Romans 15:23 kjv
But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
Romans 15:23 nkjv
But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,
Romans 15:23 niv
But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,
Romans 15:23 esv
But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,
Romans 15:23 nlt
But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you.
Romans 15 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 1:11-12 | For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. | Spiritual longing, mutual encouragement |
| Acts 19:21 | Now after these things Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had gone through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." | Paul's plans for Rome |
| Acts 20:22-23 | And now, behold, bound in the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that chains and tribulations await me. | Awareness of suffering |
| 2 Corinthians 1:15-16 | And I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit, and to pass by on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia, and by you be helped on my journey to Judea. | Previous intention to visit |
| Philippians 4:17 | Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. | Seeking fruit, not personal gain |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 | But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a while—in person not in heart—have been exceedingly eager to see your face with great longing. Because we wanted to come to you, I, Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us. | Longing and hindrance |
| Galatians 5:22 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; | Spiritual fruit |
| John 15:4-5 | Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. | Abiding for fruit |
| Hebrews 13:20-21 | Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with all things good for doing his will, and may he work in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. | God's equipping |
| Philippians 2:1-2 | If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if there is any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. | Unity and love |
| 1 Corinthians 1:10 | Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. | Unity of mind |
| Ephesians 4:3 | Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Unity in the Spirit |
| Romans 1:13 | I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that many times I have planned to come, but I have been prevented from doing so until now in order that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. | Fruit among Gentiles |
| Acts 28:30-31 | He stayed two whole years in his own rented place, and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. | Ministry in Rome |
| 2 Timothy 4:6-7 | For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. | Fulfillment of ministry |
| Colossians 4:3 | At the same time pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison. | Prayer for opportunity |
| Philemon 1:22 | At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I will be granted to you. | Anticipation of reunion |
| 2 Corinthians 12:14 | Indeed, this is the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not your goods, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for their parents, but the parents for their children. | Seeking believers, not possessions |
| Romans 1:10 | Always in my prayers asking that somehow by God’s will I may now succeed in coming to you. | Prayer for God's will |
Romans 15 verses
Romans 15 23 Meaning
This verse expresses a deep longing and desire within the apostle Paul to visit the Roman believers. He wishes to see them, share in their spiritual blessings, and experience mutual encouragement and refreshment. This desire is driven by his love for them and his apostolic commission to spread the gospel.
Romans 15 23 Context
Romans chapter 15 continues Paul's discourse on strengthening the weak among believers and extending the gospel to the Gentiles. He emphasizes unity and mutual support within the body of Christ, using himself as an example of dedication to fulfilling God's calling. In verse 23, Paul shifts his focus to his personal desire to visit Rome, a city he has not yet visited but has a deep spiritual burden for. This desire stems from his mission to preach the gospel throughout the world and his apostolic responsibility to nurture and encourage believers wherever they are. His inability to visit has been due to his apostolic duties and divine providence.
Romans 15 23 Word Analysis
- δὲ (de): "But," "and." A conjunctive particle introducing a new thought or contrasting with what came before.
- πολλὰ (polla): "Many," "much." Modifies the adverbial sense of the following phrase, indicating a repeated or lengthy desire.
- ἔτη (ete): "Years." Refers to a period of time.
- σχῆτε (schete): From σχέω (sachō). "To have," "to hold," "to possess." Here, it's part of the aorist subjunctive, meaning "that I might have." It speaks of experiencing or possessing something.
- καρποὺς (karpous): "Fruits," "produce." Refers to the results or spiritual benefits of ministry.
- ἐν ὑμῖν (en hymin): "In you," "among you." Indicates the location where these fruits are to be realized.
- ὥσπερ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις ἔθνεσιν (hōper kai en tois allois ethnesin): "Just as also among the other Gentiles." This draws a parallel with his successful ministry to other non-Jewish communities, suggesting he anticipates similar spiritual results in Rome.
Words-group analysis:
- "πολλὰ ἔτη" (polla ete): "Many years." This phrase underscores the long-standing nature of Paul's desire and his patient waiting, despite past hindrances.
- "σχῆτε καρποὺς ἐν ὑμῖν" (schete karpous en hymin): "That I might have fruits among you." This highlights the missional aspect of Paul's intended visit – not just social interaction, but the desire to see the gospel bear fruit in their lives and for the church in Rome. It aligns with his overall mission as described in Romans 1:13.
- "ὥσπερ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις ἔθνεσιν" (hōper kai en tois allois ethnesin): "Just as also among the other Gentiles." This comparison serves to express his confidence and expectation based on past experiences, reinforcing his hope that his ministry would be fruitful in Rome as it had been elsewhere, thus encouraging the Roman believers.
Romans 15 23 Bonus Section
The phrase "just as also among the other Gentiles" (ὥσπερ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις ἔθνεσιν) links this verse directly to Romans 1:13. This continuity reinforces that Paul's desire to visit Rome was deeply tied to his apostolic commission to reach the Gentiles and to see the gospel prosper among them. It speaks to the consistency of his calling and ministry objectives. Furthermore, his anticipation of "fruit" signifies the impact of the Word of God in the lives of believers, leading to transformation and spiritual maturity, a concept Paul frequently writes about, such as the fruit of the Spirit. His plans were always subject to God's will, as noted in Romans 1:10, acknowledging that divine sovereignty ultimately guides his movements and ministry.
Romans 15 23 Commentary
Paul expresses a long-held yearning to visit Rome, indicating his plans had been delayed for several years. His motivation for wanting to go is not simply personal affection, though that is present, but rather a strong desire to minister spiritually, sharing in their faith and experiencing the reciprocal blessing of mutual encouragement. He looks forward to seeing spiritual "fruit" from his labor among them, just as he had witnessed in other Gentile churches. This verse reveals Paul's deep-seated missionary zeal and his focus on bearing fruit for God's kingdom, even when facing personal desires for fellowship and the potential for hindrances.
Practical Usage Examples:
- A church member longing to visit and minister to a new mission church.
- A pastor desiring to spend quality time with members to strengthen their faith.
- Missionaries expressing their continued desire to reach unreached people groups, despite delays.