The Meaning of Romans 15:8 Explained

Romans 15:8

KJV: Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

YLT: And I say Jesus Christ to have become a ministrant of circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers,

Darby: For I say that Jesus Christ became a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises of the fathers;

ASV: For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  I say  that Jesus  Christ  was  a minister  of the circumcision  for  the truth  of God,  to  confirm  the promises  [made] unto the fathers: 

What does Romans 15:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Romans 15:8-10 expand the idea of Jesus Christ accepting us. Romans 15:8 deals with His acceptance of Jews. He not only accepted Jewish believers but came to serve the Jewish people, as the Old Testament predicted, fulfilling God"s promise to the patriarchs ( Mark 10:45; Matthew 15:24; cf. Galatians 3:16). Consequently the typically stronger Gentile believers should not despise their occasionally weaker Jewish brethren.

Context Summary

Romans 15:1-13 - Following Christ In Pleasing Others
This chapter is remarkable for its threefold designation of God. The God of patience and comfort, Romans 15:5; the God of hope, Romans 15:13; and the God of peace, Romans 15:33. Our character may be deficient in these things, but His fullness is there for us to draw upon. There is no stint or lack for those to whom He says, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."
We must always be on the lookout for the weak, the heavy-laden, and the downcast. Let us help them with their burdens, anxieties, fears, and questionings-imparting to them something of our cheery hope. Never pleasing ourselves; merciful to others; though merciless in the standard and criticism we apply to our own conduct; comforting ourselves with the Word of God, that we may be able to impart these divine consolations to others. Where such conditions are realized, life becomes a dream of heaven actualized in flesh and blood. But we must fulfill the injunctions of Romans 15:9-13, rejoicing in praise and abounding in hope. The outlook on the earth-side may be dark and depressing, but uncurtain your windows toward God-see, the land is light. [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 15:8

A minister of the circumcision [διακονον περιτομης]
Objective genitive, “a minister to the circumcision.” Διακονον — Diakonon is predicate accusative with γεγενησται — gegenēsthai (perfect passive infinitive of γινομαι — ginomai in indirect assertion after λεγω — legō I say) and in apposition with Χριστον — Christon accusative of general reference with the infinitive. See Galatians 4:4. [source]
That he might confirm [εις το βεβαιωσαι]
Purpose clause with εις το — eis to and the infinitive βεβαιωσαι — bebaiōsai (first aorist active of βεβαιοω — bebaioō to make stand). The promises given unto the fathers (τας επαγγελιας των πατερων — tas epaggelias tōn paterōn). No “given” in the Greek, just the objective genitive, “the promises to the fathers.” See note on Romans 9:4, Romans 9:5. [source]
The promises given unto the fathers [τας επαγγελιας των πατερων]
No “given” in the Greek, just the objective genitive, “the promises to the fathers.” See note on Romans 9:4, Romans 9:5. [source]
Of the circumcision []
Of those circumcised. See on the election, Romans 11:7. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 15:8

Romans 15:13 Fill you [πληρωσαι υμας]
Optative (first aorist active of πληροω — plēroō) of wish for the future. Cf. δωιη — dōiē in Romans 15:5. In believing (εν τωι πιστευειν — en tōi pisteuein). “In the believing” (εν — en with locative of the articular infinitive, the idiom so common in Luke‘s Gospel). That ye may abound Purpose clause with εις το — eis to as in Romans 15:8, with περισσευειν — perisseuein (present active infinitive of περισσευω — perisseuō with accusative of general reference, υμας — humas). This verse gathers up the points in the preceding quotations. [source]
Romans 15:13 That ye may abound [εις το περισσευειν υμας]
Purpose clause with εις το — eis to as in Romans 15:8, with περισσευειν — perisseuein (present active infinitive of περισσευω — perisseuō with accusative of general reference, υμας — humas). This verse gathers up the points in the preceding quotations. [source]
Romans 15:16 That I should be [εις το ειναι με]
The εις το — eis to idiom with the infinitive again (Romans 15:8, Romans 15:13). [source]
Philippians 1:7 Confirmation [βεβαιώσει]
Only here and Hebrews 6:16. The kindred verb βεβαιόω toconfirm, occurs frequently, as Romans 15:8; 1 Corinthians 1:8, etc. [source]
1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons []
The office of Deacon appears in the Pastorals, but not in Paul's letters, with the single exception of Philemon 1:1, where the Deacons do not represent an ecclesiastical office, though they remark an advance toward it. Clement of Rome (ad Corinth. xlii., xliv.) asserts their apostolic appointment. But the evidence at our command does not bear out the view that the institution of the diaconate is described in Acts 6:1-6. The terms διάκονος and διακονία are, in the Pauline writings, common expressions of servants and service either to Christ or to others. Paul applies these terms to his own ministry and to that of his associates. Διακονία is used of the service of the apostles, Acts 1:25; Acts 6:4. Διάκονος is used of Paul and Apollos (1 Corinthians 3:5); of Christ (Galatians 2:17; Romans 15:8); of the civil ruler (Romans 13:4); of ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:15). The appointment of the seven grew out of a special emergency, and was made for a particular service; and the resemblance is not close between the duties and qualifications of deacons in the Pastorals and those of the seven. The word διάκονος does not appear in Acts; and when Paul and Barnabas brought to Jerusalem the collection for the poor saints, they handed it over to the elders. [source]
Hebrews 1:1 Unto the fathers [τοῖς πατράσιν]
Thus absolutely, John 7:22; Romans 9:5; Romans 15:8. More commonly with your or our. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 15:8 mean?

I say for Christ a servant to have become of [the] circumcision for [the] truth of God in order - to confirm the promises given to the fathers
λέγω γὰρ Χριστὸν διάκονον γεγενῆσθαι περιτομῆς ὑπὲρ ἀληθείας Θεοῦ εἰς τὸ βεβαιῶσαι τὰς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων

λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Χριστὸν  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
διάκονον  a  servant 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: διάκονος  
Sense: one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister.
γεγενῆσθαι  to  have  become 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
περιτομῆς  of  [the]  circumcision 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: περιτομή  
Sense: circumcised.
ἀληθείας  [the]  truth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλήθεια  
Sense: objectively.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
εἰς  in  order 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
βεβαιῶσαι  to  confirm 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: βεβαιόω  
Sense: to make firm, establish, confirm, make sure.
ἐπαγγελίας  promises  given 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἐπαγγελία  
Sense: announcement.
τῶν  to  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πατέρων  fathers 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.