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 glory from you. Furthermore, lest they say to him: you are visiting us carelessly, because you no longer have work there, he adds: I have had this desire for many years, and it is this desire that I am hastening to fulfill. 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 say: he only wants to visit us in passing, he added: "and you will send me on my way there," that is, you yourselves, having seen the necessity compelling me to go to those peoples, will send me on my way, so that I am visiting you not out of contempt for you, but out of necessity. But since even this is offensive to them, he reassures them, saying: "I shall enjoy your company, though only in part." By this he shows that he desires to see them out of love for them, and indeed a strong love, which is why he did not say: I shall see you, but: "I shall enjoy," imitating how parents speak to their children. He said: "in part," that is, no matter how much time I spend with you, I shall never be satisfied, I shall never grow weary of your company; therefore I will be content if I enjoy your company even in part.
Rom. 15:25. Now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints,
Rom. 15:26. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
Above he gave a promise to come to them. In the meantime he still needed to delay. Therefore, lest they think he was mocking them, he states the reason for his delay and says: "I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints." He did not say: carrying alms with me, but: "to minister," so that we might learn how lofty, by whom it is performed, and how important this is. Through this he also exhorts the Romans to almsgiving; for when he says: "Macedonia and Achaia were pleased" and so on, he instills in them a zeal to imitate them. The word "were pleased" is used instead of: they desired, they deemed it good to send "a certain contribution." Thus, that is by the word contribution, he everywhere calls almsgiving, as a common profit for both givers and receivers. He said "a certain" instead of: a small one, lest it seem to the Romans that he was reproaching them as stingy and ungenerous. "To the saints," he said, that is to the faithful, so that they are worthy of twofold compassion: first, on account of their poverty, and second, on account of their virtue.
Rom. 15:27. They are eager to do so, and indeed they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have become partakers in their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in material things.
In this, he says, there is nothing new if they wished to make a contribution to the saints: they are their debtors. In what way? Christ comes from the Jews, He came for them; from thence the apostles, the prophets, all good things. But the whole world became a partaker of all this. Therefore those who converted from the Gentiles ought to share with them their bodily goods; exactly so should you as well. He did not say "to admit to participation," but "to minister," presenting them as if they were deacons. Nor did he say "in their bodily goods." For concerning spiritual goods he said that they belong to the Jews, while bodily goods belong not to the Gentiles alone; because the opinion is common to all, and not of the possessors alone.
Rom. 15:28. Having performed this, and having faithfully delivered to them this fruit of zeal.
That is, as if having deposited it in the royal treasuries, as an inaccessible and secure place; for such is that which is sealed. By saying "fruit," he shows by this that those who give alms receive great profit from it.
Rom. 15:28. I will pass through your region on my way to Spain.
Again he mentions Spain, showing thereby that his journey there is necessary for him and that he will pass through Rome not out of contempt for them.
Rom. 15:29. And I am sure that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
That is, I will see you well-skilled in all the blessings of the Gospel. For by the full blessing of the Gospel he means all the blessings worthy of blessing, that is, of praise according to the Gospel. But you can also understand by "blessing" almsgiving, so that the meaning would be: I will find you perfect in almsgiving and love for mankind. He says this in advance so that, being put to shame by the praises, they would strive to show themselves as such.
Rom. 15:30. I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit
He never considers himself worthy of belief, but presents mediators. So now too he points to Christ and the Spirit. But he did not mention the Father, so that you might learn that when he mentions the Father alone, he does not exclude the Son and the Spirit. And he said "by the love of the Spirit," because just as the Father and the Son loved the world, so also does the Spirit.
Rom. 15:30. to strive together with me in prayers for me to God.
He shows the greatest humility when he says that he has need of their prayer.
Rom. 15:31. that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea.
He did not say: to enter into a contest and defeat them, but: "to be delivered," fulfilling the divine law that commands us to pray not to fall into temptation (Matt. 26:41). At the same time, he also shows that it is necessary to give alms to those who live among so many unbelievers (from whom he himself also prays to be delivered) and who are moreover in danger of perishing from hunger.
Rom. 15:31. And that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.
That is, so that they would receive the offering with a good disposition. From this it is also evident that the giving of alms is not sufficient in itself for it to be accepted. When someone gives out of compulsion, from dishonest gain, or for vainglory, then everything is lost and the fruit thereof is destroyed.
Rom. 15:32. That I may come to you with joy, if it be God's will:
I, he says, therefore pray for deliverance from there, so that I may see you sooner and moreover with pleasure, not having brought upon myself any grief there.
Rom. 15:32. and find rest with you.
He did not say: to teach you, to instruct you in the faith, but "to be comforted," that is, you will be enlivened by my teaching, and I will be enlivened by the growth of your faith. By this expression he shows that both he and they, as those who struggle and labor, have need of rest.
Rom. 15:33. The God of peace be with you all, amen.