Afflict Affliction Ambition Announce Appointed Arouse Bonds Cause Chains Christ Competition Contention Defence Defense Distress Embittering Faction Former Giving Gospel Hearts Imprisonment Insincerely Latter Love Motives News Pain Partisanship Preach Preaching Prison Proclaim Pure Purely Purpose Raise Rather Rivalry Selfish Sincerely Spirit Stir Supposing Thinking Tribulation Trouble
1:17 The other of love. These are the true and earnest preachers. They knew that Paul was not sent to Rome because he was an evil doer, but because he was
set for the defence of the gospel. God had sent him there to preach it.
1:17 But the others out of love - To Christ and me. Knowing - Not barely, supposing. That I am set - Literally, I lie; yet still going forward in his work. He remained at Rome as an ambassador in a place where he is employed on an important embassy.
1:12-20 The apostle was a prisoner at Rome; and to take off the offence of the cross, he shows the wisdom and goodness of God in his sufferings. These things made him known, where he would never have otherwise been known; and led some to inquire after the gospel. He suffered from false friends, as well as from enemies. How wretched the temper of those who preached Christ out of envy and contention, and to add affliction to the bonds that oppressed this best of men! The apostle was easy in the midst of all. Since our troubles may tend to the good of many, we ought to rejoice. Whatever turns to our salvation, is by the Spirit of Christ; and prayer is the appointed means of seeking for it. Our earnest expectation and hope should not be to be honoured of men, or to escape the cross, but to be upheld amidst temptation, contempt, and affliction. Let us leave it to Christ, which way he will make us serviceable to his glory, whether by labour or suffering, by diligence or patience, by living to his honour in working for him, or dying to his honour in suffering for him.
Afflict Affliction Ambition Appointed Bonds Cause Chains Christ Competition Defence Defense Distress Faction Former Good Gospel Hearts Imprisonment Insincerely Latter Motives News Others Pain Preach Preaching Proclaim Pure Purpose Raise Rather Rivalry Selfish Sincerely Spirit Stir Supposing Thinking
Afflict Affliction Ambition Appointed Bonds Cause Chains Christ Competition Defence Defense Distress Faction Former Good Gospel Hearts Imprisonment Insincerely Latter Motives News Others Pain Preach Preaching Proclaim Pure Purpose Raise Rather Rivalry Selfish Sincerely Spirit Stir Supposing Thinking
