Romans 15:7 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Wherefore receive ye one another— This cannot mean, "Receive one another into church communion;" for there is no appearance that the convert Jews and Gentiles separated communion in Rome, on account of differences about meats and drinks, and days. We should have heard more of it from St. Paul, if there had been two separate congregations; that is, two churches of Christians in Rome divided about these indifferent things. Besides, directions cannot be given to private Christians to receive one another in that sense; therefore the receiving here, must be understood of receiving, as a man does another into his company, converse, and familiarity. He would have them, Jews and Gentiles, lay aside all distinction, coldness, and reserve, in their conversation one with another; and, as domestics of the same family, live friendly and familiar, notwithstanding their different judgments about those ritual observances. Hence, Romans 15:5 he exhorts them, "Be united in friendship one to another; that, with one heart and one voice, ye may conjointly glorify God; and receive one another with the same good-will that Christ has received us, the Jews,— εις δοξαν του Θεου, to the glorifying God for his truth, in fulfilling the promises he made to the patriarchs;—and has received the Gentiles, to glorify God for his mercy to them: so that we have reason, both Jews and Gentiles, laying aside these little differences about things indifferent, to join together heartily in glorifying God." The phrase, glory of God, for glorifying God, is of the same kind with that used ch. Romans 3:22; Romans 3:26 where he uses the faith of Jesus, for believing in Jesus. The thing to which St. Paul here exhorts them, is, to the glorifying of God with one accord, as is evident from the words immediately preceding; and what follows, Romans 15:9-11 is to the same purpose: so that there is no room to doubt that his meaning in these words is, "Christ received or took us, believing Jews, to himself, that we might magnify the truth of God; and took the Gentiles thatbelieve, to himself, that they might magnify his mercy." See Locke.