Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,(A) because your faith is being reported all over the world.(B) God, whom I serve(C) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness(D) how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times;(E) and I pray that now at last by God’s will(F) the way may be opened for me to come to you.(G)

11 I long to see you(H) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift(I) to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware,(J) brothers and sisters,[a](K) that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now)(L) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

14 I am obligated(M) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:13 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 7:1, 4; 8:12, 29; 10:1; 11:25; 12:1; 15:14, 30; 16:14, 17.

God’s Good News

Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart[a] by spreading the Good News about his Son.

10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

13 I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[b] that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world,[c] to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:9 Or in my spirit.
  2. 1:13 Greek brothers.
  3. 1:14 Greek to Greeks and barbarians.