Romans Chapter 15 Vs. 22

 

Paul's Plan to Visit Rome

For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. Rom 15:22

For which cause... Because of my policy to preach the gospel where it has not been preached, I have been hindered for a long time in coming to you who have already had the gospel (Rom. 15:20, 15:22).

In the last lesson, we saw where Paul was sent to the Gentiles. He went on 3 missionary journeys and established churches in the name of Jesus Christ. These areas were not areas where Jesus had ministered while He was on the earth.

I have been... We know that Paul faced all sorts of dangers to make these journeys. On the way to the Romans, he was even shipwrecked.

The Scripture above that says he was hindered is an understatement. The hindrances were very great, but Paul’s determination was greater.

1Thes. 2:18 “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”

hindered from coming... Every person trying to bring the message of God can say with Paul that Satan hindered them.

Paul here expresses his ministry goal in a quotation of the second half of Isa. 52:15 and explained, This is why I have often been hindered (imperf. tense, “I was being hindered many times”) from coming to you. Up to this time Paul had always found new areas for ministry in Asia Minor and the Grecian Peninsula so that he had not yet felt free to look beyond to Rome and Spain.