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AUGUST 17
12 And again, Isaiah says: any of those things which Christ has not
accomplished through me, in word and deed,
“There shall be a root of Jesse; to make the Gentiles obedient— in mighty
19
And He who shall rise to reign over
the Gentiles, signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.” God, so that from Jerusalem and round about
to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of
13 20
Now may the God of hope fill you with all Christ. And so I have made it my aim to
joy and peace in believing, that you may preach the gospel, not where Christ was
abound in hope by the power of the Holy named, lest I should build on another man’s
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Spirit. foundation, but as it is written:
14
Now I myself am confident concerning
you, my brethren, that you also are full of “To whom He was not announced, they
goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also shall see;
15
to admonish one another. Nevertheless, And those who have not heard shall
brethren, I have written more boldly to you on understand.”
some points, as reminding you, because of the 22 For this reason I also have been much hin-
16
23
grace given to me by God, that I might be a dered from coming to you. But now no longer
minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, minis- having a place in these parts, and having a great
24
tering the gospel of God, that the offering of desire these many years to come to you, when-
the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified ever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For
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by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I have reason to I hope to see you on my journey, and to be
glory in Christ Jesus in the things which per- helped on my way there by you, if first I may en-
tain to God. For I will not dare to speak of joy your company for a while.
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DAY 16: How does Paul exemplify a “minister of Jesus Christ”?
Paul calls himself a “minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles”in Romans 15:16.“Minister”was a
general Greek term used of public officials.But in the New Testament it is used most often of those
who serve God in some form of public worship (e.g.,Phil.2:17; Heb.1:7,14; 8:1,2,6),including that of
a priest (Luke 1:23). Although Paul’s practice was always to present the gospel to the Jews first in
every city he visited, his primary apostolic calling was to the Gentiles (11:13; Acts 9:15). Having
referred to himself as a minister, a word with priestly overtones, Paul explains that his priestly min-
istry is to present to God an offering of a multitude of Gentile converts.
“Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus”(v.17).Literally,“to boast.”Paul never boasted
in his accomplishments as an apostle,but only in what Christ had accomplished through him (1 Cor.
1:27–29,31;2 Cor.10:13–17;12:5,9;Gal.6:14;1 Tim.1:12–16).In Paul’s case,his preaching was accom-
panied with “signs and wonders”(v. 19). God used them to authenticate true preaching and teach-
ing.“From Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”The
region that roughly corresponds to the former European country of Yugoslavia, spanning some
1,400 miles.
Paul’s goal was to reach those who had never heard the gospel (v. 20)—the primary function
of a New Testament evangelist (Eph. 4:11). But for pastor-teachers, building on the foundation laid
by such an evangelist is the crucial part of their ministry (1 Cor. 3:6).

And how have you declared sound
AUGUST 17 4 To whom have you uttered words?
advice to many?
And whose spirit came from you?
5 “The dead tremble,
Job 26:1–14
Those under the waters and those
inhabiting them.
26 But Job answered and said: 6 Sheol is naked before Him,
2 “How have you helped him who is And Destruction has no covering.
without power? 7 He stretches out the north over empty
How have you saved the arm that has space;
no strength? He hangs the earth on nothing.
3 How have you counseled one who has 8 He binds up the water in His thick
no wisdom? clouds,

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