Romans 15:18
in Romans 15I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
KJV
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
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This verse in Romans 15
Commentary
11 notes on this verseFor I will not dare to speak - If the thing were not as I have stated it, I would not dare to arrogate to myself honors which did not belong to me. But God has made me the apostle of the Gentiles; and the conversion of the Gentiles is the fruit of my ministry, Christ having wrought by me for this purpose. By word and deed - Αογῳ και εργῳ· These words may refer to the doctrines which he taught and to the miracles which he wrought among them.
This site's exposition
exult in Christ Jesus
on Romans 15:17-19
Paul places his boasting in Christ Jesus and in his service for God. Christ worked through him to bring the Gentiles to obedience, by word and deed, with signs and wonders by the Spirit's power. Jerusalem to Illyricum marks the ground covered.
This site's exposition
what Christ has accomplished through me
Paul limits his boast to the work of Christ. Theophylact reads Paul as the instrument and Christ as the worker. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown take Paul to mean he will go no further than what Christ has done through him among the Gentiles.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make Gentiles obedient by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God." And none, he means, can say that my words are a mere boast. For of this priestly ministry of mine, the signs that I have, and the proofs of the appointment too, are many. Not the long garment and the bells as they of old, nor the mitre and the turban, but signs and wonders, far more awful than these. Nor can it be said that I have been entrusted indeed with the charge, but yet have not executed it. Or rather, it is not I that have executed, but Christ. Wherefore also it is in Him that I boast, not about common things, but about spiritual. And this is the force of, "in things which pertain to God." For that I have accomplished the purpose for which I was sent, and that my words are not mere boast, the miracles, and the obedience of the Gentiles show. "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, through signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God." See how violently he tries to show that the whole is God's doing, and nothing his own. For whether I speak anything, or do anything, or work miracles, He doth all of them, the Holy Spirit all. And this he says to show the dignity of the Holy Spirit also. See how these things are more wondrous and more awful than those of old, the sacrifice, the offering, the symbols. […]
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
For I do not dare, he says, to speak of any of those things which Christ does not accomplish through me unto the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deeds, by the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then he assigns the reason for what he had said, saying: for I dare not speak of any of those things which Christ does not work by me. As if to say: I will not speak about the fruit produced through me, because it was …
Since he said of himself: I am a minister of the Gospel to all nations, he adds: I do not boast or pride myself on anything that I have not done; indeed, I did not do it, but Christ did, using me as an instrument. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
27 ), have kept back nothing that was necessary for them to know." Filled the gospel, so the word is; peplerokenai to euangelion, filled it as the net is filled with fishes in a large draught; or filled the gospel, that is, filled them with the gospel. Such a change does the gospel make that, when it comes in power to any place, it fills the place.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For I will not dare to speak of any--"to speak aught" of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me--a modest, though somewhat obscure form of expression, meaning, "I will not dare to go beyond what Christ hath wrought by me"--in which form accordingly the rest of the passage is expressed.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For I will not dare to speak - I should be restrained; I should be afraid to speak, if the thing were not as I have stated. I should be afraid to set up a claim beyond what is strictly in accordance with the truth. Which Christ hath not wrought by me - I confine myself “strictly” to what I have done. I do not arrogate to myself what Christ has done by others. I do not exaggerate my own success, or claim what others have accomplished. To make the Gentiles obedient - To bring them to obey God in the gospel. By word and deed - By preaching, and by all other means; by miracle, by example, etc. The “deeds,” that is, the “lives” of Christian ministers are often as efficacious in bringing people to Christ as their public ministry.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τολμήσω | tolmeso | will I dare | G5111 → | |
| τι | ti | anything | G5100 → | 528 times |
| λαλεῖν | lalein | to speak | G2980 → | 294 times |
| ὧν | hon | of what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| οὐ | ou | except | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| κατειργάσατο | kateirgasato | has accomplished | G2716 → | 22 times |
| Χριστὸς | christos | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ἐμοῦ | emou | me | G1473 → | 839 times |
| εἰς | eis | unto [the] | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ὑπακοὴν | hupakoen | obedience | G5218 → | 14 times |
| ἐθνῶν | ethnon | of [the] Gentiles | G1484 → | 161 times |
| λόγῳ | logo | by word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔργῳ, | ergo | by deed, | G2041 → | 168 times |
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τολμήσωwill I dare
tolmesoG5111 →
τιanything
tiG5100 →528 times
λαλεῖνto speak
laleinG2980 →294 times
ὧνof what
honG3739 →1405 times
οὐexcept
ouG3756 →1664 times
κατειργάσατοhas accomplished
kateirgasatoG2716 →22 times
ΧριστὸςChrist
christosG5547 →523 times
δι᾽through
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ἐμοῦme
emouG1473 →839 times
εἰςunto [the]
eisG1519 →1755 times
ὑπακοὴνobedience
hupakoenG5218 →14 times
ἐθνῶνof [the] Gentiles
ethnonG1484 →161 times
λόγῳby word
logoG3056 →329 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔργῳ,by deed,
ergoG2041 →168 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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 1:5Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
it leads to
- Acts 9:15
“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 16:26
but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith—
- Acts 6:7
So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
- Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name…
- Acts 9:15
Through
Acts 21:19Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
it leads to
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 14:27
Through
Acts 15:12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
it leads to
- Acts 21:19
Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 21:19
Through
Proverbs 25:14Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:6
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
- Proverbs 20:6
Where this verse is studied
About Romans

This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epistle to the Romans; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans; 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; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.
