Romans 15:22

22 This is what has so often kept me from visiting you.

Romans 15:22 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 15:22

For which cause also
By reason of being employed for so many years, in preaching the Gospel from Jerusalem, round about to Illyricum; taking so large a compass to minister in, and striving to introduce, propagate, and spread the Gospel, where Christ was never named before:

I have been much hindered from coming to you;
or he had been often, and by many ways, and upon many accounts, hindered from coming to them; the frequent calls to different and distant places, and the great work of preaching the Gospel in those dark parts of the world, and settling churches there, which was upon his hands, prevented his giving them a visit at Rome, which he much and often desired: as in the preceding verses the apostle excuses his freedom of writing to this church, so here his long delay of coming to them, assigning the reason of it.

Romans 15:22 In-Context

20 My goal was to spread the Good News where the name of Christ was not known. I didn't want to build on a foundation which others had laid.

21 As Scripture says, "Those who were never told about him will see, and those who never heard will understand."

22 This is what has so often kept me from visiting you.

23 But now I have no new opportunities for work in this region. For many years I have wanted to visit you.

24 Now I am on my way to Spain, so I hope to see you when I come your way. After I have enjoyed your company for a while, I hope that you will support my trip to Spain.