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Romans 15:15

in Romans 15

However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God,

KJV

Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,

This verse in Romans 15

Commentary

14 notes on this verse
Nevertheless - Notwithstanding my full persuasion of your knowledge and your purpose to do right. Perhaps he refers also to the fact that he was a stranger to them. The more boldly - More boldly than might have been expected from a stranger. The reason why he showed this boldness in declaring his sentiments, he immediately states - that he had been especially called to the function of instructing the Gentiles. In some sort - ἀπὸ μέρος apo meros. In part. Some have supposed that he referred to a “party” at Rome - the Gentile party (Whitby).

This site's exposition

full of goodness

on Romans 15:14-16

Paul credits the church with goodness, knowledge and the ability to instruct one another, and calls his letter a bold reminder. By God's grace Paul is a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, in the priestly service of the gospel. The Holy Spirit makes that Gentile offering holy.

This site's exposition

I have written you a bold reminder on some points

Theodore of Mopsuestia reads the letter as a reminder of teaching the Romans already held. Barnes calls it bold for a stranger who had never visited them. Clarke records a reading that takes the phrase on some points as aimed at one party among them.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers5 voices

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.

proposed

But I have written to you the more boldly in part, as putting you in remembrance, because of the grace given me by God.

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES · Written before 384.

proposed

Paul says he has been given authority by the grace of God, to embolden him to write to all the Gentiles, exhorting and confirming their calling in Christ, so that he might show his concern in the service of the gospel as a teacher of …

A commentator

Clement of Rome

Letter to the Corinthians (Clement) · Written before 99.

proposed

These things therefore being manifest to us, and since we look into the depths of the divine knowledge, it behooves us to do all things in [their proper] order, which the Lord has commanded us to perform at stated times. He has enjoined offerings [to be presented] and service to be performed [to Him], and that not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done, He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will, in order that all things, being piously done according to His good pleasure, may be acceptable unto Him. Those, therefore, who present their offerings at the appointed times, are accepted and blessed; for inasmuch as they follow the laws of the Lord, they sin not. For his own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests, and their own special ministrations devolve on the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Romans 29 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"Nevertheless, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort." Observe the lowly-mindedness of Paul, observe his wisdom, how he gave a deep cut in the former part, and then when he had succeeded in what he wished, how he uses much kindliness next. For even without what he has said, this very confession of his having been bold were enough to unstring their vehemency. And this he does in writing to the Hebrews also, speaking as follows, "But, beloved, I am persuaded better things of you, and things which belong unto salvation, though we thus speak." And to the Corinthians again, "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." And in writing to the Galatians he says, "I have confidence in you, that ye will be none otherwise minded." And in all parts of his Epistles one may find this to be frequently observed. But here even in a greater degree. For they were in a higher rank, and there was need to bring down their fastidious spirit, not by astringents only, but by laxatives also. For he does this in different ways. Wherefore he says in this place too, "I have written the more boldly unto you," and with this even he is not satisfied, but has added, "in some sort," that is, gently; and even here he does not pause, but what does he say? "As putting you in mind." And he does not say as teaching, nor simply putting in mind, but he uses a word which means putting you in mind in a quiet way. Observe the end falling in with the introduction. […]

A commentator

Theodore of Mopsuestia

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 428.

proposed

Paul is telling them that he has not received anything new or wonderful which he is writing to teach them. Rather, he is just reminding them of things they have already learned.
6 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Romans · Written before 1107.

proposed

The Romans enjoyed respect and were quite arrogant. Therefore he heals them when he says, "I have written to you with some boldness"; for by this word he greatly humbles them. But he was not satisfied even with this, and added: "in part," that is, …

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Romans · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then when he says, but I have written to you, he gives the true cause why he had admonished and corrected them. In regard to this he does two things: first, he shows that this belongs to the authority committed to him by his apostolate; …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He did it as the apostle of the Gentiles. It was in pursuance of his office: Because of the grace (that is, the apostleship, ch. i. 5 ) given to me of God, to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Nevertheless, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort--"measure" as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God--as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:89%@v15-16

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Nevertheless - I have written - Not withstanding I have this conviction of your extensive knowledge in the things of God, I have made bold to write to you in some sort, απο μερους, to a party among you, as some learned men translate the words, who stand more in need of such instructions than the others; and I do this, because of the grace, δια την χαριν - because of the office which I have received from God, namely, to be the apostle of the Gentiles. This authority gave him full right to say, advise, or enjoin any thing which he judged to be of importance to their spiritual interests. This subject he pursues farther in the following verse.

The words behind it

18 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Romans 12:3

    For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure…

    it leads to

    • Galatians 6:3

      If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

    • Philippians 2:3–8

      Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

    • Proverbs 26:12

      Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

    • Romans 12:16

      Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.

    • 1 Peter 5:5

      Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of…

    it leads to

    • Philippians 4:13

      I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

    • 2 Corinthians 3:5

      Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.

    • Philippians 2:13

      For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

Where this verse is studied

About Romans

Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne, about 1618 to 1620, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Public domain.
Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne, about 1618 to 1620, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Public domain.
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians (Clement); Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 29; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theodore of Mopsuestia, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.