Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 15:17

"I have therefore my glorifying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God." — Romans 15:17 (ASV)

I have therefore. I have cause for glorying. I have cause for rejoicing that God has made me a minister to the Gentiles and that He has given me such success among them. The ground of this He states in Romans 15:18-22.

Glory. This refers to boasting (kauchsin, the word usually rendered boasting), James 4:16; Romans 3:27; 2 Corinthians 7:14; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 2 Corinthians 9:3–4; 2 Corinthians 10:15; 2 Corinthians 11:10, 17.

It also means praise, thanksgiving, and joy, 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 7:4; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 1 Thessalonians 2:19.

This is its meaning here: that the apostle had great cause for rejoicing or praise that he had been so highly honored in the appointment to this office and in his success in it.

Through Jesus Christ. By the assistance of Jesus Christ; ascribing his success among the Gentiles to the aid which Jesus Christ had rendered him.

In those things which pertain to God. . These are the things of religion: the things which God has commanded and which pertain to His honor and glory.

They were not things that pertained to Paul, but to God; not accomplished by Paul, but by Jesus Christ. Yet Paul might rejoice that he had been the means of spreading those blessings so widely.

A minister's success is not for his own praise but for the honor of God; it is not by his skill or power but by the aid of Jesus Christ. Yet he may rejoice that through him such blessings are conferred on people.