Romans 15:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then, according to his custom, he adds a prayer to his exhortation, saying, “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”

The God of peace is Christ, who says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (Jn 14:27). Paul prays this for the Romans, knowing that the Lord said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). Paul wants them to be such people in whom the Lord Jesus Christ abides. He showed them that all the discord of human sin has been borne, and He revealed the truth to them, so that they might live in peace and in the truth itself.

He did not simply call God here the God of peace. Rather, he did so because he himself needed peace, on account of those who openly fought against him and viewed him with suspicion. He also desired peace for them, because of the perplexity among them concerning the observance of the legal prescriptions.

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).

"According to his custom, the Apostle adds prayer to exhortation" (Chrysostom), "and he wishes peace to the Romans because of the difference of opinion among them concerning the observance of the prescriptions of the law" (blessed Theodoret). "The God of peace is Christ the Lord, Who said, 'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you' (Jn 14:27). The Apostle wishes the Lord to be with them, as He Himself promised all believers in the person of the Apostles, saying, 'Lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age' (cf. Mt 28:20). In wishing this, he also wishes them to be such that the Lord Jesus Christ may abide with them. Having removed every discord among them caused by human error, He would show them and grant them to know what truth is, so that in this truth they may remain in peace" (Ambrosiaster).