Romans 1:13 Commentary and Bible Study

The word ‘fruit’ reminds us of John 15: Christ instructing his disciples that he desires that they should all bear fruit. There's always been a controversy about John 15. The Arminians tend to say the fruit is the fruit of converts, of soul-winning. The Calvinists tend to say the fruit is the fruit of holy living, the fruit of Galatians 5:22: ‘love, joy, peace’, the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of a new character and holiness. So there's a discussion. When the Lord Jesus Christ says, the purpose of God for you disciples is that you bear fruit. Is it about soul-winning? Is it about the promotion of holiness? But why should there be a debate? It is clearly about both. ‘Oh no,’ say the Calvinists, ‘if it's about both, then we have got to prioritize soul-winning as well as holiness.’ The following verses explain what the fruit is. ‘Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.’ We could turn to Acts and see the examples of the Lord directing him to go elsewhere than he first intended. He was a debtor because he was called the apostle to the Gentiles. God had saved him by grace alone. He deserved only condemnation – a persecutor of the church – but instead he is appointed an apostle to the Gentiles. He is indebted to them. This is how the apostle thinks – I am indebted to the Gentiles. I am saved in order to be a servant to them. I owe them every effort to reach them, to advance them, to help them.‘That I might have some fruit among you also.’ All the old commentators protest as the great modesty of Paul’s language. The translation is good – ‘some fruit’. How modestly he writes! His fruit had been astonishing. It had been amazing. Thousands upon thousands of people had been converted, in so many places, through his ministry, and yet he calls it ‘some fruit’. He longs to have a hand in the blessing of unconverted souls also in Rome.