I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Romans 15-16.

    Paul tells us not to live to please ourselves, but to live to help our neighbors, those we meet and interact with on a daily basis, do what is right. I want to note that he gives this instruction immediately after making a final reference to his comments on not arguing over issues such as what is proper or improper to eat and what days are holy or not. So, this reference to helping others do what is right is not a reference to such things. Rather, Paul explains that we should strive to live in unity, with one mind and one spirit, but he points out that such is only possible if we allow God to work through us and strive to please each other.

    As Paul concludes his letter to the believers in Rome he explains why he wrote the letter, and why he wrote it now. Paul wrote this letter because he planned to visit Rome on his way to Iberia (Spain and Portugal) after he had delivered the monetary aid which the Gentile believers in Greece and Macedonia had collected for the believers in Jerusalem. The purpose of the letter was to introduce Paul’s approach to teaching about Christ. This served two purposes. First it gave the believers in Rome an in depth understanding of what Paul taught so they would not be caught off guard by anything he said once he got to Rome. Along with that it gave them a basis for interpreting what he said once he arrived, reducing the chances for misunderstanding. The second purpose was to give them a starting point for discussion once Paul arrived in Rome. Paul makes it clear that he does not think he is saying anything in this letter which the believers in Rome do not already know. This is not a letter designed to guide believers away from heresy and fault, as at least parts of Paul’s other letters do. Paul makes it clear that he does not think he has authority over the believers in Rome, unlike the believers in the cities where he was the first to bring the Gospel.