Romans 1:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

O noble soul! Paul took upon himself a work filled with so many dangers: sea voyage, temptations, slanders, and attacks. One who intended to preach in such a city, where impiety held sway, would naturally suffer storms of temptations. Indeed, the Apostle also ended his life in this city, where he was beheaded by the ruler of that time. Yet although Paul expected to endure so many afflictions, he did not become more hesitant because of this. Rather, he hastened, grieved, and was filled with zeal. Therefore he says: "So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you who are in Rome also."

Therefore I am ready to preach to you also, even if dangers lie before my eyes. Such was his zeal for Christ.

And I am ready, obedient Romans, to proclaim the Gospel to you. He said that he was ready either because he was far from them, or because that city worshiped idols, or because everyone lacked the desire to go there.

Although Paul says that he was sent to preach the Gospel to all nations, he especially longs to transmit the Gospel of the grace of God to the Romans, among whom the capital of the empire is found. For the good and peace of the members of the body require that the head also not be without peace. Therefore he desires peace for the Romans, so that Satan may not overcome them too greatly, and so that the fruits of his labors may be richer.

Since not all received the preaching of the Gospel, he added with good reason: "as much as is in me." My task is to preach, but believing belongs to those who hear. Since he had repeatedly called the preaching "gospel," and this recalled suffering, the cross, and death, which still seemed full of dishonor to those who had not believed. He fittingly added: "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

What prevented the Apostle from fulfilling his intention to come to Rome? (Rom 1:13-17).

This is clear from his following words to the Romans. I desired "to have some fruit among you also, as among the other nations. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise men and to the ignorant," that is, I am obliged to preach Christ to all.

"Therefore I am ready to preach the Gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then also for the Greek."

Thus the desire for the success of the preaching concerning Christ among all peoples is what chiefly delayed the Apostle's arrival in Rome.

It was by no means a bashful fear that the enlightened inhabitants of the world's capital would treat his preaching with indifference. The Apostle Paul's further concluding words in the preface to the epistle deserve special attention.

Having shown in verses 5 and 6 that the Romans, in a certain sense, formed part of his flock through the grace of the apostleship given him by Christ, the Apostle Paul bears witness to his affection for the Romans.

He says that he had long desired to preach among them and had prayed that God would permit him to come to Rome. There he wished to be comforted by the faith whose renown had spread far, and to impart to them something that would strengthen them still more in the faith.

This would also give him the opportunity to spread the true teaching among new peoples, and in this way to be fully the Apostle of the Gentiles.

Here, he says, is the source of my zealous desire to be with you: the consciousness of duty. When a fountain is active, water bursts from it without stopping.

So too the consciousness of my duty to preach is in continual action. It moves the heart and kindles zeal within it to seek out those who wish to hear the word.

Therefore, as far as I am concerned, my heart always boils with zeal to preach the Gospel. "As much as lies in me," to kat' eme prothymon, means: as for me, readiness to preach is always present.

It is a readiness that thirsts for the Gospel and strives toward it. As toward all, so also toward you. Do not doubt this.