Romans 1:10 kjv

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

Romans 1:10 nkjv

making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.

Romans 1:10 niv

in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

Romans 1:10 esv

always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

Romans 1:10 nlt

One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you.

Romans 1 verses

Romans 1 10 Meaning

The apostle Paul, writing to the believers in Rome, expresses his consistent and persistent prayer for them. He indicates that a significant part of his intercession has always included a request to God that he might, by divine will and timing, finally be enabled to journey to Rome and be with them. This verse reveals his long-held desire and his humble submission to God's sovereign plan regarding his travel and ministry.

Romans 1 10 Context

Romans 1:10 falls within the salutation and introduction of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome (Rom 1:1-17). Paul, identified as a servant and apostle of Christ, expresses his profound desire to visit the Roman believers. Verses 8-10 serve to establish his heartfelt connection and persistent concern for them through prayer, emphasizing that he thanks God for their faith and consistently remembers them. Specifically, verse 10 highlights his unwavering prayer to be finally granted a way to visit them, acknowledging that this journey must be in accordance with God’s will. This sets the stage for Paul's subsequent declaration of his eagerness to preach the Gospel in Rome (Rom 1:15) and his purpose for writing: to impart spiritual gifts and be mutually encouraged (Rom 1:11-12), anticipating both fellowship and ministry. Historically, Paul faced various challenges and divine redirections in his missionary journeys (e.g., Acts 16:6-10), making his prayer for "now at last" understandable as a reflection of past hindrances and an acknowledgment that his movements were always subject to God’s sovereign control and perfect timing.

Romans 1 10 Word analysis

• "always" (πάντοτε - pantote):
  • Significance: Denotes consistency, ceaselessness, and persistence in Paul’s prayer life. It underscores the sincerity and depth of his longing to visit Rome, indicating that this desire was not fleeting but a long-standing, recurring subject of his supplication to God.
• "in my prayers" (ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου - epi tōn proseuchōn mou):
  • Greek: προσευχῶν (proseuchōn) refers to prayers, devout supplications, often implying worship and intimate communication with God.
  • Significance: Shows the channel of his desire – it was brought before God through prayer. This emphasizes a reliance on divine intervention rather than mere human planning or ambition. Prayer is presented as the foundational activity of Paul's spiritual life and ministry.
• "making request" (δεόμενος - deomenos):
  • Greek: From δέομαι (deomai), meaning "to beg, pray, entreat, make urgent request."
  • Significance: Highlights the earnest, often fervent, nature of Paul's prayer. It’s not a casual wish but a strong plea to God, suggesting an active seeking for God's favorable action in a specific matter.
• "if perhaps now at last" (εἴ πως ἤδη ποτέ - ei pōs ēdē pote):
  • Greek:
    • εἴ πως (ei pōs): "if somehow, if by any means," conveying hope and a humble acknowledgement of human inability to dictate circumstances.
    • ἤδη ποτέ (ēdē pote): "now at length, at last," signifying a long-held desire and previous obstacles, suggesting a moment hoped for after a prolonged wait.
  • Significance: This phrase reveals the human side of Paul's waiting on God. Despite persistent prayer, there were clearly past hindrances (Rom 15:22) preventing his journey. It conveys both a deep longing and a recognition that the timing is entirely in God’s hands. It’s not impatience but a hopeful anticipation for God’s appointed time.
• "by the will of God" (ἐν τῇ θελήματι τοῦ θεοῦ - en tē thelēmati tou theou):
  • Greek: θέλημα (thelēma) signifies "will, desire, purpose."
  • Significance: This is the controlling condition and ultimate authority for Paul’s journey. All his plans, desires, and persistent prayers are submitted to God’s sovereign will. It acknowledges divine providence as the supreme arbiter of events, demonstrating humble reliance on God's perfect plan and timing. It also serves as a theological statement about how Christians should approach their plans.
• "I may succeed in coming to you" (εὐοδωθήσομαι ... ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς - euodōthēsomai ... elthein pros hymas):
  • Greek: εὐοδωθήσομαι (euodōthēsomai) is passive, meaning "I might be prospered (on a journey), be granted a prosperous journey, be led in a good way." From εὐοδόω (euodoo) "to make prosperous, to cause to have a good journey."
  • Significance: This emphasizes divine enablement for the journey, not merely human effort. It's not just "if I can manage to get there," but "if God will cause me to have a prosperous and successful journey there." It highlights God's active involvement in facilitating his travels for ministry purposes. The phrase "to you" directly states his specific destination and desired fellowship with the Roman believers.

Words-group analysis:

• "always in my prayers making request": This group of words establishes the consistent and fervent nature of Paul's prayer life, specifically in relation to his desire to visit Rome. It underlines the spiritual discipline and sincerity behind his intentions.
• "if perhaps now at last by the will of God": This pivotal phrase links Paul's fervent human desire with God's sovereign timing and plan. It portrays a tension between his eager longing and his humble submission to divine will, emphasizing that his arrival hinges solely on God’s ordained timing and method. It implicitly acknowledges past hindrances and expresses hope for divine enablement.
• "I may succeed in coming to you": This expresses the specific content of his prayer—a safe and divinely facilitated journey to the Roman believers. It implies more than simply arriving; it signifies God's hand actively prospering his path for a purposeful and meaningful visit, allowing him to accomplish his apostolic aims.

Romans 1 10 Bonus section

• Long-Term Apostolic Burden: This verse reveals that visiting Rome was a long-standing desire and burden on Paul’s heart, a desire he carried persistently in prayer, highlighting his apostolic commitment to spread the Gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire.
• Emphasis on Divine Initiative: Paul's language about "succeeding" in coming emphasizes that he sees God as the primary actor who opens the way for missionary journeys. His personal zeal is submitted to and empowered by God's guiding hand, teaching that the Lord is the one who prospers endeavors aligned with His purpose.
• The Nature of Answered Prayer: While Paul earnestly prayed for this visit, it is noteworthy that he eventually arrived in Rome as a prisoner (Acts 28). This demonstrates that God answers prayers according to His perfect will and wisdom, which may differ from human expectations but ultimately serves His greater redemptive purposes. His prayer to "succeed in coming" was indeed answered, even if the circumstances were unexpected.

Romans 1 10 Commentary

Romans 1:10 beautifully illustrates the balance between passionate human desire and absolute submission to divine will in a Christian's life. Paul's "always... making request" signifies unwavering persistence in prayer for a long-cherished goal. This wasn't a casual wish but a deeply earnest plea brought consistently before God. The phrase "if perhaps now at last" reflects a longing heart that has endured previous delays and recognizes that God's timing, though sometimes patiently awaited, is perfect. Critically, the success of his journey hinges "by the will of God," demonstrating profound theological humility. Paul, despite being an apostle with an urgent mission, understood that even his most godly plans must align with and be empowered by divine providence. He wasn't relying on his own cunning or strength but on God to "succeed" (prosper) his coming. This verse serves as a model for believers to pray with unwavering zeal for their righteous desires, yet to always hold them loosely, trusting God’s timing and supreme will to bring them to fruition, knowing that true prosperity in our paths comes only from Him.