Romans 15:14, Partnership in the Gospel
Romans 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
The Apostle Paul speaks of his heart burden in penning this epistle. He addresses directly now the believers in Rome till the end of this epistle. Although he has not met the believers in Rome, he has written to address the spiritual weaknesses of both individuals and groups in the church. He felt confident that the believers will grow in spiritual maturity and that the gospel work will indeed proceed from Rome and beyond.
He commended them for being full of goodness – showing kindness, thoughtfulness and charity towards others, filled with knowledge – showing a mature understand of truth that propelled them to service, able to admonish one another – to help one another to overcome spiritual weakness and to be accountable one to another. [Swindoll]
Since the beginning of Romans 14:1, he has been speaking concerning the spiritual weaknesses in the church in Rome.He has spent valuable time in helping them in consolidating their spiritual foundation. In truth, the church is far from being in chaos but thriving. He understood the dire persecution that the church in Rome has undergone. He feels for them. He has planned to visit them to encourage them in the things of God (1:13). He has planned, God willing, to launch the gospel to Spain, inform them of his gospel plans and their partnership in the Gospel (15:28).
Thank God for consecrating the Apostle Paul to serve the gentile church through painstaking spiritual nurture. May God bless His church with godly ministers like the Apostle Paul. Amen.