Romans 15:11
And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul cites Psalm 117 to show that God's praise isn't meant to be exclusive to one group but is a universal call, anticipating a time when Gentiles would join in extolling Him. The verse highlights that God's ultimate plan always included all peoples, not just one nation.
Paul quotes Psalm 117, calling on all Gentile peoples to praise God. This serves as further Old Testament evidence, following his use of other scriptures, that the inclusion of Gentiles in God's kingdom was always part of His plan. He is building a case that God's faithfulness to His promises to Israel extends to bringing all nations into His praise through Christ.
Why does Paul quote an Old Testament psalm here, calling on all Gentiles and all peoples to praise the Lord?
This verse is a powerful declaration of God's inclusive plan.
A Global Invitation
Paul quotes Psalm 117:1 to show that from ancient times, God intended for His praise to go beyond just one nation. The Old Testament wasn't just for the Jewish people; it was a foreshadowing of a global family.
Unity in Worship
When Paul writes this, the early church is grappling with how Jewish and Gentile believers should relate. By bringing in this psalm, he's reminding everyone that the ultimate goal is unity in praising God. The Gentiles are not outsiders; they are called to join in extolling God, just as the Jewish people do.
What does it truly mean for Gentiles to 'praise' and 'extol' the Lord?
This isn't just about singing songs; it's about a transformed life that reflects God's character.
Responding to Mercy
For the Gentiles, coming to praise God wasn't just a religious duty; it was a response to experiencing God's incredible mercy. They were brought into God's family not based on lineage, but on God's grace extended through Christ.
Living Out God's Glory
Paul presents this call to praise as the natural outcome of God receiving Gentiles (as mentioned in the preceding verses). When Gentiles praise God, they are living out the very reason Christ came – to bring glory to God among all nations.
Understand the original words
aineete · Greek Verb
To express admiration, honor, or glory to God; a response to God’s nature and works. In Scripture, it is a primary duty of believers and all creation.
ethne · Greek Noun
Nations or peoples other than the Jewish people; the non-Jewish world. In the New Testament, it signifies the inclusion of all nations in the salvation plan of God.
Paul quotes Psalm 117, an ancient call for all nations to praise God. This wasn't a new idea but an echo of Israel's own history and prophetic hope, now being realized through Christ's work.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Flourishes
Under King David and Solomon, Israel reaches its zenith, a period of relative peace and prosperity, setting the stage for promises of future restoration and a wider kingdom.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Captivity Begins
The powerful Assyrian Empire begins its conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of many Israelites and demonstrating God's judgment on disobedience.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Judah
Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed by the Babylonians, and the southern kingdom of Judah is taken into exile, a profound crisis for Jewish identity and hope.
c. 539 BC
Persian Empire Rises
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, establishing the Persian Empire and allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
This is the direct Old Testament source of the verse Paul quotes, showing that this call for all nations to praise God was part of the ancient Scriptures.
Psalm 47:5This psalm also calls for the Gentiles to rejoice and praise God with His people, reinforcing the theme of global worship across different nations.
Isaiah 11:10This prophecy speaks of a descendant of Jesse who will arise as a banner for the Gentiles, to whom the nations will seek, illustrating the future inclusion of non-Jews in God's praise.
Galatians 3:8Paul explains how the Old Testament foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, showing the theological basis for why Gentiles are called to praise God.
Matthew 28:19Jesus' Great Commission directly commands His followers to make disciples of all nations, echoing the Old Testament call for universal praise and demonstrating its ongoing mission.
ellicottRomans 15:11: "And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people."
(11) All ye Gentiles. —An invitation addressed to the Gentile peoples without restriction, at a time when the monotheistic conception of God as Lord of the whole earth was thoroughly established.
jfbRomans 15:11: "And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people."
- And again—(Ps 117:1).Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people—"peoples"—the various nations outside the pale of Judaism.
Paul cites Psalm 117 to show that God's praise isn't meant to be exclusive to one group but is a universal call, anticipating a time when Gentiles would join in extolling Him. The verse highlights that God's ultimate plan always included all peoples, not just one nation.
Paul quotes Psalm 117, calling on all Gentile peoples to praise God. This serves as further Old Testament evidence, following his use of other scriptures, that the inclusion of Gentiles in God's kingdom was always part of His plan. He is building a case that God's faithfulness to His promises to Israel extends to bringing all nations into His praise through Christ.
Paul quotes Psalm 117, calling on all Gentile peoples to praise God. This serves as further Old Testament evidence, following his use of other scriptures, that the inclusion of Gentiles in God's kingdom was always part of His plan. He is building a case that God's faithfulness to His promises to Israel extends to bringing all nations into His praise through Christ.
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c. 2nd Century BC
Septuagint Translation Completed
The Hebrew Old Testament is translated into Greek, making the Scriptures accessible to a wider, Hellenistic Jewish audience and a key source for New Testament quotations.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Ascension
Jesus Christ, the Messiah promised to Israel, lives, teaches, dies, and is resurrected, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and initiating the new covenant.
c. AD 57-59— this verse
Paul Writes Romans
From Corinth or Ephesus, Paul writes his letter to the believers in Rome, articulating the gospel of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles and urging unity.
"And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”" — Paul cites Psalm 117 to show that God's praise isn't meant to be exclusive to one group but is a universal call, anticipating a time when Gentiles would join in extolling Him. The verse highlights th…