Third Millennium Study Bible
Notes on Romans 15:23-33

Longing for Rome - Romans 15:23-24

Two things made the visit to Rome possible: (1) The current phase of Paul's commission had been fulfilled and (2) the new phase involving outreach to Spain was imminent. Paul sought the Roman Christians' fellowship in it. Stott says:

Having shared with the Roman church his understanding of his special apostolic ministry, Paul now looks into the future and confides to the Romans his travel plans. He specifies three destinations. First, he is about to sail from Corinth to Jerusalem, taking with him the collection which he has long been organizing. Secondly, he is intending to go from Jerusalem to Rome, even though he will only be 'passing through (Rom. 15:24) rather than settling down among them for an appreciable period. Thirdly, from Rome he will travel on to Spain, determined to resume his pioneer evangelistic commitment. If he were to make all these journeys by ship, the first would be at least 800 miles, the second 1,500, and the third 700, making a minimum total of 3,000 miles, and many more if he were to travel some of the way by land rather than sea. When one reflects on the uncertainties and hazards of ancient travel, the almost nonchalant way in which Paul announces his intention to undertake these three voyages is quite extraordinary.

Spain - Romans 15:24

Spain was the western extremity of the ancient world. Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. say (Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001):

Spain: name of the most westerly peninsula in southwestern Europe. Biblical references to the peninsula note the role of the Phoenicians, whose far-flung Carthaginian Empire reached into Spain. The Romans expelled the Carthaginians from Spain as early as 206 BC, but they did not conquer the local tribes until 25 BC. Only by then had the Romans gained control of the whole region (1 Macc 8:3).

The Phoenician traders of Tyre extended their commercial empire to Spain or historic Iberia as early as 1100 BC. From Carthage on the North African coast, which was a center of the Phoenician Empire, a series of colonial thrusts followed the trading contacts. The Carthaginians established many settlements on the Spanish coast during the flourishing of their republic. These included Carthago Nova (now Cartagena) and Malacca (now Malaga). Later, they took Tartessus and absorbed much of the peninsula into their empire. From this base in Spain, the Carthaginians sought to expand their empire into Europe. The Romans met the Carthaginian challenge. After beating Hannibal back in his attack on Italy in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), the Romans extended their territory by overcoming the Carthaginians on the Spanish peninsula. Finally, under Augustus, the Romans made Spain part of the empire. At that time the Romans built a magnificent road system circling and crossing the whole Spanish peninsula.

Roman civilization had a deep and lasting influence on Spain. Three emperors - Trajan, Hadrian, and the first Theodosius - were born in Spain. Several scholars and writers of note in Roman culture came from Spain. These included the two Senecas, Martial, Prudentius, Lucan, Quintialian, Pomponius, and Mela.

Some suggest that Paul thought of Spain as the Tarshish of Isaiah 66:19 and saw the extension of his preaching there as significant for the Christian mission (Matt. 24:14; Acts 1:8). Paul pictures himself as already on the way to Jerusalem (the present tense is used for the future to give greater certainty). Paul speaks of going there in the service of the saints there.

Spiritual and material blessings - Romans 15:25-33

Jerusalem was a poor city. Note that Jews in the Dispersion (diaspora - the general title applied to those Jews who remained settled in foreign countries after the return from the Babylonian exile, and during the period of the second Temple) often sent money to relieve the needs of those in Jerusalem. Christians in Jerusalem (primarily Jewish) suffered particular hardship. Paul and Barnabas, had been involved in an earlier aid project in a time of famine (Acts 11:27-30; 12:25). Paul desired to visit Jerusalem with the gifts that the churches had raised for the Christians there (compare: Gal. 2:10; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9; cf. Acts 24:17).

This said, Paul saw a deeper significance than just loving charity. To Paul the offering - not tithe (see below) - was symbolizing the unity of all types of believers - a token of fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers. It was a duty (Rom. 15:27), a solemn obligation of Gentile Christians in view of the privilege they had received in being grafted into God's olive tree (Rom. 11:17). This conforms to the general principle that those who receive spiritual blessings should share their own material blessings (1 Cor. 9:3-14; Gal. 6:6). See WLC 191, 196; BC 30.

Related Resources

• Overview of the Book of Romans
• The Old Testament Tithe?
• The New Testament Tithe?
• Giving as a Part of Worship?