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Advent Season · Second Sunday of Advent · Year A

Romans 15:4-9

Welcome One Another as Christ Has

December 7, 2025

Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne
Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne, c. 1618–1620Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
A French follower of Caravaggio working in Rome. Paul is lit from one side at a table strewn with paper, caught mid-thought with the pen stopped.For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope … Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.Valentin de BoulogneA French painter in Rome and the most committed of Caravaggio's followers, who died at thirty-eight after a night out in the cold.Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonThe oldest art museum in Texas, grown very large on oil money, and free on Thursdays.Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 3:1-12Mt 3:1-12
Second ReadingRom. 15:4-9Rom 15:4-9
First ReadingIsa. 11:1-10Is 11:1-10
Responsorial PsalmPs. 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (cf. 7)Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (cf. 7)

Overview & Insights

“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

Paul is finishing the argument about the strong and the weak that began at 14:1, and verse 4 states his hermeneutic in passing: what was written earlier was written for instruction, producing endurance and encouragement now. From there he moves to a prayer for one mind (v. 5) and then to the imperative of the paragraph, mutual welcome on the pattern of Christ’s welcome (v. 7), the same verb used for the reception of the weak believer at 14:1 and 14:3. Verses 8 and 9 supply the reason, and with it the sharpest statement of the letter’s purpose: Christ became a servant of the circumcised to confirm the promises made to the fathers, so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. A chain of four scripture citations begins at the end of verse 9 with the words of Psalm 18:49.

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Take it further: Romans 15:4-9

Commentary

2nd Sunday of Advent (Year A) Catholic Productions

Brant Pitre's walkthrough of the Sunday's readings including Paul's call to hope and harmony in Romans 15.

2nd Sunday in Advent Time (Cycle A) Agape Bible Study

Catholic verse-by-verse study of Romans 15:4-9 alongside the day's other readings.

Romans 15 Bible CommentaryRom 15 Bible Commentary Enduring Word

Covers Paul's teaching that Scripture gives hope and his call for Jews and Gentiles to glorify God together.

Romans 15:4-6 CommentaryRom 15:4-6 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed word-study commentary on the passage's teaching about Scripture, endurance, and hope.

Romans 15:4-13Rom 15:4-13 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Preaching-focused commentary on Advent, hospitality, and unity drawn from this Romans passage.

Romans 15:4 CommentariesRom 15:4 Commentaries Bible Hub

Collected classic commentaries on Paul's claim that what was written earlier was written for our instruction.

Background & Word Study

Romans 15:4 InterlinearRom 15:4 Interlinear Bible Hub

Greek interlinear text for Paul's statement on perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures.

Romans 15:4Rom 15:4 Blue Letter Bible

Lexicon and cross-reference tools tied directly to Romans 15:4, the reading's opening verse.

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