Romans Chapter 15 verse 20 Holy Bible
yea, making it my aim so to preach the gospel, not where Christ was `already' named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation;
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Making it my purpose not to take the good news where Christ was named, so that my work might not be resting on that of others;
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and so aiming to announce the glad tidings, not where Christ has been named, that I might not build upon another's foundation;
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Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
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yes, making it my aim to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another's foundation.
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and so counting it honour to proclaim good news, not where Christ was named -- that upon another's foundation I might not build --
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 20. - Yea (or, but), so striving (or, earnestly desiring, or making it my aim. The word is φιλοτιμούμενον, cf. 2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:11) to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation. In the compact between St. Paul and the apostles of the circumcision referred to in Galatians 2:1-7, it was agreed that he should confine his apostolic ministry to the Gentiles. Consequently, we find him selecting as centres of his work the principal cities of the heathen world. But he was further careful to avoid places, wherever they might be, in which Churches were already founded. It was the function of an apostle to extend the gospel by founding new Churches, rather than to invade the provinces of others. Those founded by himself, and thus under his immediate jurisdiction, as e.g. the Corinthian Church, he visited as need arose, and addressed them in authoritative letters, commanding as well as exhorting. But his rule in this respect did not preclude his writing also letters of general encouragement and admonition to any whom his peculiar commission as apostle of the Gen- tiles gave him a claim to be heard by. Thus he wrote to the Colossians, though he had never seen them (Colossians 1:4; Colossians 2:1); and thus also to the Romans, at the same time (as we have seen, Romans 15:15, seq.) almost apologizing for doing so; and, though he proposes visiting them, it is nor with the view of staying among them long, so as to take up the superintendence of them, but only on his way to Spain for mutual comfort and edification (see Romans 1:11, 12; Romans 15:24).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(20, 21) Throughout all this long missionary career, the Apostle had made it his endeavour not merely to go over old ground where others had been before him, but to seek out new and virgin soil, where he might enter as a pioneer, and convey the good news of the kingdom of heaven for the first time.(20) Yea, so have I strived.--Rather, but making it my ambition. The Apostle set it before him as a point of honour, not merely to carry forward a work that others had begun, but to build up the whole edifice from the foundation himself.Not where Christ was named.--Not in places where there were Christians already.Another man's foundation.--Comp. 2Corinthians 10:15-16; and for the use of the word "foundation" for the first preaching of the gospel, 1Corinthians 3:10.
