*15:3 See Psalm 69:9.
†15:5 It is only as a group of people are habitually exposed to the same Scriptures that ‘the same mind’ has much chance.
‡15:7 Perhaps 40% of the Greek manuscripts read ‘you’, but the 60% includes the best line of transmission. The verb I have rendered as ‘accept’ can also mean ‘receive’.
§15:8 “Jesus” is omitted by perhaps 4% of the Greek manuscripts, to be followed by NIV, NASB, TEV, LB, etc.—an inferior proceeding.
*15:9 We generally do not even trust someone who does not keep his promises, much less ‘glorify’ him. So it was necessary to fulfill the promises made to the patriarchs.
†15:9 Less than a third of the Greek manuscripts have “O Lord”, but that third includes the best line of transmission, that follows the Hebrew Text of both 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49.
‡15:9 See 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49.
§15:10 See Deuteronomy 32:43.
*15:11 See Psalm 117:1.
†15:12 See Isaiah 11:10.
‡15:13 If one stops and thinks about it, ‘joy’ and ‘peace’ depend on believing—when we begin to doubt we lose both. Also, if you are filled with hope, you tend to have more ‘bounce’, you work with greater enthusiasm.
§15:13 To abound by the power presumably means that we are to be doing things by that power. One does not ‘abound’ by sitting still doing nothing.
*15:14 Instead of “others”, some 7% of the Greek manuscripts read ‘one another’, as in most versions.
†15:16 The concept is interesting: Paul is a priest, and the nations are his offering. I habitually present my own work to God as an offering.
‡15:19 Note the ‘word and deed’, the ‘signs and wonders’. Can someone who has only ‘word’ claim to have ‘fully proclaimed’ the Gospel?
§15:19 Illyricum lies to the north of Macedonia, in what used to be Yugoslavia (a few decades ago).
*15:21 See Isaiah 52:15.
†15:24 “I will come to you” is omitted by 4.1% of the Greek manuscripts, to be followed by NIV, NASB, TEV, LB, etc.—an inferior proceeding.
‡15:28 I am not aware of any record that Paul ever got to Spain.
§15:29 “Of the Gospel” is omitted by 3.7% of the Greek manuscripts, to be followed by NIV, NASB, TEV, LB, etc.—an inferior proceeding.
*15:30 If Paul needed prayer, how about us?