Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 15:16

"that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus unto the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit." — Romans 15:16 (ASV)

Minister . . . ministering.—These are two different words in the Greek, but related in their meaning. Both originally refer to the liturgical service of the Temple: the first to all the functions of both the priests and Levites, and the second to the special function of the priests in offering sacrifices.

St. Paul is minister of Jesus Christ; i.e., his sacred office was given to him by Christ. It was Christ who appointed and ordained him to it. His special duty as a priest of the gospel was to ensure that the Church of the Gentiles, whom it was his duty to present as a sacrifice to God, should be fit for such a sacrifice, made holy by the indwelling Spirit, and therefore acceptable to Him to whom it was offered.

To the Gentiles.—Strictly, in reference to the Gentiles. The branch, or department, of the Christian ministry specially allotted to St. Paul was the evangelization of the Gentiles.

Ministering the gospel of God.—This refers to serving the gospel of God in the manner of a priest standing at the altar during the service of the tabernacle. The offering which the priest, in this capacity, is to present is the Gentile Church.

The offering up of the Gentiles.—This means not “that which the Gentiles offer,” but “the offering which the Gentiles are”; the sacrifice which they themselves form and constitute.

Sanctified by the Holy Ghost.—Rather, consecrated in the Holy Ghost. The sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost overshadows, as it were, the Church, encloses and embraces it on every side.