ACC ~ Romans 1 v10

JOURNEYING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL. ORIGEN: When Paul says that he is praying that somehow and at some point he may have a successful journey, so that in the will of God he might come to Rome, it must be remembered that since the apostle of God is dedicated to a holy work, that is, to the work of the gospel, he is waiting until by his prayers not only may he have a journey which is successful but also that it might be successful according to the will of God. How much more therefore ought we, whose work and worth are so much less important, to ask God for success on our journey when we have some business to attend to!

Nevertheless, I think that the apostle also wants us to understand that the success of a journey does not always mean that the journey is according to God’s will. For Balaam had a successful journey when he went to Balak in order to curse the people of Israel, but this success was not due to God’s will. And many people have great success in worldly affairs and rejoice in their prosperity, but such prosperity is not of God’s will unless the purpose of our journey is to do his will, as the apostle says here. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

HIS DESIRE TO COME TO ROME. AMBROSIASTER: Paul here indicates the point of his prayer for the Romans. He says that he asks God that he might come to Rome in order to encourage them with the will of God, whose gift he preaches. Then when he arrives and is present among them, if something has to be done, it may be done with the will of God. Therefore he prays that for whatever reason an opportunity may be given to him to come to the city, since he was already busy preaching to others, reckoning it a successful journey if he might come by God’s will, because the will of God has prepared the way. A successful journey is not to endure the labor of traveling in vain. He asks that God will fill them by calling them to his grace. He speaks with eagerness of mind, for he desires their response, knowing that it will be to their mutual advantage. … For the apostle’s fruit is richer if it wins many. For since the joy is greater if the powerful people of this world are converted to Christ, because they are so much more serious enemies, even more are converted thereby, and the fruit of the apostle is richer if he can win many. Thus by God’s will the opportunity was given that Paul was arrested and appealed to Caesar, and was sent for a different reason to the city of Rome, by the will of God and in fulfillment of the desire of his will. For when Paul was shipwrecked, God appeared to him and said: “Do not be afraid, Paul. For as you have borne witness to me at Jerusalem, so also will you do at Rome.” COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

DELAY IN ANSWERING PRAYER. CHRYSOSTOM: You see how much Paul longed to see the Romans, but he did not want to see them if it was not God’s will, for his longing was tempered by the fear of God. … This is true love, not as our love, which tends to err in one direction or the other. Either we love no one, or if we do love, we love contrary to what seems good to God, and in both cases we go against the divine law. … For Paul to pray continually and not to give up even when he did not get what he prayed for shows very great love. But to love and yet at the same time to yield to the will of God shows deep reverence. … In this case Paul eventually got what he asked for but not when he asked for it, but this did not upset him. I mention all this so that we might not be upset at not being heard or at being heard only after some delay. For we are not better than Paul, who for good reason confesses that he is thankful in both circumstances. For once he had surrendered to the all-governing hand and submitted to it as far as he was able, like clay in the hand of the potter, he followed wherever God led. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 2.

EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL. [PSEUDO-]CONSTANTIUS: Paul shows that he does everything which he does according to the will of God. THE HOLY LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

GOD’S DIRECTION. PELAGIUS: Paul does not find the way propitious unless the will of God, who knows all things, has directed him to a place where he might reap some fruit. For example, we read in Acts that, although he wanted to go to one place, he was directed to another. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

ACKNOWLEDGING GOD’S WILL. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul does not simply say that he wants to come to Rome but adds that he wants to come in God’s will. For when the salvation of so many people was at stake, St. Paul left nothing unclear but acknowledged God’s will in his prayer, for it is only by God’s permission that we are worthy to deal with material things and to make choices. Do we not commit everything we have to the divine will on which we depend? INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

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