Romans 15:24
in Romans 15I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
whensoever I go unto Spain (for I hope to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first in some measure I shall have been satisfied with your company)—
KJV
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
⋯
This verse in Romans 15
Commentary
11 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 is what kept Paul from Rome. With no further openings in those regions, and a longing of many years behind him, he can turn west at last. Rome sits on the road to Spain in his plan, a stop where he hopes to enjoy the church's company and be equipped for the next stage.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul instructed imperial Rome and extended the zeal of his preaching even to Spain, sustaining countless conflicts and performing signs and wonders.
"Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I trust to see you in my journey; and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company," For that he might not seem to be holding them very cheap, by saying, Since I have not anything to do, therefore I am coming to you, he again touches on the point of love by saying, "I have a great desire, these many years, to come unto you." For the reason why I desire to come, is not because I am disengaged, but that I may give birth to that desire wherewith I am travailing so long. Then that this again should not puff them up, consider how he lowers them by saying, "Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I trust to see you in my journey." For this was why he stated this, that they should not be high-minded. For what he wants is to show his love, and at the same time to prevent them from being dainty. And so he places this close on the other, and uses things confirmative of either alternately. For this reason again that they might not say, Do you make us a by-object of your journey? he adds, "and to be brought on my way thitherward by you: that is, that you may be my witnesses that it is not through any slight of you, but by force of necessity, that I run by you. But as this is still distressing, he heals it over more carefully, by saying, "If I be first somewhat filled with your company." For by his saying, "in my journey," he shows that he did not covet their good opinion. But by saying "be filled," that he was eager for their love, and not only was eager for it, but exceedingly so; and this is why he does not say "be filled," but be "somewhat" so. That is, no length of time can fill me or create in me a satiety of your company. See how he shows his love, when even though in haste he doth not rise up until he be filled. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
When I shall begin to take my journey to Spain—whither he planned to go in order to lay the foundations of the faith even in such a faraway place: I will give you as a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to …
But lest they, again, become puffed up, imagining that he has a desire to come to us as to those who are above all others, he adds: as soon as I undertake my journey to Spain, I will come to you. And lest, again, they …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain,.... Which he had now meditated and resolved upon, being a place, as before observed, where it is very likely the Gospel as yet had not been preached, which made him desirous of going thither; but whether he ever went thither, or not, is not certain; some think he never performed the intended journey; others affirm he did, some time between his two appearances before Nero.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Into Spain - Where the gospel had not yet been preached. If first I may be somewhat satisfied with your company - How remarkable is the modesty with which he speaks!
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain - Where it is very likely the Gospel had not yet been planted; though legendary tales inform us that St. James had planted the Gospel there long before this time, and had founded many bishoprics! But this is as unfounded as it is ridiculous and absurd; for nothing like what is now termed a bishopric, nor even a parish, was founded for many years after this. An itinerant preacher, might, with more propriety, say travelling circuits were formed, rather than bishoprics.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Those who think our apostle was never at large after his first imprisonment at Rome will of course hold that it never was; while those who are persuaded, as we are, that he underwent a second imprisonment, prior to which he was at large for a considerable time after his first, incline naturally to the other opinion.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain - Ancient Spain comprehended the modern kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, or the whole of the Spanish peninsula. It was then subject to the Romans. It is remarkable, even here, that the apostle does not say that his principal object was to visit the church at Rome, much as he desired that, but only to “take it in his way” in the fulfillment of his higher purpose to preach the gospel in regions where Christ was not named. Whether he ever fulfilled his purpose of visiting “Spain” is a matter of doubt. Some of the fathers, Theodoret (on Php 1:25; 2Ti 4:17) among others, say that after he was released from his captivity when he was brought before Nero, he passed two years in Spain. If he was imprisoned a “second” time at Rome, such a visit is not improbable as having taken place “between” the two imprisonments. But there is no certain evidence of this. Paul probably projected “many” journeys which were never accomplished. To be brought on my way ... - To be assisted by you in regard to this journey; or to be accompanied by you. This was the custom of the churches; Act 15:3; Act 17:14-15; Act 20:38; Act 21:5; 1Co 16:6, 1Co 16:11; 3Jn 1:8. If first ... - If on my journey, before I go into Spain. Somewhat - Greek, “In part.” As though he could not be “fully” satisfied with their company, or could not hope to enjoy their society as fully and as long as he could desire. This is a very tender and delicate expression. Filled - This is a strong expression, meaning to be “satisfied,” to enjoy. To be “filled” with a thing is to have great satisfaction and joy in it. With your company - Greek, With “you;” meaning in your society. The expression “to be filled” with one, in the sense of being “gratified,” is sometimes used in the classic writers. (See “Clarke” on this verse.)
The words behind it
22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὡς | hos | whenever | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἂν | an | maybe | G302 → | 165 times |
| πορεύωμαι | poreuomai | I shall go | G4198 → | |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Σπανίαν | spanian | Spain | G4681 → | |
| ἐλπίζω | elpizo | I hope | G1679 → | 31 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| διαπορευόμενος | diaporeuomenos | going through | G1279 → | |
| θεάσασθαι | theasasthai | to see | G2300 → | |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑφ᾽ | huph᾽ | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| προπεμφθῆναι | propemphthenai | to be equipped | G4311 → | |
| ἐκεῖ, | ekei | there, | G1563 → | |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| πρῶτον | proton | first | G4413 → | 152 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | in | G575 → | 640 times |
| μέρους | merous | part | G3313 → | 42 times |
| ἐμπλησθῶ.¶ | emplestho | I shall be filled. | G1705 → |
ὡςwhenever
hosG5613 →500 times
ἂνmaybe
anG302 →165 times
πορεύωμαιI shall go
poreuomaiG4198 →
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ΣπανίανSpain
spanianG4681 →
ἐλπίζωI hope
elpizoG1679 →31 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
διαπορευόμενοςgoing through
diaporeuomenosG1279 →
θεάσασθαιto see
theasasthaiG2300 →
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑφ᾽by
huph᾽G5259 →219 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
προπεμφθῆναιto be equipped
propemphthenaiG4311 →
ἐκεῖ,there,
ekeiG1563 →
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
πρῶτονfirst
protonG4413 →152 times
ἀπὸin
apoG575 →640 times
μέρουςpart
merousG3313 →42 times
ἐμπλησθῶ.¶I shall be filled.
emplesthoG1705 →
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
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
Acts 15:3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
it leads to
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
- Acts 21:5
But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to…
- Acts 14:27
Through
Acts 21:5But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to…
it leads to
- Acts 20:36
When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.
- Acts 20:36
Through
Romans 15:28So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:17
Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
- Colossians 1:6
that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the…
- Philippians 4:17
Through
Romans 1:12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 3:7–10
For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:7–10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Romans
This page draws on 12 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); Cyril of Jerusalem, CATECHESIS 17.26; Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 29; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; 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.