ROM 15:23-33

Paulʼs Travel Plans

23But now, no longer having place in these regions, and having a longing to come to you for many years —

24whenever I should travel to Spain, I hope passing through to see you, and by you to be sent forward there, if first I might be filled with you in part.

25But now I am traveling to Jerusalem, serving the saints.

26For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make some contribution for the destitute among the saints in Jerusalem.

27For they were pleased, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles shared in their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in the fleshly things.

28Therefore, having completed this and having sealed to them this fruit, I will go away through you to Spain.

29And I know that coming to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

30But I urge you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf,

31that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may become acceptable to the saints,

32that coming to you in joy through the will of God, I may be refreshed together with you.

33And the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Roman world, travel was arduous and often dangerous, requiring careful planning and reliance on networks of hospitality. Paul’s mention of his journey to Spain reflects the Roman imperial infrastructure, as Spain was a significant Roman province. His reference to being 'equipped' by the Roman believers aligns with the Greco-Roman practice of patrons providing resources for travelers. The 'contribution' for the poor in Jerusalem underscores the Jewish practice of caring for the destitute , particularly within the community of believers. This act of sharing resources was not merely charity but a recognition of spiritual solidarity. Paul’s use of (to minister) evokes the idea of public service, often tied to civic or religious duty. His call for (to strive together) frames the believers’ support as a collective effort, akin to athletes competing in unison. This passage reflects the interconnectedness of early Christian communities across the Roman Empire.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

ROM 15:23

KJV: But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
BSB: But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you,
Koinōnos: But now, no longer having place in these regions, and having a longing to come to you for many years —

ROM 15:24

KJV: Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
BSB: I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.
Koinōnos: whenever I should travel to Spain, I hope passing through to see you, and by you to be sent forward there, if first I might be filled with you in part.

ROM 15:25

KJV: But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
BSB: Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.
Koinōnos: But now I am traveling to Jerusalem, serving the saints.

ROM 15:26

KJV: For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
BSB: For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
Koinōnos: For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make some contribution for the destitute among the saints in Jerusalem.

ROM 15:27

KJV: It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
BSB: They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.
Koinōnos: For they were pleased, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles shared in their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in the fleshly things.

ROM 15:28

KJV: When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
BSB: So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.
Koinōnos: Therefore, having completed this and having sealed to them this fruit, I will go away through you to Spain.

ROM 15:29

KJV: And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
BSB: I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
Koinōnos: And I know that coming to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

ROM 15:30

KJV: Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
BSB: Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
Koinōnos: But I urge you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf,

ROM 15:31

KJV: That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
BSB: Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,
Koinōnos: that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may become acceptable to the saints,

ROM 15:32

KJV: That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
BSB: so that by Godʼs will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
Koinōnos: that coming to you in joy through the will of God, I may be refreshed together with you.

ROM 15:33

KJV: Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
BSB: The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
Koinōnos: And the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ROM 15:26

a contribution:The word translated 'a contribution' here emphasizes a shared participation or fellowship, highlighting that the gift was a communal act of partnership.
poor:The word translated 'poor' here refers to those who are utterly destitute, often beggars, completely dependent on the generosity of others, rather than simply those with low income.

ROM 15:27

to minister:The word translated 'to minister' originally referred to performing a public service or duty, often at one's own expense, for the benefit of the community.

ROM 15:30

to strive together with:The word translated 'to strive together with' conveys the intense effort of contending in a struggle or contest alongside someone, implying a shared, active participation in a difficult endeavor.