Romans 15:16

PLUS
That I should be (ei to einai me). The ei to idiom with the infinitive again (verses 1 Thessalonians 8 13 ). Minister (leitourgon). Predicate accusative in apposition with me and see 1 Thessalonians 13:6 for the word. "The word here derives from the context the priestly associations which often attach to it in the LXX" (Denney). But this purely metaphorical use does not show that Paul attached a "sacerdotal" character to the ministry. Ministering (ierourgounta). Present active participle of ierourgew, late verb from ierourgo (iero, ergw), in LXX, Philo, and Josephus, only here in N.T. It means to work in sacred things, to minister as a priest. Paul had as high a conception of his work as a preacher of the gospel as any priest did. The offering up of the Gentiles (h prospora twn eqnwn). Genitive of apposition, the Gentiles being the offering. They are Paul's offering. See Acts 21:26 . Acceptable (euprosdekto). See 2 Corinthians 6:2 ; 2 Corinthians 8:12 . Because "sanctified in the Holy Spirit" (hgiasmenh en pneumati agiwi, perfect passive participle of agiazw).