Priestly service and the offering of the Gentiles (15:14–21)

Says Paul is convinced that they are full of goodness, filled with knowledge, and able to instruct one another (15:14). He wrote rather boldly in part, as a reminder, because of the grace given him to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in priestly service of God’s gospel, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (15:15–16). He will speak only of what Christ accomplished through him for Gentile obedience, by word, deed, signs, wonders, and the Spirit’s power (15:17–19). From Jerusalem and around to Illyricum he has fulfilled the gospel of Christ, aspiring not to build on another’s foundation, as it is written (15:19–21).

Implies λειτουργός (leitourgos, “minister”) and ἱερουργοῦντα (hierourgounta, “ministering in priestly service”) present the Gentile mission as priestly work, and the purpose clause joins an acceptable offering to sanctification by the Spirit (15:16).

Uncertain ἡ προσφορὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν (hē prosphora tōn ethnōn, “the offering of the Gentiles”) may be the Gentiles themselves, their praise or gifts, or Paul’s labor among them. Preferred here: the Gentiles themselves, because the genitive follows priestly service of the gospel and the offering is sanctified by the Spirit. The alternatives remain open.

The printed text reads ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος (en dynamei pneumatos, “by the power of the Spirit”), without ἁγίου or θεοῦ (var.Rom.15.19.pneumatos). The BSB’s “by the power of the Spirit of God” follows the reading with θεοῦ. Isaiah 52:15 awaits the Hebrew note.