Romans chapter 15

vs 1

Don't think that I don't agree with this sentiment. The fact is that doing something for your own pleasure to the detriment of another is wrong. It's not Christ-like, even if doing the thing in and of itself is fine.

However, It is not the only responsibility of the Christian.

vs 2

In this verse, for example - pleasing your neighbours might sound like a really good thing to do, but you should be pleasing them for their growth, to build them up. You don't go and engage in their orgy just because that will please them. But when you do something that is for someone's benefit, that will please them and build them up. Teaching weaker Christians to be stronger in their faith will be pleasing and help their growth.

vs 3

I was going to say that I would have picked a NT reference for that quote - but then, I guess Paul didn't have it handy (although he does quote Luke in Timothy).

The idea of this quote is that Christ did not come to do things that selfish. After all, Christ did please himself, because in pleasing God he himself was pleased. To retaliate to insults may have just been a selfish and useless exercise, so Christ did not take part in it. In fact, Christ went so far as to wear the insults that were made to his disciples, because of course they were being insulted because of Christ.

vs 4

Hope is one of the main messages of the Bible. But it is a hope that comes through endurance. If we can't endure, our hope is fruitless.

vs 5

Thankfully, we don't have to go it alone. It is God who empowers our endurance, just like everything else.

vs 6

The purpose, as always, is the glory of God. This can only come through unity. That is why Paul is writing these words in this chapter and the last. Through the unity of the church we will find our hope, and we will glorify God appropriately.

vs 7

What I said above. This is just now the imperative version.

vs 8

This verse tends to suggest to me that some of the major divisions in the church at Rome were along the Jew/gentile divide. Christ became a servant to the Jews (lit circumcision), because God had promised to the patriarchs.

vs 9

But before you get all cocky (haha, pun), It is for the sake of the promise, not the patriarchs, that Christ became a servant. And that promise was that the gentiles might glorify God. You will remember the promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him. Start there if you like.

vs 10 & 11

Lots of verses. They're not all exactly what we have in the OT, but they're pretty good.