Romans 15:21 – Evangelistic Tenacity
but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand.”
Truth to Learn
Isaiah prophesied about Gentiles believing in the Messiah.
Behind the Words
“Announced” is from anangellō, which is made up of ana, indicating repetition or specificity and angellō, meaning “to declare, proclaim, or announce.” Anangellō indicates a detailed proclamation or a repeated proclamation.
The word “see” is translated from a form of horaō, meaning “to see or perceive (either visually or cognitively).
“Understand” is translated from the verb suniēmi, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and hiēmi, meaning “to send or to put.” Thus, this word literally means “to put together mentally.” In other words it means “to comprehend or to understand.”
Meaning Explained
Paul has been talking about being singularly focused on performing the ministry to which he was called by God, the ministry of declaring the message of salvation through the death of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus the Christ. He has demonstrated repeatedly that he was a student of the Scriptures. Here he quotes a scripture that is clearly in reference to the Messiah. Most of us can recognize one of the great messianic prophecies when we hear the beginning of Isaiah 53:
Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. (Isaiah 53:1-2)
But who of us can recognize the last three verses of the chapter immediately preceding this one?
Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; so shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider. (Isaiah 52:13-15)
Paul was keenly aware of Isaiah chapter 52 and recognized that verse fifteen was a reference to the Gentiles understanding the message about the Messiah. He may have claimed this verse as his “life verse,” the verse that defined his mission in life. Some Biblical scholars even believe that Paul understood this prophecy to be a specific reference to his own apostolic ministry. Whether or not that is so and whether or not Paul claimed this as his life verse, he nonetheless recognized that Isaiah prophesied concerning the Gentiles believing in the Messiah. He also recognized that he personally had a calling from God to preach the message to those who had never heard about salvation in Jesus Christ. Not only did he know what his calling was, but he was so focused on his calling that he did not let anything distract him from performing it.
Application
Oh, that we were as clear about our calling and as tenacious in our pursuit of it!
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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