Romans 15:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

See again how the conclusion of the epistle agrees with its beginning. At the beginning he said, “I often desired to come to you, and was hindered until now” (Rom 1:13). Here he gives the reason why he was detained not once or twice, but many times. As he says there, “I often desired to come to you,” so here also, “I was often hindered from coming to you.” His many attempts to come to them prove most of all his strong desire to be with them.

At the beginning of the present epistle he said, “I was hindered until now” (Rom 1:13). Here he gives the very reason that prevented him from coming to them. He says, “I went everywhere preaching, and therefore encountered many hindrances.” That is, “I often intended and desired to come to you, but I was always hindered.”

Paul explains what he said at the beginning of the epistle: "I often intended to come to you, but was hindered until now" (Rom 1:13). Now he sets forth the reason that hindered him. He wished to come, but he had to occupy himself in the neighboring regions, first by preventing the spread of the false apostles' teachings, and then by preaching in those places. Thus, he says, he was unable to come to Rome, where he had long wished to go. Meanwhile, he corrects the Romans, who had already been brought to the law, through the epistle. But it is more useful for him to teach in person those who have not yet heard the preaching. Once grounded in right teaching, they would be harder to shake.

He then appoints the time of his arrival in Rome. For many years his preaching labors in countries far from Rome had prevented it. The Apostle now only has to deliver monetary assistance to the Christians of Jerusalem from the brethren of Macedonia and Achaia. “When I have completed this and have faithfully delivered to them this fruit of zeal,” the Apostle says to the Romans, “I shall go by way of you to Spain” (Rom 15:28). Therefore the Apostle asks the Romans for prayers, “that by the will of God I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you” (Rom 15:32).

After indicating the great purpose of his epistle, the Apostle prevents anyone from thinking him self-confident. He says that his calling to preach is confirmed by the many signs of apostolic ministry. He also says that fruitful seeds of Christian teaching were sown by him over an immense expanse, from Jerusalem to Illyricum on the Balkan peninsula. His preaching was heard chiefly where no one had preached before. But in Rome the Gospel proclamation had already been sown earlier. Therefore the Apostle of the Gentiles, though he desired to be there, did not venture to go. Such a visit would have broken his custom of preaching chiefly to those who had not heard of Christ.

"At the beginning he said, 'I often desired to come to you, but was hindered' (Rom 1:13). Here he presents the very reason that detained him, not once or twice, but many times" (Chrysostom). I was eager to come to you. But when I was preparing to satisfy my strong desire to see you, a new door for preaching would open, and I had to enter it. Thus I put aside my intended journey to you. By this he also means all his other labors in ordering the Churches already founded. Misunderstandings, disorders, and needs arose among them. It was impossible to leave them without bringing peace, and this required time. It delayed the hour when at last I could freely set out for you.