Romans 15:22 kjv
For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
Romans 15:22 nkjv
For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.
Romans 15:22 niv
This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
Romans 15:22 esv
This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.
Romans 15:22 nlt
In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.
Romans 15 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 1:13 | I desired to come to you—but thus far have been hindered... | Paul's desire and earlier hindrance mentioned. |
| Rom 1:10 | always in my prayers... that somehow now at last I may succeed in coming to you. | Paul's persistent prayer to visit Rome. |
| Rom 15:20 | ...making it my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named... | Immediately preceding, defining "this reason." |
| Rom 15:21 | as it is written, “Those who have never been told... will understand.” | Quotes Isa 52:15, underpinning Paul's mission. |
| 2 Cor 10:15 | ...preach the gospel in regions beyond you, not to boast in work already done. | Paul's missionary principle to avoid others' fields. |
| Isa 52:15 | kings will shut their mouths because of him... things before unheard they will contemplate. | OT prophecy fulfilled by Paul's unreached focus. |
| Acts 19:21 | Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” | Paul's long-term plan to visit Rome. |
| Acts 16:6-7 | The Holy Spirit prevented them from speaking... The Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. | Divine guidance or hindrance in specific travels. |
| 1 Thes 2:18 | We wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. | Another example of Paul being hindered in ministry. |
| Acts 20:3 | plots by the Jews... so he decided to return through Macedonia. | External circumstances causing a change in plans. |
| Col 4:3 | Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word... | Prayer for open doors for evangelism, implying closed ones. |
| Eph 6:19 | ...that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim... | Paul's consistent desire for open and effective proclamation. |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! | Paul's divine compulsion to preach the gospel. |
| Gal 2:7-9 | ...he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles. | Apostolic division of labor, influencing Paul's focus. |
| Acts 13:2-4 | “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” | Holy Spirit's commission setting missionary priorities. |
| 2 Tim 4:17 | The Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. | Divine purpose behind Paul's wide Gentile outreach. |
| Phil 1:12 | What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. | Even hindrances and imprisonment worked for Gospel spread. |
| 1 Cor 16:7 | For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you... | Paul preferred a meaningful, extended visit over a brief one. |
| Rom 15:23 | But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions... | Explanation why the hindrance is now removed. |
| Rom 15:28 | So, when I have completed this and delivered to them what has been collected, I will visit you on my way to Spain. | His immediate plan after the hindrance is removed. |
| 2 Cor 1:17 | Did I make my plans carelessly? | Paul often faced scrutiny regarding his travel plans, requiring explanation. |
| Heb 12:1 | ...let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. | General principle of removing hindrances to service. |
Romans 15 verses
Romans 15 22 Meaning
Romans 15:22 serves as Paul's explanation for his delayed visit to the Roman believers. It clarifies that his missionary strategy, particularly his dedication to proclaiming the Gospel where Christ had not yet been named, was the primary and consistent reason that he was "hindered" or prevented from fulfilling his long-standing desire to come to Rome earlier. This verse establishes a critical link between his ambitious pioneer evangelism and his travel plans, revealing his focused priorities in advancing God's kingdom.
Romans 15 22 Context
Romans 15:22 appears in the concluding section of Paul's epistle to the Romans, following his theological treatise. Chapters 1-11 lay out foundational doctrines of sin, salvation by grace through faith, and Israel's place in God's plan. Chapters 12-14 provide practical instructions for Christian living, covering ethical behavior, church relationships, and navigating differences (particularly concerning food and days). Chapter 15 transitions into Paul's personal apostolic mission, his plans, and a plea for their prayers.The immediate context is Romans 15:19-21, where Paul defines his calling as preaching the Gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum (the eastern Mediterranean) and clarifies his deliberate strategy not to "build on another man's foundation" (v. 20) but to proclaim Christ where He had not been named. Verse 22 functions as a direct continuation and specific application of this stated missionary ambition, explaining why his long-desired trip to Rome (mentioned earlier in 1:13) had been perpetually delayed. This explanation also sets the stage for his subsequent announcement of his new travel plans, including an imminent visit to Rome (vv. 23-24). Culturally, a respected leader like Paul needed to account for delayed visits, as his intentions could be easily misconstrued in a world without instant communication. There's an indirect polemic against any suspicion that he might be uncommitted to Rome or disdainful of an already established church.
Romans 15 22 Word analysis
- For this reason: Greek, Διὸ καὶ (Dio kai). The conjunction "Διὸ" strongly connects to the preceding verses (Rom 15:20-21), explicitly tying the reason for his delay to his missionary strategy of pioneering evangelism in unreached territories. The particle "καὶ" emphasizes the continuation of this causal link.
- I have often been hindered: Greek, ἐνεκοπτόμην (enekoptomen). This is an imperfect passive verb from ἐνκόπτω (enkopto), meaning "to cut into," "to impede," "to interrupt," "to hinder," "to delay." The imperfect tense indicates a continuous or repeated action in the past: "I was being hindered" or "I have repeatedly been hindered." The passive voice suggests the hindrance came from an external source or circumstance, not from his own lack of will. Scholars note this implies not merely an inability to go but a continuous, active impediment.
- from coming: Greek, τοῦ ἐλθεῖν (tou elthein). This is an articular infinitive, functioning here to specify what he was hindered from doing – "the coming" or "to come."
- to you: Greek, πρὸς ὑμᾶς (pros hymas). This clearly identifies the recipients, the Roman believers, confirming his deep personal interest in them despite his prior inability to visit.
Words-group analysis
- For this reason I have often been hindered: This phrase powerfully links Paul's strategic, Christ-centered mission to his personal travel itinerary. It conveys that his devotion to reaching the unevangelized (as outlined in Rom 15:20-21) wasn't just a general principle, but a specific, recurring obstacle to his desire to visit Rome. The "often" (indicated by the imperfect tense of 'hindered') underscores that this was a consistent and prolonged factor, not a one-off event, clarifying the protracted delay.
- from coming to you: This concise phrase emphasizes his earnest desire for personal connection with the Roman believers, mitigating any potential perception of indifference due to his absence. His explanation implicitly validates their importance to him and addresses why he couldn't act on that importance sooner.
Romans 15 22 Bonus section
Paul's repeated hindrances were often attributed to spiritual opposition (e.g., Satan in 1 Thes 2:18), human malice (Acts 20:3), or divine guidance redirecting his steps (Acts 16:6-7). This verse specifically attributes the hindrance to his self-imposed, but Spirit-inspired, missionary strategy. It highlights the principle that faithful ministry often involves prioritizing specific callings, even if it means foregoing other good and desirable ministries. This concept of being "hindered" by one's God-given mission for the sake of the advancement of the Gospel reveals a profound commitment and a clear understanding of the Great Commission beyond simply evangelizing within existing structures.
Romans 15 22 Commentary
Romans 15:22 offers a crucial insight into Paul's missiological priorities and the practical outworking of his apostolic calling. His ambition to "preach the gospel where Christ has not been named" (v. 20) was not just an ideal, but a defining commitment that actively shaped his itinerary and governed his actions. The consistent and repeated nature of the "hindrance" highlights the disciplined focus of Paul's ministry. He chose to invest his time and efforts in pioneering regions rather than tending to established churches like Rome, even though he greatly desired to do so. This wasn't negligence, but obedience to his unique commission to the Gentiles and a commitment to spreading the gospel to new frontiers. The verse thus demonstrates how a compelling divine calling, coupled with strategic planning, can necessitate choices that postpone personal desires or other valuable ministry opportunities.