Romans 15:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Since the Apostle had said, "I have no place in these regions," and, "for many years I have had a desire to come to you" (Rom 15:23), while he still had to delay, he explains why he cannot yet come to them. He does this lest the Romans should think he is mocking them, and says, "I am going to Jerusalem." Yet in speaking of the reason for his delay, the Apostle seems to have something else in view. He wishes to move them to almsgiving and make them more zealous in it. If this had not been his concern, it would have been enough for him to say, "I am going to Jerusalem." But now he adds the reason for this journey: "I am going," he says, "to minister to the saints." See with what dignity he uses his expressions.

Above he promised to come to them. Meanwhile, he still had to delay. Therefore, lest they think he was mocking them, he states the reason for his delay and says, “I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.” He did not say, “carrying alms,” but “to minister,” so that we might learn how exalted, by whom, and how important this work is.

Paul says that he is first going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. In this way he wishes to make clear to the Romans that zeal must be shown in such works. Those who live by mercy and are justified before God must serve Him.

“Now I am going to Jerusalem.” By this the Apostle precisely defines the time when his epistle was written: it was the spring of the year 59.

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).

The Apostle describes his situation to the Romans not without purpose. By pointing to the fruits of Christianity in Greece, he gives the Romans a lesson in the same manifestation of living Christian love. At the same time, he indicates approximately when he might arrive among them. In the Apostle's reference to his journey to Jerusalem, Chrysostom sees a skillful lesson and therefore writes: "Here one must especially marvel at the Apostle's wisdom, because he devised such a way to counsel them. He could influence the Romans more by this than by exhortation itself. They would have considered it offensive if the Apostle had set the Corinthians and Macedonians before them as an example to imitate.

"Since the Apostle had said, 'I have no place in these regions,' and, 'for many years I have had a desire to come to you,' while he still had to delay, he explains the reason why he cannot yet come to them. He does this lest the Romans should think he is mocking them, and says, 'I am going to Jerusalem.' But while he seems to give the reason for his delay, the Apostle also has something else in view. He wishes to move them to almsgiving and make them more zealous in it. If this had not been his concern, it would have been enough for him to say, 'I am going to Jerusalem.' But now he adds the reason for this journey: 'I am going,' he says, 'to minister to the saints,' calling all believers in Jerusalem saints.