Romans 15:8

Was. Literally, “has become.” Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading “became.”

A minister. Gr. diakonos, “servant” (see on ch. 13:4).

Of the circumcision. Literally, “of circumcision.” This is understood by some commentators to mean that Jesus was “a minister of circumcision,” in the sense that He was a minister of the covenant of which circumcision was the sign and seal. Others interpret the passage to mean that Christ came to minister to “those who had been circumcised,” the Jews. For this meaning of “circumcision” see Rom. 3:30; 4:12; Gal. 2:7; Eph. 2:11. Christ came first of all to minister to the “house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24).

Paul’s purpose in Rom. 15:7-12 is to emphasize the universality of the grace of God in Christ, as exhibited toward Jews and Gentiles alike. Christ was willing to submit to whatever might be necessary to meet His fallen creatures where they were, to do everything possible to restore and save them. Therefore Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, strong or weak, should be willing to receive one another, as Christ has received them (v. 7), to be considerate of one another’s weaknesses and failings (v. 1), and to do whatever will build up and edify (v. 2).