Romans 15:23
in Romans 15But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but now, having no more any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come unto you,
KJV
But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
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This verse in Romans 15
Commentary
9 notes on this verse"But now, having no further place in these regions, and having a desire to come to you now for many preceding years, when I set out for Spain, I hope that as I pass through I may see you, and be sent on my way there by you, when first I shall have enjoyed you in part." He seems to say these things while situated in Achaia, at Corinth, as we have already shown so far as our strength allowed in the earlier parts of the Epistle: which Achaia, of course, is neighboring and adjoining to Macedonia.
This site's exposition
often been hindered from coming to you
on Romans 15:22-24
The pioneer policy kept Paul from Rome. With no openings left in those regions and years of longing behind him, he can turn west. Rome is a stop on his road to Spain, a place to enjoy the church's company and be equipped for the next stage.
This site's exposition
there are no further opportunities for me in these regions
Clarke reads the phrase as no further opportunities to preach the gospel in these regions. Barnes adds that the churches there were planted and left in the care of elders, as Acts 20:17 shows. The longing of many years could now be met.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"But now having no more place in these parts." See how he shows that it was not from any coveting of glory from them, that he both wrote and was also coming. "And having a great desire to come to you these many years,"
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, but now, he clarifies his intention to visit them: first, he promises to visit them; second, he tells why he must delay, at but now I shall go; third, he mentions the goal of his visit, when therefore I shall have …
I, he says, encountered obstacles because I desired to preach, but now I write to you and am coming to you, because there is no longer any work for me in these regions, and not for any other reason, such as a desire to gain …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But now having no more place in these parts,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But now ... - Having no further opportunity in these regions to preach to those who have never heard the gospel. In these parts - In the regions before specified. He had gone over them, had established churches, had left them in the care of elders Act 20:17, and was now prepared to penetrate into some new region, and lay the foundation of other churches. And having a great desire ... - See Rom 1:9-13.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
But - having no more place in these parts - Having nothing farther at present that I can do - for τοπον εχειν signifies not merely to have a place of residence, or the like, but convenience, opportunity; which is a frequent meaning of the phrase among the best Greek writers - having no large place or city, where Christianity has not yet been planted, in which I can introduce the Gospel. The apostle was then at Corinth; and having evangelized all those parts, he had no opportunity of breaking up any new ground.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| νυνὶ | nuni | Now | G3570 → | 19 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μηκέτι | meketi | no longer | G3371 → | 21 times |
| τόπον | topon | a place | G5117 → | 94 times |
| ἔχων | echon | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τοῖς | tois | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κλίμασιν | klimasin | regions | G2824 → | |
| τούτοις | toutois | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐπιποθίαν | epipothian | a great desire | G1974 → | |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἔχων | echon | having had | G2192 → | 707 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐλθεῖν | elthein | to come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | for | G575 → | 640 times |
| πολλῶν | pollon | many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἐτῶν, | eton | years, | G2094 → |
νυνὶNow
nuniG3570 →19 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
μηκέτιno longer
meketiG3371 →21 times
τόπονa place
toponG5117 →94 times
ἔχωνhaving
echonG2192 →707 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τοῖς<the>
toisG3588 →19766 times
κλίμασινregions
klimasinG2824 →
τούτοιςthese
toutoisG3778 →1381 times
ἐπιποθίανa great desire
epipothianG1974 →
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ἔχωνhaving had
echonG2192 →707 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
ἐλθεῖνto come
eltheinG2064 →628 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἀπὸfor
apoG575 →640 times
πολλῶνmany
pollonG4183 →367 times
ἐτῶν,years,
etonG2094 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 3:10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.
it leads to
- Romans 1:10–12
in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 13:9
In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
- 2 Corinthians 1:24
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:11
Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18
Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
- Romans 1:10–12
Through
Acts 19:21After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as…
it leads to
- Acts 20:22
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
- Acts 20:16
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
- Acts 20:22
Through
Romans 15:32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
Where this verse is studied
About Romans
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 29; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans; Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.