What Does Romans 15:3 Mean in the King James?
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Christ’s refusal to center himself takes a concrete form: he bears the contempt aimed at God.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks of a love that does not make its own approval the highest good: Christ bears the contempt aimed at God. The reproach does not disappear or become harmless; it falls on him. The verse names a way of bearing the cost of loyalty without returning the insult.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that devotion guarantees exemption from contempt: here, contempt aimed at God falls on the one who honors him.
THE ROOT
ὀνειδισμοί
oneidismoi
GROWS FROM
ὀνειδ- (oneid-), the word family of ὀνειδίζω (oneidizō)
Reproach or taunt; to cast contempt upon someone.
The Greek phrase uses the same word family for “reproaches” and “them that reproached,” binding the contempt to those who direct it. The Hebrew source, חֶרְפַּת (cherpat, “reproach”) and חֹרְפֶיךָ (chorefekha, “those who reproach you”), likewise repeats the root חרף (charaph, “reproach, taunt”): the contempt aimed at God is the very thing that falls on the speaker.
ALSO GROWS
oneidizō: To reproach or taunt.
ὀνειδίζω
This verb family appears in “them that reproached thee,” connecting the accusers’ act directly to the reproaches borne by Christ.
oneidismos: Reproach or insult.
ὀνειδισμός
This noun names the contempt itself, which the verse says falls on Christ.
THE PATTERN
When allegiance takes precedence over self-protection, contempt aimed at God is borne by the one who serves him.
For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.THE THREAD
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.“Pleased” and “please” translate forms of ἀρέσκω (areskō, “to please or satisfy”). The shared word brings the question of whose approval guides a person into view beside Christ’s refusal to center himself.
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