Rom 1:9-11 | JFB | STEP | 9. For God ... whom I serve-- the word denotes religious service. with my spirit-- from my inmost soul. in the gospel of his Son-- to which Paul's whole religious life and official activity were consecrated. is my witness, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers-- so for the Ephesians ( , ); so for the Philippians ( , ); so for the Colossians ( , ); so for the Thessalonians ( , ). What catholic love, what all-absorbing spirituality, what impassioned devotion to the glory of Christ among men!

‏ Romans 1:9-11

9. For God ... whom I serve--the word denotes religious service.

with my spirit--from my inmost soul.

in the gospel of his Son--to which Paul's whole religious life and official activity were consecrated.

is my witness, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers--so for the Ephesians (Ep 1:15, 16); so for the Philippians (Php 1:3, 4); so for the Colossians (Col 1:3, 4); so for the Thessalonians (1Th 1:2, 3). What catholic love, what all-absorbing spirituality, what impassioned devotion to the glory of Christ among men!

10. Making request, if by any means now at length I may have a prosperous journey by the will of God, to come to you--Though long anxious to visit the capital, he met with a number of providential hindrances (Ro 1:13; Ro 15:22; and see on Ac 19:21; Ac 23:11; Ac 28:15); insomuch that nearly a quarter of a century elapsed, after his conversion, ere his desire was accomplished, and that only as "a prisoner of Jesus Christ." Thus taught that his whole future was in the hands of God, he makes it his continual prayer that at length the obstacles to a happy and prosperous meeting might be removed.

11-12. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift--not any supernatural gift, as the next clause shows, and compare 1Co 1:7.

to the end that ye may be established.