Theophylact of Ohrid, on Rom 15:16

“That I should be the minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles; sanctifying the gospel of God, that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost.”

“Imparting a humble tone to his speech, he says: I did not seize this honor for myself, but God commanded me to do this, having set me apart for this purpose, not because I was worthy, but by grace. And for what was this grace given to me? To be a minister and priest of the Gospel. Therefore do not blame me for speaking to you. My priesthood consists precisely in proclaiming the Gospel. And who would dare to accuse a priest who brings the knife to that which has been chosen for sacrifice? I wrote to you, he says, not so that along with other nations you too might be saved, and so that the offering of the Gentiles might be entirely acceptable because all bring fruits to God. "Sanctified by the Holy Spirit," that is, by a spiritual life; for not faith alone sanctifies, but also one's manner of life. It is true that having believed and been baptized, we received the Spirit; but if we do not also live spiritually, the grace of the Spirit will be extinguished. He humbles the pride of the Romans, so that they would not consider it beneath them to have as their teacher the One who brings all nations to God.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.