Bible Strands
Romans 15:18
I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church while concluding his summary of apostolic ministry before outlining his travel plans. He addresses them directly as he delineates the scope of his Gentile mission.
The words — τολμήσω (tolmēsō) translates literally to "will I dare" or "presume," and κατειργάσατο (kateirgasato) means "has accomplished." Paul uses these terms to draw a strict boundary between his own claims and the work Christ has completed through him.
The thread — The pattern of Christ accomplishing Gentile obedience through an apostle runs through Romans 1:5 and is documented in Acts 15:12 and Acts 21:19. The same emphasis on divine power driving proclamation continues in Romans 15:19.
Why it lands — The text states that Paul's speech is limited to what Christ has already done through him. It requires readers to measure their own service by observable divine results rather than personal achievement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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,
Cross-references
- Acts 15:12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
- Romans 1:5 Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
- Acts 21:19 Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
- Proverbs 25:14 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
- Galatians 2:8 For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
- Romans 16:26 but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith—
- 2 Thessalonians 2:17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
- Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
- Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.
- Acts 14:27 When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.