The Meaning of Romans 15:26 Explained

Romans 15:26

KJV: For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

YLT: for it pleased Macedonia and Achaia well to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who are in Jerusalem;

Darby: for Macedonia and Achaia have been well pleased to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who are in Jerusalem.

ASV: For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  it hath pleased them  of Macedonia  and  Achaia  to make  a certain  contribution  for  the poor  saints  which  are at  Jerusalem. 

What does Romans 15:26 Mean?

Context Summary

Romans 15:22-33 - Ambitious To Render Service
The Apostle felt that it was in the line of the divine will that he should visit Rome, Romans 1:10. Relying, as he did, on the efficacy of prayer, it is not surprising to find him urging his Roman friends to unite with him in asking, as in Romans 15:31-32, that his way may be made plain. The prayer was not answered quite as he expected. He little thought that he would come as a prisoner, bound to a soldier, and at the expense of the Roman Empire. Yet he came with joy, and found refreshment and rest with the beloved circle of disciples whom he enumerates in the following chapter. How little do the most of us know of this striving in prayer! But how near we get to absent friends when we pray like this! "Strive together with me."
The love of the Spirit is a very delightful phrase. It bears witness to the personality of the Holy Spirit, for love cannot be attributed to an influence. It also shows the confidence with which we may commit ourselves to His gracious indwelling and prompting. He is the Holy Spirit, but we need not shrink from Him as an awful guest. It also reminds us how deeply He may be grieved. There is no grief so poignant as that which is suffered by love. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 15

1  The strong must bear with the weak
2  We must not please ourselves;
3  for Christ did not so;
7  but receive one another, as Christ did us all;
8  both Jews and Gentiles;
15  Paul excuses his writing;
28  and promises to see them;
30  and requests their prayers

Greek Commentary for Romans 15:26

For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia [ηυδοκησαν γαρ Μακεδονια και Αχαια]
“For Macedonia and Achaia took pleasure.” The use of ηυδοκησαν — ēudokēsan (first aorist active indicative of ευδοκεω — eudokeō) shows that it was voluntary (2 Corinthians 8:4). Paul does not here mention Asia and Galatia. [source]
A certain contribution [κοινωνιαν τινα]
Put thus because it was unknown to the Romans. For this sense of κοινωνιαν — Koinéōnian see 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13. For the poor among the saints (εις τους πτωχους των αγιων — eis tous ptōchous tōn hagiōn). Partitive genitive. Not all there were poor, but Acts 4:32-5:11; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 11:29.; Galatians 2:10 prove that many were. [source]
For the poor among the saints [εις τους πτωχους των αγιων]
Partitive genitive. Not all there were poor, but Acts 4:32-5:11; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 11:29.; Galatians 2:10 prove that many were. [source]
Contribution [κοινωνίαν]
See on fellowship, Acts 2:42. [source]
Poor saints [πτωχοὺς τῶν ἁγίων]
More literally, and better, the poor of the saints. Rev., among the saints. All the saints were not poor. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 15:26

Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have [Πωλησατε τα υπαρχοντα υμων]
Not in Matthew. Did Jesus mean this literally and always? Luke has been charged with Ebionism, but Jesus does not condemn property as inherently sinful. “The attempt to keep the letter of the rule here given (Acts 2:44, Acts 2:45) had disastrous effects on the church of Jerusalem, which speedily became a church of paupers, constantly in need of alms (Romans 15:25, Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:3; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:1)” (Plummer). [source]
Acts 24:17 To bring alms [ελεημοσυνας ποιησον]
Another (see προσκυνησων — proskunēsōn in Acts 24:11) example of the future participle of purpose in the N.T. These “alms” (on ελεημοσυνας — eleēmosunas See Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:4, and note on Acts 10:2, common in Tobit and is in the papyri) were for the poor saints in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Romans 15:26) who were none the less Jews. “And offerings” The very word used in Acts 21:26 of the offerings or sacrifices made by Paul for the four brethren and himself. It does not follow that it was Paul‘s original purpose to make these “offerings” before he came to Jerusalem (cf. Acts 18:18). He came up to worship (Acts 24:11) and to be present at Pentecost (Acts 20:16). [source]
1 Corinthians 16:1 The saints []
At Jerusalem. Evidently the community of property (Acts 2:44) had been abandoned; and Augustine supposes that the poverty of the Jerusalem Christians was due to that practice. See note on Romans 15:26. The precise causes of the destitution in that church can be only conjectured. [source]
1 Corinthians 16:1 Collection [λογίας]
Peculiar to the New Testament, and occurring only here and 1 Corinthians 16:2. The classical word is συλλόγη , Vulg., collecta, which latter is also used of the assemblies in which the collections took place. From λέγω to collect. For such material ministries Paul uses a variety of words; as χάρις bounty 1 Corinthians 16:3; κοινωνία contribution Romans 15:26; εὐλογία . blessing, 2 Corinthians 9:5; λειτουπγία ministration 2 Corinthians 9:12; ἐλεημοσύναι alms Acts 24:17. The word ἔρανος was used by the Greeks to denote a feast of contribution or picnic; a club for mutual relief, and a contribution, made as a club-subscription, or for the support of the poor. [source]
2 Corinthians 9:13 Liberal distribution [ἁπλότητι τῆς κοινωνίας]
Rev., correctly, liberality of your contribution. Κοινωνία communionincludes the idea of communication of material things, and hence sometimes means that which is communicated. See on Acts 2:42; so Romans 15:26; Hebrews 13:16. Compare the similar use of κοινωνέω , Romans 12:13, distributing; Philemon 4:15, communicated. [source]
Galatians 2:10 The poor [τῶν πτωχῶν]
The poor Christians of Palestine. Comp. Acts 24:17; Romans 15:26, Romans 15:27; 1 Corinthians 16:3; 2 Corinthians 9:1. For the word, see on Matthew 5:3. In lxx ordinarily of those who are oppressors, or of those who are quiet in contrast with the lawless. [source]
Philippians 1:5 For your fellowship [ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμῶν]
Connect with I thank God. For fellowship, see on 1 John 1:3. The word sometimes has the meaning of almsgiving, contributions, as Romans 15:26; Hebrews 13:16. Though here it is used in the larger sense of sympathetic cooperation, yet it is no doubt colored by the other idea, in view of the Philippians' pecuniary contributions to Paul. See Phlippians 4:10, Phlippians 4:15, Phlippians 4:16. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 We were willing [ηὐδοκοῦμεν]
Better, we were pleased. Imperfect tense: we continued to entertain and manifest our affectionate solicitude. The verb occasionally in later Greek, and often in lxx. In N.T. it is used of God's decrees, as Luke 12:32; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 1:15; Colossians 1:19; and of the free determination and plans of men, as Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 3:1. [source]
Philemon 1:6 The communication of thy faith [ἡ κοινωνία τῆς πίστεώς σου]
Κοινωνία fellowshipis often used in the active sense of impartation, as communication, contribution, almsgiving. So Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Hebrews 13:16. This is the sense here: the active sympathy and charity growing out of your faith. [source]
Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget [τῆς δὲ εὐποιΐ̀ας καὶ κοινωνίας μὴ ἐπιλανθάνεσθε]
Lit. but be not forgetful of doing good and communicating. Ἑυποιΐ̀α beneficenceN.T.oolxx, oClass. For κοινωνία communicationof alms, etc., see on Luke 5:10; see on Acts 2:42. See also Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13. Comp. the verb κοινωνεῖν toimpart, Romans 12:13; Romans 15:27; Philemon 4:15. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 15:26 mean?

Were pleased for Macedonia and Achaia a contribution certain to make for the poor among the saints - in Jerusalem
εὐδόκησαν γὰρ Μακεδονία καὶ Ἀχαΐα κοινωνίαν τινὰ ποιήσασθαι εἰς τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῶν ἁγίων τῶν ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ

εὐδόκησαν  Were  pleased 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εὐδοκέω  
Sense: it seems good to one, is one’s good pleasure.
Μακεδονία  Macedonia 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: Μακεδονία  
Sense: a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia.
Ἀχαΐα  Achaia 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἀχαί̈α  
Sense: in a restricted sense, the maritime region of northern Peloponnesus.
κοινωνίαν  a  contribution 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κοινωνία  
Sense: fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse.
τινὰ  certain 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ποιήσασθαι  to  make 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Middle
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
πτωχοὺς  poor 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πτωχός  
Sense: reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms.
τῶν  among  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἁγίων  saints 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
τῶν  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰερουσαλήμ  Jerusalem 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἰερουσαλήμ  
Sense: denotes either the city itself or the inhabitants.