Romans 15:2
in Romans 15Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.
KJV
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
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This verse in Romans 15
Commentary
12 notes on this verseAnd to this — that we bear the weaknesses of the weak — we ought also to add this, that we should not please ourselves, but our neighbor, only in what is good, and unto edification. The vice of self-love (philautia), that is, of pleasing oneself, the prophet also blames elsewhere when he says: Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and learned in their own sight. Likewise, then, in this matter also we can say: Woe to those who please themselves, and seem good in their own sight.
This site's exposition
bear with the shortcomings of the weak
on Romans 15:1-3
The strong are told to carry the shortcomings of the weak and to build up their neighbor. Christ did not please Himself, and Paul quotes Psalm 69:9 for it, where the insults aimed at God fell on Him. That verse sets the pattern the strong copy.
This site's exposition
please his neighbor for his good
The pleasing has two limits set on it, the neighbor's good and his building up. Chrysostom reads the words added at the end as a guard, so that pleasing the weak counts only where it builds him up. Barnes takes neighbor here chiefly of fellow members of the church.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
But what he says is this. Art thou powerful? Let the weak have trial of thy power. Let him come to know thy strength; please him. And he does not barely say please, but for his good, and not barely for his good, lest the advanced person should say, See I am drawing him to his good! but he adds, "to edification." And so if thou be rich or be in power, please not thyself, but the poor and the needy, because in this way thou wilt at once have true glory to enjoy, and be doing much service. For glory from things of the world soon flies away, but that from things of the Spirit is abiding, if thou do it to edification. Wherefore of all men he requires this. For it is not this and that person that is to do it, but "each of you." Then since it was a great thing he had commanded them, and had bidden them even relax their own perfectness in order to set right the other's weakness; he again introduces Christ, in the following words:
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, let every one of you, he clarifies his admonition: first, in regard to the second part; second, in regard to the first, at wherefore, receive one another. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he explains what he …
That is, let each one do what is pleasing to his neighbor, and serve his brother, only for good. And lest any of the perfect should say: behold, I too am drawing my brother toward good, he added: "for edification." For although what you are …
The Reformation1 voice
Let indeed every one of us, etc. He teaches us here, that we are under obligations to others, and that it is therefore our duty to please and to serve them, and that there is no exception in which we ought not to accommodate ourselves to our brethren when we can do so, according to God's word, to their edification.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Let everyone of us please his neighbour,.... Every man, particularly his Christian friend and brother, whom he should seek to please in all things, and by all means lawful; he should carry it affably and courteously, should make himself agreeable to him; should condescend and accommodate himself to his weakness, and bear his infirmities, and deny himself rather than displease him. The Vulgate Latin version and some copies read, "let everyone of you"; but the other reading is preferable, and best agrees with the context, Rom 15:
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The closer the stones lie, and the better they are squared to fit one another, the stronger is the building. Now observe the reason why Christians must please one another: For even Christ pleased not himself. The self-denial of our Lord Jesus is the best argument against the selfishness of Christians.
Believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable, 1 Pet. i. It is owing to the weakness of our faith that we are so much wanting in joy and peace. Only believe; believe the goodness of Christ, the love of Christ, the promises of the covenant, and the joys and glories of heaven; let faith be the substance and evidence of these things, and the result must needs be joy and peace.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Let every one of us please his neighbor - For it should be a maxim with each of us to do all in our power to please our brethren; and especially in those things in which their spiritual edification is concerned. Though we should not indulge men in mere whims and caprices, yet we should bear with their ignorance and their weakness, knowing that others had much to bear with from us before we came to our present advanced state of religious knowledge.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Please his neighbour - That is, all other persons, but especially the friends of the Redeemer. The word “neighbor” here has special reference to the members of the church. It is often used, however, in a much larger sense; see Luk 10:36. For his good - Not seek to secure for him indulgence in those things which Would be injurious to him, but in all those things whereby his welfare would be promoted. To edification - See the note at Rom 14:19.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἕκαστος | hekastos | Each | G1538 → | 81 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλησίον | plesion | neighbour | G4139 → | 17 times |
| ἀρεσκέτω | aresketo | should please | G700 → | 17 times |
| εἰς | eis | unto | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγαθὸν | agathon | good | G18 → | 102 times |
| πρὸς | pros | for | G4314 → | 700 times |
| οἰκοδομήν. | oikodomen | edification. | G3619 → |
ἕκαστοςEach
hekastosG1538 →81 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πλησίονneighbour
plesionG4139 →17 times
ἀρεσκέτωshould please
aresketoG700 →17 times
εἰςunto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀγαθὸνgood
agathonG18 →102 times
πρὸςfor
prosG4314 →700 times
οἰκοδομήν.edification.
oikodomenG3619 →
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
1 Corinthians 10:24No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 9:19–23
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 15:1–2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- Philippians 2:4–5
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33
as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19–23
Through
Romans 14:19So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
- Psalms 34:14
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- Ephesians 4:29
Where this verse is studied
About Romans
This page draws on 10 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); Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 27; 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.