Romans 15:29
In the fullness of the blessing of Christ
- The gospel’s word εὐαγγέλιον euangelion · gospel
Original
Translations
I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
and I have known that coming to you—in the fullness of the blessing of the good news of Christ I will come.
내가 너희에게 나갈 때에 그리스도의 충만한 축복을 가지고 갈 줄을 아노라
내가 너희에게 갈 때에 그리스도의 복음의 복을 충만히 가지고 갈 줄로 확신하노라.
Commentaries
Matthew Henry on Rom 15:22-29 as a whole
The apostle sought the things of Christ more than his own will, and would not leave his work of planting churches to go to Rome. It concerns all to do that first which is most needful. …
Read the whole commentary →Wesley
Nothing on this verse itself.
Read the whole commentary →
Note
Romans 15:22–33 are Paul's travel plans. He is on his way to Jerusalem with the gift the churches of Macedonia and Achaia have gathered "for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem" (Romans 15:26). When that is done he means to set off for Spain by way of Rome (Romans 15:28). About his coming to Rome he is sure: "I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ" (Romans 15:29).
The BSB has no word for gospel here. The Textus Receptus reads "the blessing of the gospel of Christ", with in the genitive, and the King James Version follows it: "I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." The older manuscripts behind the BSB read "the blessing of Christ". The LSV, like the KJV, has "the blessing of the good news of Christ". The verse stands among the gospel's verses by that reading.
The difference is small in meaning, for the blessing Christ gives is the blessing the gospel brings. The words around it are worth seeing. "Fullness" is , from the same root as the verb Paul used ten verses earlier, where he said he had "fully proclaimed" the gospel (Romans 15:19): he has filled out the gospel in the east, and now he will bring the fullness of its blessing to Rome. "Blessing" is . And "I know" is οἶδα, a word of certainty. Of what he hopes from the Romans Paul speaks carefully, "I hope to see you" (Romans 15:24); of what Christ will give, he says that he knows.
Matthew Henry sees the same contrast: "Concerning what he expected from them he speaks doubtfully; but concerning what he expected from God he speaks confidently. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God" Matthew Henry. Wesley, on the plan for Spain, writes: "Such was his design; but it does not appear that Paul went into Spain. There are often holy purposes in the minds of good men, which are overruled by the providence of God so as never to take effect. And yet they are precious in the sight of God" Wesley.
Paul did come to Rome, though not as he planned. He was arrested in Jerusalem and arrived under guard (Acts 28:16). Acts ends with him there two full years in a rented house, welcoming all who came, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:30–31). Whether he ever reached Spain, Scripture does not say. The Muratorian Fragment mentions Paul's journey from Rome to Spain the Muratorian Fragment, though others, like Wesley, find no trace that he went.
Paul's plans did not go as he made them. But what he was sure of, that he would come in the fullness of Christ's blessing, came true, even in chains.
Source
- The early church, The Muratorian Fragment — An early list of New Testament books, usually dated to the late second century (some date it to the fourth); found in Milan and published by Muratori in 1740.