What did the Apostle Paul hope to accomplish by going to Rome?

UNION GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST, CLEVELAND TN.

WHAT DID THE APOSTLE PAUL HOPE TO

ACCOMPLISH BY GOING TO ROME?

Paul made no secret about the fact that he longed to go to Rome. He prayed about it (Romans 1:10,11). He asked the saints in Rome to pray about it (Romans 15:30-32). He wrote in unmistakable language about his desire to go there and that such a longing was not something new: “For I long to see you . . . having a great desire these many years to come unto you” (Romans 1:11; 15:23).

We have heard accounts of those who have visited the city of Rome in our generation. For some travelers, it is a “must see” on their voyages to the European continent. Others have made it their honeymoon destination. Rome was, is, and apparently will remain, a most unique place.

Paul’s intent on going to Rome, however, was not “to see the sights” or enjoy its world-famous dining. There is nothing wrong with either of those motives; Paul just had other things in mind. Why did he have a yearning to make it to the capital city of the Roman Empire? In Romans 1:11-15, we read four reasons why he wanted to go there so badly. Here they are:

(1) Paul wanted to impart some spiritual gift to them. “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established” (1:11). In the New Testament, the term “spiritual gift” can refer to miraculous gifts that the Holy Spirit gave to first-century saints (1 Corinthians 12:1; 14:1). They were for the purpose of edifying and guiding the Christians of that era. They were temporary in nature, and once the complete will of God was revealed to mankind, there was no more need for those gifts (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). From Acts 8:14-20 and Acts 19:5,6 we learn that spiritual or miraculous gifts were distributed to the disciples when apostles laid hands on them. That idea – an apostle laying hands on other saints to impart a spiritual gift to them, certainly fits the case of Paul telling the brethren in Rome that he wanted to come to them and impart a spiritual gift to them. Note that he could not just pray for them to receive such: he had to be present with them. We would also do well to note Paul’s motive in wanting them to receive such a gift: “that you may be established.” The age of such miraculous gifts has long passed, but there is always a need in the body of the Christ for its members to show an interest in establishing and building up one another. Are you and I doing that?

(2) Paul wanted to be able both to give and receive comfort. “That is, that I may be comforted [encouraged, NKJV] together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (1:12). Paul may have been an apostle, but he certainly did not think of himself as being superior to others, nor did he believe that he could not be benefitted by his association with other faithful followers of the Christ. In this same connection, in Romans 15:32 we read of Paul’s desire to go to Rome in order to “be refreshed” with them. Put these ideas together and you have a picture of Paul’s outlook: making it to Rome and being with the brothers and sisters there would afford both him and them the chance to be comforted, encouraged, and refreshed. Is not fellowship with other Christians wonderful?! You cannot put a price tag on the benefits that we get from our close association with other children of God. For the life of me, I cannot comprehend how some members of the church apparently find no delight in spending time with others of like precious faith.

(3) Paul wanted to be able to bear some fruit there. “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles” (1:13). In the Bible, we read about the harvest of souls, which would be the bearing of fruit in the form of teaching and producing followers of Jesus (John 4:35,36). More often, though, the word “fruit” points to the fruit of spiritual maturity, as “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22,23), “being fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:10) and “being filled with the fruits of righteousness” (Philippians 1:11). Since the Book of Romans was addressed to the “saints” in Rome (Romans 1:7), then it would appear that when Paul told those saints about his desire to “have some fruit among you” (1:13), that he had their spiritual development in mind. If they had family members or friends that had not yet obeyed the gospel, do you suppose Paul would have been interested in meeting such folks and teaching them the gospel, with the potential of bearing fruit? Sure.

(4) Paul wanted to go to Rome in order to preach the gospel. “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also” (1:15). Brethren, Paul was a gospel preacher. No one who heard or observed him would have any doubts about that. He was not planning to go to Rome to put on a drama performance, conduct a circus, or entertain people. Some preachers of our generation, whether they realize it or not, come across more like an actor, clown, or performer, than they do a gospel preacher. The world is lost in sin and far too many of God’s people are turned to idols, immorality, and unauthorized practices, yet some “preachers” can hardly seem to work in a Bible verse or two around jokes and stories of their personal experiences. How sad is that?!

How excited the brethren in Rome must have been when they received Paul’s letter, telling them of his intense desire to visit them. How encouraging it must been when they read that his motives were spiritual in nature, with their spiritual growth at heart. May God help each of us to be a helper and encourager like Paul was.

-- Roger D. Campbell