In what constitutes a single long sentence in Greek, Paul emphasizes his appreciation for Roman believers. He explains that he would have eagerly visited them to serve them with his apostolic ministry, as he has been gifted to serve all the Gentiles, but that he has been detained so far (1:8-15). Toward the end of his letter he will indicate that he has been detained by spiritually needier destinations (15:19-22).
Paul starts by thanking God for them (1:8). Thanksgivings were common (though by no means pervasive) in ancient letters, and Paul nearly always thanks God for the churches to whom he writes (though this feature is conspicuously omitted in his opening rebuke to the Galatians). Paul not only thanks God for them, but he regularly prays for them (1:9); calling a deity to “witness” underlined the veracity of one’s claim, since deities were expected to avenge false claims about them. Paul prays especially that he might visit them (1:10) so he can serve them the way God has gifted him to do (1:11). “In God’s will” (1:10) does not absolutely promise his coming, but acknowledges that, while he plans to come, only God knows whether future circumstances will fully permit it. This was a common enough caveat, and Paul undoubtedly thinks also of dangers he may face.
(Adapted from Romans: A New Covenant Commentary, published by Cascade Books. Buy the book here.)
