I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through mePaul emphasizes humility and the recognition that his ministry is not of his own doing but is the work of Christ through him. This reflects the biblical principle that all glory belongs to God (
1 Corinthians 1:31). Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles was a fulfillment of his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles (
Acts 9:15). This phrase underscores the importance of divine empowerment in Christian service, aligning with Jesus’ teaching in
John 15:5 that apart from Him, believers can do nothing.
in leading the Gentiles to obedience
Paul’s mission was to bring the Gentiles to faith and obedience, fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The term "obedience" here implies not just belief but a life transformed by faith, as seen inRomans 1:5, where Paul speaks of bringing about the "obedience of faith." This reflects the early church's expansion beyond Jewish boundaries, a significant cultural and theological shift, as the Gentiles were historically seen as outside God’s covenant people (Ephesians 2:11-13).
by word and deed
Paul’s ministry was characterized by both proclamation and action. His preaching (word) was accompanied by a lifestyle and works (deed) that validated his message. This dual approach is consistent withJames 2:17, which emphasizes that faith without works is dead. Paul’s deeds included miracles and acts of service, which served as signs of the Kingdom of God and authenticated his apostolic authority (2 Corinthians 12:12). This holistic approach to ministry reflects the life of Jesus, who taught and performed miracles, demonstrating the power and love of God.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Paul the ApostleThe author of the letter to the Romans, Paul is a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.
2.
ChristCentral to Paul's message, Christ is the one through whom all accomplishments are made possible, emphasizing the divine source of Paul's ministry.
3.
GentilesNon-Jewish people who were a primary focus of Paul's missionary work, highlighting the expansion of the Gospel beyond the Jewish community.
4.
RomeThe destination of Paul's letter, Rome was a significant center of power and culture in the ancient world, representing a diverse audience for the Gospel.
5.
ObedienceA key theme in Paul's ministry, referring to the response of faith and action that the Gospel calls for among believers.
Teaching Points
Christ-Centered MinistryEmphasize that all accomplishments in ministry should be attributed to Christ, not personal ability or effort.
Obedience as a ResponseHighlight the importance of obedience as a natural response to the Gospel, demonstrated through both word and deed.
Humility in ServiceEncourage believers to adopt a posture of humility, recognizing that any success in ministry is due to Christ's work through them.
Inclusivity of the GospelReflect on the significance of the Gospel being for all people, including Gentiles, and the call to reach diverse communities.
Faith in ActionChallenge believers to live out their faith actively, ensuring that their deeds align with their words.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Romans 15:18?
2.How does Romans 15:18 encourage us to speak only of Christ's accomplishments?
3.What does Romans 15:18 teach about relying on God's power for ministry?
4.How can we apply Paul's example of humility in our own lives today?
5.In what ways does Romans 15:18 connect to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?
6.How can we ensure our actions align with Christ's work, as in Romans 15:18?
7.What does Romans 15:18 reveal about Paul's mission and purpose in spreading the Gospel?
8.How does Romans 15:18 emphasize the importance of Christ's work through believers?
9.In what ways does Romans 15:18 challenge personal pride in spiritual accomplishments?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Romans 15?
11.How can we live fully in Christ's teachings?
12.What is the essence of the Blessing of Abraham?
13.In Galatians 1:11–12, Paul insists he received his gospel through a revelation from Christ; how can such a private claim be validated historically or scientifically?
14.What are the Pauline Epistles?What Does Romans 15:18 Mean
I will not presume to speak• Paul’s opening words radiate humility. He refuses to step onto a platform of personal bragging.
•1 Corinthians 1:31 reminds, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord,” and2 Corinthians 10:13 echoes, “We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits.”
• The apostle models a heart that measures every word against the glory it brings to Christ, not to self.
of anything• His restraint is total—he will not wander into side topics or self-promotion.
•1 Corinthians 2:2 sets the tone: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
• By narrowing the field to what truly matters, Paul guards both his listeners and himself from drifting into empty chatter (2 Timothy 2:16).
except what Christ has accomplished through me• Here the spotlight spins from Paul to Christ. Whatever fruit appears, Jesus is its true source.
•Ephesians 3:7-8 speaks the same language: “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace… this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
•Galatians 2:20 adds, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” The instrument is real, but the music is Christ’s.
in leading the Gentiles to obedience• Paul’s call was laser-focused: the obedience of faith among non-Jews.Romans 1:5 states it plainly, “through Him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.”
•Acts 26:17-18 shows the mission in action—opening eyes, turning people “from darkness to light.”
• Obedience here is not mere rule-keeping; it is the life-change that springs from trusting Christ (John 14:15).
by word and deed• The gospel traveled on two rails: proclamation and demonstration.
– Word: clear, Spirit-empowered preaching (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
– Deed: a lifestyle that made the message tangible (2 Corinthians 6:3-10).
•James 2:17 reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Paul’s ministry embodied that fusion, letting listeners see as well as hear the truth.
summaryRomans 15:18 paints a picture of an apostle who refuses to boast, zeroes in on Christ’s work, and measures success by transformed, obedient lives among the Gentiles—achieved through faithful words and matching deeds. The verse calls every believer to the same pattern: humble speech, Christ-centered focus, gospel obedience, and integrity that weds what we say to how we live.
(18) Nor in basing my claims upon this head do I go at all beyond my own proper province. I will take credit for no man's labours but my own. They have, indeed, been quite signal enough.
I will not dare to speak.--I have a certain just and legitimate pride, but I shall not, therefore, presume to boast of successes of which others have been the instrument.All successes in the mission field are due ultimately to Christ; for some he has made use of me, for others of other men. I will confine myself to those in which I have been myself directly concerned.
To make the Gentiles obedient.--Comp.Romans 1:5, "for obedience to the faith among all nations" (i.e., to bring over all the Gentiles into obedience to the faith; see Note).
By word and deed.--This goes with the phrase "wrought by me," and signifies "either by preaching or by miracles."
It will be seen that the structure of this verse is not, in a rhetorical sense, quite elegant. The Apostle uses a negative form of sentence where a positive form would seem to be more appropriate. Instead of saying, "I will confine myself to what Christhas wrought by me," he says, "I willnot speak of what Christ hasnot wrought by me," though the description which follows is that of his own ministry.
Verses 18, 19. - For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought through me unto the obedience of the Gentiles (meaning, I will not dare to speak, of any mere doings of my own, but only of those in which the power of Christ working through my ministry has been displayed)
by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders (
i.e. displays of miraculous power. It is noteworthy how St. Paul alludes incidentally in his letters to such "signs and wonders" having accompanied his ministry, as to something familiar and acknowledged, so as to suggest the idea of their having been more frequent than we might gather from the Acts of the Apostles. Had the alleged "signs and wonders" been unreal, we might have expected them to be made more of in the subsequent narrative of an admirer than in contemporary letters),
by the power of the Spirit of God (al.
the Holy Spirit. This power, if taken as distinct from that of
signs and wonders, may denote the power of the Holy Spirit displayed in the conversion of believers, and the gifts bestowed upon them);
so that from Jerusalem, and round about as far as Illyricum, I have fully preached (literally,
I have fulfilled)
the gospel of Christ. In thus designating the sphere of his ministry the apostle is denoting its local extent, rather than the course he had taken. He had, in fact, preached first at Damascus (
Acts 9:20), and afterwards at Jerusalem (
Acts 9:29); but he mentions Jerusalem first, as being the original home of the gospel in the East, and, indeed, the first scene of his own preaching in fellowship with the original apostles. Thence he had extended it in various quarters (for the meaning of
κύκλῳ - trans. "round about" - cf.
Mark 6:6;
Luke 9:12), and carried it into Europe, Illyricum being the western limit so far reached. It is true that there is no mention in the Acts of his having actually visited Illyria. In the journey of
Acts 17. he plainly got no further west than Betted, which is, however, not far off; and he might possibly mean here only to say that he had extended the gospel to the borders of Illyricum, but for the word
πεπληρωκέναι, and his seeming to imply afterwards (ver. 23) that he had gone as far as he could in those regions, and consequently contemplated a journey to Spain. Hence, the narrative of Acts not being an exhaustive history, it may be supposed that he had on some occasion extended his operations from Macedonia to Illyricum, as he may well have done on his visit to the latter mentioned in
Acts 20:1-3, where
διελθὼν τὰ μέρη ἐκεῖνα allows for a visit into Illyricum.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
I will not presumeτολμήσω(tolmēsō)Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5111:To dare, endure, be bold, have courage, make up the mind. From tolma; to venture; by implication, to be courageous.to speakλαλεῖν(lalein)Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2980:A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.of anythingτι(ti)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5100:Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.exceptοὐ(ou)Adverb
Strong's 3756:No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.whatὧν(hōn)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.ChristΧριστὸς(Christos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.has accomplishedκατειργάσατο(kateirgasato)Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2716:From kata and ergazomai; to work fully, i.e. Accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion.throughδι’(di’)Preposition
Strong's 1223:A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.meἐμοῦ(emou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.in leadingεἰς(eis)Preposition
Strong's 1519:A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.[the] Gentilesἐθνῶν(ethnōn)Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1484:Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.to obedienceὑπακοὴν(hypakoēn)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5218:Obedience, submissiveness, compliance. From hupakouo; attentive hearkening, i.e. compliance or submission.by wordλόγῳ(logō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056:From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.deed,ἔργῳ(ergō)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2041:From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.
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NT Letters: Romans 15:18 For I will not dare to speak (Rom. Ro) 
