Romans 15 · Verse 18

Romans 15:18

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Romans 15:18, King James Version

Romans 15:18 in other translations

BSBI will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
WEBFor I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
ASVFor I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
YLTfor I will not dare to speak anything of the things that Christ did not work through me, to obedience of nations, by word and deed,
DARBYFor I will not dare to speak anything of the things which Christ has not wrought by me, for the obedience of the nations, by word and deed,
BBEAnd I will keep myself from talking of anything but those things which Christ has done by me to put the Gentiles under his rule in word and in act,
WebsterFor I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

What does Romans 15:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 15:18-22
18-22. For I will not dare to speak of any--"to speak aught" of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me--a modest, though somewhat obscure form of expression, meaning, "I will not dare to go beyond what Christ hath wrought by me"--in which form accordingly the rest of the passage is expressed. Observe here how Paul ascribes all the success of his labors to the activity of the living Redeemer, working in and by him. by word and deed--by preaching and working; which latter he explains in the next clause.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. For I will not dare to speak. I should be restrained; I should be afraid to speak, if the thing were not as I have stated. I should be afraid to set up a claim beyond that which is strictly in accordance with the truth.

Which Christ hath not wrought by me. I confine myself strictly to what I have done. I do not arrogate to myself what Christ has done by others. I do not exaggerate my own success, or claim what others have accomplished.

To make the Gentiles obedient. To bring them to obey God in the gospel.

By word and deed. By preaching, and by all other means; by miracle, by example, etc. The deeds, that is, the lives of Christian ministers are often as efficacious in bringing me to Christ as their public ministry.

(z) "make the Gentiles obedient"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 For I will not dare to speak - If the thing were not as I have stated it, I would not dare to arrogate to myself honors which did not belong to me. But God has made me the apostle of the Gentiles; and the conversion of the Gentiles is the fruit of my ministry, Christ having wrought by me for this purpose. By word and deed - Αογῳ και εργῳ· These words may refer to the doctrines which he taught and to the miracles which he wrought among them. So they became obedient to the doctrines, on the evidence of the miracles with which they were accompanied.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 15:14-21

The apostle was persuaded that the Roman Christians were filled with a kind and affectionate spirit, as well as with knowledge. He had written to remind them of their duties and their dangers, because God had appointed him the minister of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul preached to them; but what made them sacrifices to God, was, their sanctification; not his work, but the work of the Holy Ghost: unholy things can…

Read the full comment on Romans 15:14-21 →

Romans 15:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὐouNotG3756
γὰρgarforG1063
τολμήσωtolmēsōwill I dareG5111
τιtianythingG5100
λαλεῖνlaleinto speakG2980
ὧνhōnof whatG3739
οὐouexceptG3756
κατειργάσατοkateirgasatohas accomplishedG2716
ΧριστὸςChristosChristG5547
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
ἐμοῦemoumeG1473
εἰςeisunto [the]G1519
ὑπακοὴνhupakoēnobedienceG5218
ἐθνῶνethnōnof [the] GentilesG1484
λόγῳlogōby wordG3056
καὶkaiandG2532
ἔργῳ,ergōby deed,G2041

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 15:18

  • Acts 15:12

    Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

  • Romans 1:5

    By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

  • Acts 21:19

    And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

  • Proverbs 25:14

    Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

  • Galatians 2:8

    (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

  • Romans 16:26

    But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:17

    Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

  • Acts 15:4

    And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

  • Matthew 28:18-20

    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

  • Acts 26:20

    But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

  • Romans 6:17

    But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

  • Colossians 3:17

    And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I will.
Pr 25:14; 2Co 10:13-18; 11:31; 12:6; Jude 1:9
which.
Mr 16:20; Ac 14:27; 15:4,12; 21:19; Ga 2:8; 1Co 3:6-9; 2Co 3:1-3; 6:1
to make.
1:5; 6:17; 16:26; Mt 28:18-20; Ac 26:20; 2Co 10:4,5; Heb 5:9; 11:8
by word.
Col 3:17; 2Th 2:17; Jas 1:22; 1Jo 3:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 15:17

    I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

  • Romans 15:18

    For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

  • Romans 15:19

    Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Read all of Romans 15

Romans 15:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque no osaría hablar alguna cosa que Cristo no haya hecho por mí para la obediencia de los Gentiles, con la palabra y con las obras,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car je n’oserai rien dire que Christ n’ait accompli par moi pour l’obéissance des nations, par parole et par œuvre,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ich werde nicht wagen, etwas von dem zu reden, was Christus nicht durch mich gewirkt hat zum Gehorsam der Nationen durch Wort und Werk,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non enim audeo aliquid loqui eorum, quæ per me non efficit Christus in obedientiam gentium, verbo et factis: