Romans 15.22-Paul's Ministry On Behalf Of The Gentiles Prevented Him From Visiting The Believers In Rome
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday June 22, 2010
Romans: Romans 15:22-Paul’s Ministry On Behalf Of The Gentiles Prevented Him From Visiting The Believers In Rome
Lesson # 522
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 15:22.
This evening, we will begin a study of the fifth paragraph of Romans chapter fifteen by noting verse 22 and in this passage Paul informs the believers in Rome that his ministry on behalf of the Gentiles has prevented him from visiting them.
In verses 23-29, he relates to the Romans his future plans to visit them on the way to Spain after he first goes to Jerusalem to present material and financial aid to the poor believers in Jerusalem.
The final paragraph of the chapter is found in verses 30-33, which records the apostle to the Gentiles requesting that the Roman believers pray for his safety while in Jerusalem and that he may come to visit them.
Romans 15:22, “For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you.”
Romans 15:23, “But now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you.”
Romans 15:24, “Whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while.”
Romans 15:25, “But now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.”
Romans 15:26, “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.”
Romans 15:27, “Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.”
Romans 15:28, “Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.”
Romans 15:29, “I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”
Romans 15:30-32, “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.”
Romans 15:33, “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
Let’s look at verse 22 and in this passage Paul informs the believers in Rome that his ministry on behalf of the Gentiles has prevented him from visiting them.
Romans 15:22, “For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you.”
“For this reason” is the inferential conjunction dio (διό) (thee-owe), which is coordinating the result clause in Romans 15:19b with his statement here in Romans 15:22 that he had often been prevented these many times from coming to the Romans.
Therefore, Paul is saying with this word that he had often been prevented these many times from visiting the Roman believers in the past because he was concentrating on fulfilling the task of proclaiming the gospel about the one and only Christ, from Jerusalem, and circuitously, as far as Illyricum.
Not translated is the “consecutive” or “consequential” use of the conjunction kai (καί) (keh), which introduces “the result” or “direct consequence” of Paul concentrating on fulfilling the task of proclaiming the gospel about the one and only Christ, from Jerusalem, and circuitously, as far as Illyricum.
The word indicates that the “direct consequence” or “result” of Paul concentrating on fulfilling the task of proclaiming the gospel about the one and only Christ, from Jerusalem, and circuitously, as far as Illyricum was that he was hindered many times in the past from visiting the Roman believers.
“I have often been prevented from” is composed of the first person singular imperfect passive indicative form of the verb enkopto (ἐγκόπτω) (en-kope-tow), “I have been prevented from” and the articular accusative neuter plural form of the adjective polus (πολύς) (police), “often.”
The verb enkopto does not mean “to hinder” (See NET, ESV, NIV, NRSV, NKJV etc) since this conveys the idea of some sort of resistance or that someone or something was interfering with Paul’s plans to go to Rome.
However, Paul has made clear that he has not yet visited the Romans due to the fact that he had been concentrating on fulfilling the task of proclaiming the gospel about the one and only Christ, from Jerusalem, and circuitously, as far as Illyricum.
Thus, it was a legitimate task that God had given him that was the reason why he had yet to visit the Roman believers.
Therefore, the idea of enkopto is that Paul’s desired visit to Rome was “delayed” by the fact that he had been concentrating on fulfilling the task of proclaiming the gospel about the one and only Christ, from Jerusalem, and circuitously, as far as Illyricum.
“Delay” implies a holding back whereas “hinder” would imply interference of progress.
Paul never gave up on the idea of going to Rome but the Holy Spirit who was leading and guiding him was “holding him back” or “delaying” him from visiting the Romans until he fulfilled the task of proclaiming the gospel from Jerusalem, and circuitously as far as Illyricum.
The adjective polus functions as a substantive as indicated by its articular construction and is in the plural in a temporal sense indicating that on “many occasions” Paul had planned to go to Rome but the Holy Spirit had other ideas.
Romans 15:22, “For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you.”
“Coming” is composed of the genitive neuter singular form of the definite article ho (ὁ() (owe), which is not translated and the aorist active infinitive form of the verb erchomai (ἒρχομαι) (air-koe-meh).
The verb erchomai means “to enter” since it is used with the prepositional phrase pros humas, which speaks of Paul being “in the company of” the Roman believers.
“To you” is composed of the preposition pros (πρός) (proce), “to” and the accusative second person plural form of the personal pronoun su (σύ) (see), “you.”
The personal pronoun su is used in a distributive sense meaning “each and every one of you” and refers to “each and every” member of the body of Christ in Rome “without exception” regardless of race, gender or social status.
It functions as the object of the preposition pros, which is used of the Roman believers and speaks of a personal intimate relationship between them and Paul and denotes his coming “into the company of” or “into the presence of” the Roman believers.
So in Romans 15:22, Paul relates to his readers in Rome that as a result of concentrating upon fulfilling the task of proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire, he was habitually delayed many times, namely from entering into their company.