
ROM 15:9
- KJV
- And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
- BSB
- so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.”
- Koinōnos
- and for the Gentiles to glorify God for mercy, even as it has been written: "Because of this I will praise You among the Gentiles, and to Your name will I sing.
ROM 15:10
- KJV
- And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
- BSB
- Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
- Koinōnos
- And again it says: "Rejoice, Gentiles, with His people.
ROM 15:11
- KJV
- And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
- BSB
- And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.”
- Koinōnos
- And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.
ROM 15:12
- KJV
- And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
- BSB
- And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”
- Koinōnos
- And again Isaiah says: "There will be the root of Jesse, and the One arising to rule over Gentiles; in Him Gentiles will hope.
ROM 15:13
- KJV
- Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
- BSB
- Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Koinōnos
- And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, for you to abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ROM 15:8
- Jesus:The word translated 'servant' here refers to someone who carries out the commands of another, often in a public or official capacity, rather than a household slave.
- to have become:The term used here, translated as 'circumcision,' was a common way to refer to Jewish people as a whole, emphasizing their covenant identity.
- [the] truth:The word translated 'God' here refers to the supreme divine being, the creator and ruler of the universe, as understood in monotheistic traditions.
- in order:The word translated 'in order' is a common Greek article that functions to specify or emphasize the noun it modifies, often indicating a particular purpose or reason.