Romans 15 27

Romans 15:27 kjv

It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

Romans 15:27 nkjv

It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

Romans 15:27 niv

They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

Romans 15:27 esv

For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

Romans 15:27 nlt

They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.

Romans 15 verses

Romans 15 27 Meaning

Romans 15:27 conveys a fundamental principle of Christian reciprocity and gratitude. It asserts that if Gentile believers have become partakers in the immeasurable spiritual blessings that originated through the Jewish people (namely, the Gospel, salvation, and the person of Christ), then they have a moral obligation to minister material support to Jewish believers, particularly those in need. This duty stems from the deep spiritual debt the Gentiles owe, manifesting their appreciation and affirming the unity of Jew and Gentile within the body of Christ.

Romans 15 27 Context

The immediate context of Romans 15:27 details Paul's plans to travel to Jerusalem to deliver a collection from the Gentile churches in Macedonia and Achaia to the saints there (Rom 15:25-26). He views this offering not merely as an act of charity, but as a fulfillment of a theological principle and a practical demonstration of unity.

In the broader context of Romans (chapters 9-11 especially), Paul has thoroughly explained God's saving plan involving both Jews and Gentiles. He established that salvation comes from the Jews, yet is extended to Gentiles through faith in Christ. Gentiles are "grafted in" to the olive tree (Israel) and are sustained by its root, carrying a solemn warning not to boast against the natural branches (Rom 11:17-21). Romans 12-15 further outline practical living, emphasizing love, humility, and mutual edification within the Christian community, which includes transcending divisions between those strong and weak in faith, as well as between Jews and Gentiles.

Historically, the early Jerusalem church faced considerable poverty, compounded by factors like famine (Acts 11:28-29), persecution, and the unique circumstances of early Christian communal sharing (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35). Paul championed this collection among the predominantly Gentile churches as a tangible expression of Christian koinonia (fellowship) and a testament to the Gentiles' spiritual indebtedness and solidarity with the mother church, which had given them the Gospel. This act served as both relief and a powerful statement about the dismantling of barriers between Jew and Gentile in Christ.

Romans 15 27 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction introduces a logical reason or explanation, linking the obligation of the Gentiles directly to their spiritual gain, as a justification for the collection mentioned in the preceding verses.
• if...have shared (εἰ συνεκοινώνησαν - ei synekoinōnēsan): The "if" here (εἰ - ei) is not hypothetical but rather affirms a known and settled fact, functioning more like "since" or "seeing that." Synekoinōnēsan (from syn, with, and koinoneō, to share) means "co-participated" or "shared together in fellowship." It highlights a deep, mutual involvement and true spiritual partnership, emphasizing the unity between Jews and Gentiles in receiving God's blessings.
• the Gentiles (τὰ ἔθνη - ta ethnē): Refers specifically to the non-Jewish peoples, who were formerly alienated from God's covenants with Israel but have now been brought into the Christian faith.
• in their spiritual blessings (τοῖς πνευματικοῖς - tois pneumatikois): These are "the spiritual things," which primarily denote the ultimate gifts of the Gospel, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the divine promises, and especially Christ himself—all of which came into the world through Israel (Rom 9:4-5, John 4:22). This term directly contrasts with "carnal things," underscoring the priceless and profound nature of what the Gentiles received.
• they ought (ὀφείλουσιν - opheilousin): This verb signifies a moral obligation, a duty, or a debt owed. It moves beyond optional generosity to express a rightful response arising from what has been received. The act of giving becomes a matter of ethical principle.
• to minister (λειτουργῆσαι - leitourgēsai): Leitourgeō means "to perform a public service," "to carry out a sacred duty," or "to serve as a priest." The term elevates the act of material giving from mere benevolence to an act of spiritual worship or a sacred service within the community, signifying active and sacrificial participation.
• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Specifically indicates the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, the direct source from whom the "spiritual blessings" for the Gentiles originated.
• also (καὶ - kai): This intensifies the sense of reciprocity and balance, stressing that just as spiritual blessings flowed in one direction, material support should flow back in return.
• in carnal things (ἐν τοῖς σαρκικοῖς - en tois sarkikois): These are "the fleshly/material things," referring to physical necessities, temporal provisions, and financial aid. This stands in clear contrast to the "spiritual blessings" (pneumatikois), highlighting the principle of exchanging material resources for spiritual wealth received.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings": This opening phrase establishes the foundation for the argument, confirming the historical and theological reality that Gentile believers have become joint partakers in the profound spiritual heritage that came through Israel. The koinonia here is not of equals initially, but one of gracious reception by Gentiles.
• "they ought to minister to them also in carnal things": This declares the corresponding moral imperative. Having received priceless, spiritual riches, the Gentiles bear an obligation (an opheilein – debt) to respond with practical, material leitourgeia (service) to their Jewish brethren, ensuring an equitable reciprocity within the unified body of Christ.

Romans 15 27 Bonus section

• The collection for Jerusalem was not merely financial aid but carried significant ecclesiological weight. It served as a concrete expression of Jew-Gentile unity, validating Paul's ministry to the Gentiles and fostering reconciliation within the early church (cf. Gal 2:10). It visibly demonstrated that Gentile Christians were truly part of God's covenant people.
• The principle outlined in this verse is not limited to financial aid to Jerusalem; it encapsulates a broader truth for all believers. Those who receive profound spiritual enrichment or ministry bear an implicit responsibility to support those who labor to provide it, whether through pastors, missionaries, or fellow believers in need (cf. 1 Cor 9:11, Gal 6:6).
• The term leitourgeō ("to minister") evokes images of public service, sacred priestly duty, or civic contribution. By using this term, Paul elevates material giving from simple philanthropy to a solemn act of service to God and His people, imbued with spiritual significance and sacred honor.

Romans 15 27 Commentary

Romans 15:27 presents a profound theological justification for the Gentile church's material support of Jewish believers in Jerusalem. Paul frames this not as simple charity, but as an expression of spiritual indebtedness and koinonia—fellowship. Gentile believers, having received the Gospel, salvation, and Christ Himself through the Jewish people, owe a debt of gratitude. This debt is to be repaid in "carnal things," meaning tangible material support, for the immense "spiritual blessings" received. The reciprocal exchange—spiritual wealth from Jerusalem to the nations, material wealth from the nations to Jerusalem—solidifies the organic unity of the one body of Christ, transcending previous ethnic barriers. This verse encourages active, appreciative generosity and highlights mutual interdependence within the Church, confirming that genuine faith expresses itself in practical acts of love and support, especially towards those who have been instrumental in one's spiritual well-being.