Romans 1:10

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) If by any means now at length.—Note this accumulation of particles, denoting the earnestness of his desire. “All this time I have been longing to come to you, and now at last I hope that it may be put in my power.”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:8-15 We must show love for our friends, not only by praying for them, but by praising God for them. As in our purposes, so in our desires, we must remember to say, If the Lord will, Jas 4:15. Our journeys are made prosperous or otherwise, according to the will of God. We should readily impart to others what God has trusted to us, rejoicing to make others joyful, especially taking pleasure in communing with those who believe the same things with us. If redeemed by the blood, and converted by the grace of the Lord Jesus, we are altogether his; and for his sake we are debtors to all men, to do all the good we can. Such services are our duty.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Making request - It was his earnest desire to see them, and he presented the subject before God.

If by any means - This shows the earnest desire which he had to see them, and implies that be had designed it, and had been hindered; see Romans 1:13.

Now at length - He had purposed it a long time, but had been hindered. He doubtless cherished this purpose for years. The expressions in the Greek imply an earnest wish that this long-cherished purpose might be accomplished before long.

A prosperous journey - A safe, pleasant journey. It is right to regard all success in traveling as depending on God, and to pray for success and safety from danger. Yet all such prayers are not answered according to the letter of the petition. The prayer of Paul that be might see the Romans was granted, but in a remarkable way. He was persecuted by the Jews, and arraigned before King Agrippa. He appealed to the Roman emperor, and was taken there in chains as a prisoner. Yet the journey might in this way have a more deep effect on the Romans, than if he had gone in any other way. In so mysterious a manner does God often hear the prayers of his people; and though their prayers are answered, yet it is in his own time and way; see the last chapters of the Acts .

By the will of God - If God shall grant it; if God will by his mercy grant me the great favor of my coming to you. This is a proper model of a prayer; and is in accordance with the direction of the Bible; see James 4:14-15.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. Making request, if by any means now at length I may have a prosperous journey by the will of God, to come to you—Though long anxious to visit the capital, he met with a number of providential hindrances (Ro 1:13; Ro 15:22; and see on [2176]Ac 19:21; [2177]Ac 23:11; [2178]Ac 28:15); insomuch that nearly a quarter of a century elapsed, after his conversion, ere his desire was accomplished, and that only as "a prisoner of Jesus Christ." Thus taught that his whole future was in the hands of God, he makes it his continual prayer that at length the obstacles to a happy and prosperous meeting might be removed.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Making request; this was one thing he requested of God, that what he had long desired and designed might happily (if it seemed good in God’s sight) be at last accomplished, that he might come in person to them. This desire of Paul to see the Romans might be one cause of that appeal which he made to Rome, Acts 25:10,11,

By the will of God; he adds this, because, in publishing the gospel, he followed the order which God, by his Spirit, prescribed him: see Acts 16:7,9,10.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Making request, if by any means now at length,.... A principal thing, which be incessantly and importunately requested at the throne of grace, was, that he might have an opportunity of coming to them; that God in his providence would open a way for him; and that he might have a safe and comfortable journey in a very little time; all which he submits to the will of God, as a good man ought to do; and which he thus expresses,

I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God, to come unto you; see James 4:13.

Geneva Study Bible

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Romans 1:10. Πάντοτε … δεόμενος] annexes to ὡς ἀδιαλ. the more precise definition: in that (so that) I always (each time) in my prayers request. ἐπί, which is to be referred to the idea of definition of time (Bernhardy p. 246), indicates the form of action which takes place. Comp 1 Thessalonians 1:2; Ephesians 1:16; Philemon 1:4; Winer, p. 352 [E. T. 470].

εἴπως ἤδη ποτέ] if perhaps at length on some occasion. For examples of ἥδη, already (Baeumlein, Part. p. 138 ff.), which, comparing another time with the present, conveys by the reference to something long hoped for but delayed the idea at length, see Hartung, Partikel. I. p. 238; Klotz, a[359] Devar. p. 607; comp Php 4:10, and the passages in Kypke. Th. Schott incorrectly renders πάντοτε, under all circumstances, which it never means, and ἥδη πότε as if it were ἤδη νῦν or ἄρτι. The mode of expression by εἴπως implies somewhat of modest fear, arising from the thought of possible hindrances.[361]

εὐοδωθήσομαι] I shall have the good fortune. The active εὐοδοῦν is seldom used in its proper signification, to lead well, expeditum iter praebere, as in Soph. O. C. 1437; Theophr. de caus. pl. v. 6, 7; LXX. Genesis 24:27; Genesis 24:48; the passive, however, never means via recta incedere, expeditum iter habere, but invariably (even in Proverbs 17:8) metaphorically: prospero successu gaudere. See Herod. vi. 73; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 3 John 1:2; LXX. 2 Chronicles 13:12; Psalm 1:3, and frequently; Sir 11:16; Sir 41:1; Tob 4:19; Tob 5:16; Test. XII. Patr. p. 684. Therefore the explanation of a prosperous journey, which besides amounts only to an accessory modal idea (Beza, Estius, Wolf, and many others following the Vulgate and Oecumenius; including van Hengel and Hofmann), must be rejected, and not combined with ours (Umbreit).

ἐν τῷ θελ. τ. Θεοῦ] in virtue of the will of God; on this will the ευοδωθ. causally depend.

[359] d refers to the note of the commentator or editor named on the particular passage.

[361] Comp. Romans 11:14; and on Php 3:11; 1Ma 4:10.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. making request] Connect this with the previous verse, and read without ceasing I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if by any means, &c. The special “request made known to God” was that the Apostle might, after long delays, be allowed to visit the Roman Christians. Cp. Acts 19:21, where the phrase “I must see Rome” probably indicates a Divine purpose revealed.

might have a prosperous journey] Perhaps more briefly, might be prospered, might have the way smoothed. Little did he foresee how this was at last to be. See Romans 15:23-24; Romans 15:32; and cp. Acts 27:24.

by the will of God] Lit. in the will of God. See on Romans 1:9. If the construction is to be pressed, the implied thought is that the visit to Rome would be within the limits of God’s will; guided by its lines. The Gr. of Hebrews 10:10 presents the only close parallel in N. T.

Bengel's Gnomen

Romans 1:10. Ἔιπως ἤδη ποτέ, The accumulation of the particles intimates the strength of the desire.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 10. - Always (to be connected with δεόμενος following, not, as in the Authorized Version, with the preceding μνείαν ποιοῦμαι) in my prayers making request, if by any means now at length (in some way at length some day) I may be prospered to come unto you. The word εὐοδωθησόμαι, translated in the Authorized Version, "have a prosperous journey," though rightly so rendered with regard to its etymology and original meaning, does not necessarily imply being prospered in a journey. It was commonly used to denote being prospered generally (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2; 3 John 1:2). Romans 1:10

Vincent's Word Studies

I might have a prosperous journey (εὐοδωθήσομαι)

Rev., I may be prospered. The A.V. brings out the etymological force of the word. See on 3 John 1:2.