Romans 15:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“I beseech you by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit.” Here the Apostle again mentions Christ and the Spirit, but says nothing at all of the Father. I note this so that when the Apostle mentions the Father and the Son, or the Father alone, you may not exclude either the Son or the Spirit. The Apostle did not say “by the Spirit,” but “by the love of the Spirit.” As Christ and the Father loved the world, so also did the Spirit. But tell me, Paul, for what do you beseech them? “Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea” (cf. Rom 15:31).

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit.” He never counts himself worthy to be believed, but presents mediators. So now also he points to Christ and the Spirit. He did not mention the Father, so that you may know that when he mentions the Father alone, he does not exclude the Son and the Spirit. He said “by the love of the Spirit,” because as the Father and the Son loved the world, so also did the Spirit. “That you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” He shows the greatest humility when he says that he needs their prayer.

Paul asks them to strive together with him in prayers, so that he may be delivered from the unbelieving Jews. He asks not because he himself has little merit, but according to the order by which the Church must pray for its presider. When many ordinary people gather together in concord, they become a force, and the prayers of many cannot fail to be heard (cf. 2 Chr 7:14; Mt 18:19). Therefore, if they desire to see the Apostle, let them pray earnestly that he may be delivered, and that they may receive him with joy and love.

Who, and with what worthy praises, will crown this blessed and thrice-blessed head? First, he knows what will happen to him and foretells it. While still in Miletus, he said to the presbyters of Ephesus: "The Spirit testifies to me in every city that bonds and afflictions await me" (Acts 20:23). And when Agabus foretold the same thing, and all grieved over it and tried to restrain him, the divine man said: "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 21:13). Here also he foretold that he would see both the Romans and the Spaniards. He added that he would come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ.

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).

Since the Apostle's arrival in Jerusalem, and all his intentions in general, could be delayed in their fulfillment independently of the Apostle himself, as indeed happened, he implores the Roman Christians to pray for him. He asks that God grant him to fulfill successfully his ministry for the Christians of Jerusalem. After this, the Apostle expresses a wish for the Romans to have divine peace, of which they had such need because of the disputes that had arisen among them. Chrysostom says: "A great struggle certainly lay before the Apostle, and therefore he asks them to pray for him. He did not say, 'that I may enter the contest,' but, 'that I may be delivered,' as Jesus Christ commanded: 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation' (Mt 26:41).

He asks them to pray for him, either as a testimony to his very great humility, by which he feels himself in need of their prayer; see Oecumenius and blessed Theophylact. Or he asks in order to affirm the power of prayer made by a whole Church. Ambrosiaster writes: "He asks for help in prayer, not because his own prayer had no power before God, but so that, preserving the divinely established order, the Church also might pray for its founder. When a multitude of little ones gathers in unanimous prayer, they become great. By the prayers of many, the thing asked cannot fail to be obtained. Therefore, he says, if you also sincerely desire to see me, pray more earnestly.

Against this Orthodoxy some may object that an offense and contempt are done to God Himself when we invoke the saints and ask mercy from them rather than from God alone. But if this objection is accepted as true, then one must affirm the following conclusion. It would not even be possible to invoke the saints who are living in this age and ask for their prayer. Yet is this not contrary to Holy Scripture, which speaks in many places? Paul, so great among the Apostles, so great a lamp and servant of God, while still in this life invoked those living on earth and asked for their prayer: "Strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf."