Romans 15:2 kjv
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Romans 15:2 nkjv
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
Romans 15:2 niv
Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
Romans 15:2 esv
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Romans 15:2 nlt
We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
Romans 15 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 15:2 | Each of us should please our neighbor for his good, to build him up. | Directly supports the verse's teaching |
| 1 Cor 10:24 | Let no one seek his own, but each his neighbor's good. | Echoes the principle of selfless concern |
| 1 Cor 10:33 | not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. | Reinforces the selfless motivation |
| Phil 2:4 | Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. | Parallels the command to prioritize others |
| Phil 2:5 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, | Calls for a Christ-like perspective |
| 1 Cor 14:26 | let all things be done for building up. | Emphasizes the goal of edification |
| 1 Cor 8:1 | Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. | Contrasts knowledge with love's edifying power |
| 1 Cor 8:9 | take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. | Highlights the importance of considering the weak |
| Gal 6:2 | Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. | Illustrates the practical outworking of this principle |
| Eph 4:29 | Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. | Shows how words should edify |
| Col 4:6 | Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person. | Connects speech to pleasing others |
| 1 Thess 5:11 | Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. | Reiterates the command to edify |
| Heb 10:24 | And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, | Promotes mutual encouragement |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Emphasizes love's unifying and protective aspect |
| Prov 3:27 | Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. | General Old Testament principle of doing good |
| Prov 25:17 | Withdraw your foot from your neighbor's house; lest he be weary of you and hate you. | Caution against over-imposing oneself |
| Matt 7:12 | So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. | The Golden Rule, encompassing the verse's spirit |
| Luke 10:25-37 | The Good Samaritan Parable | Illustrates selfless neighborly love |
| John 13:34 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also, should love one another. | The command to love as Christ loved |
| 1 John 4:7 | Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. | The source and nature of true love |
| 1 John 4:11 | Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. | The imperative to love based on God's love |
| Rom 14:19 | So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification. | Reinforces the pursuit of peace and edification |
Romans 15 verses
Romans 15 2 Meaning
This verse calls believers to please their neighbors and build them up in the faith, rather than seeking personal gratification or convenience. The focus is on the edification of others, contributing to their spiritual growth and well-being, ultimately for their own good and the glory of God.
Romans 15 2 Context
Romans 15:1-7 addresses the issue of weaker and stronger believers in the church, particularly concerning practices about which the Bible might not give explicit commands (like dietary laws or observance of certain days, relevant in the Roman church context due to Jewish and Gentile believers). Paul encourages stronger believers to bear with the scruples of the weaker, prioritizing unity and mutual encouragement over personal rights or preferences. This specific verse, Romans 15:2, is the direct exhortation flowing from the preceding statement in 15:1 about bearing with the failings of the weak. It lays out the positive action that should result from this forbearance. The broader context of Romans aims to establish the unified gospel and its implications for the life of the church, bridging the gap between Jewish and Gentile believers and fostering harmony within the body of Christ.
Romans 15 2 Word Analysis
- "Each" (ἕκαστος - hekastos): Individually; personally.
- "us" (ἡμῶν - hēmōn): Belongs to us; specifically referring to believers, the collective body of Christ.
- "should" (ὀφείλει - opheilei): Is indebted; ought to; has an obligation. It's not a suggestion but a moral requirement flowing from the gospel.
- "please" (ἀρέσκῃ - areskē): To be pleasing; to seek to gain approval from. In this context, it's not about superficial people-pleasing but a sincere desire to do good and bring benefit to others.
- "neighbor" (τῷ πλησίον - tō plēsion): Literally "the one nearby." In the New Testament, this is broadened to include all fellow humans, but particularly fellow believers in the church context, emphasizing proximity and shared community.
- "for" (εἰς - eis): Indicates purpose or result.
- "his" (αὐτοῦ - autou): His (possessive pronoun).
- "good" (τὸ ἀγαθόν - to agathon): That which is good; the beneficial; the morally excellent. This refers to what is beneficial for their spiritual well-being and growth.
- "to build up" (οἰκοδομὴν - oikodomēn): Edification; spiritual construction. It's about strengthening, maturing, and building up the church or the individual believer, much like building a house.
Words Group Analysis:
- "please our neighbor for his good, to build him up" (ἀρέσκῃ τῷ πλησίον εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν - areskē tō plēsion eis to agathon pros oikodomēn): This entire phrase encapsulates the proactive and selfless responsibility of believers. It’s a balanced approach: "pleasing" (a right motivation) directed towards the "neighbor" (the recipient), with a clear purpose of achieving "good" and resulting in "edification." This isn't about ignoring one's own convictions but about laying them aside when they might hinder another's spiritual progress.
Romans 15 2 Bonus Section
The concept of "edification" (οἰκοδομή - oikodomē) is central to Pauline theology. It's a building metaphor that signifies construction, fortification, and maturation. It's not merely about pleasing or comfort but about advancing someone towards spiritual completeness and likeness to Christ. The pursuit of pleasing the neighbor for their good, to build them up, is directly linked to the analogy of the body of Christ where each part contributes to the health and function of the whole (1 Cor 12). This principle is foundational for understanding church unity and maturity, moving beyond individual rights to communal responsibility under Christ.
Romans 15 2 Commentary
This verse is a cornerstone of Christian interpersonal ethics. It challenges the self-centered impulse by redirecting focus towards the spiritual welfare of fellow believers. It's about sacrificing personal rights for the sake of promoting growth and strengthening in others, particularly those who may be weaker in faith. The "good" is not defined by transient human approval but by God's standards of righteousness and spiritual maturity. The act of building up is the supreme aim, reflecting Christ's own concern for His church. This requires wisdom, discernment, and love to know what truly constitutes "good" and "edification" for each individual and for the body as a whole.
- Practical Usage: If abstaining from a certain food does not compromise one's own faith, but eating it would cause a weaker brother to stumble, the stronger one should abstain for the sake of that brother's edification. This also extends to speech, conduct, and the exercise of any spiritual gift – all should be geared towards building others up.