Romans Chapter 1 · Verse 10

Authorized King James Version

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Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Original Language Analysis

δεόμενος Making request G1189
δεόμενος Making request
Strong's: G1189
Word #: 1 of 13
to beg (as binding oneself), i.e., petition
εἴπως if by any means G1513
εἴπως if by any means
Strong's: G1513
Word #: 2 of 13
if somehow
ἤδη now G2235
ἤδη now
Strong's: G2235
Word #: 3 of 13
even now
ποτὲ at length G4218
ποτὲ at length
Strong's: G4218
Word #: 4 of 13
indefinite adverb, at some time, ever
εὐοδωθήσομαι I might have a prosperous journey G2137
εὐοδωθήσομαι I might have a prosperous journey
Strong's: G2137
Word #: 5 of 13
to help on the road, i.e., (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively, to succeed in business affairs
ἐν by G1722
ἐν by
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 6 of 13
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
τῷ G3588
τῷ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 7 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θελήματι the will G2307
θελήματι the will
Strong's: G2307
Word #: 8 of 13
a determination (properly, the thing), i.e., (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 9 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ of God G2316
θεοῦ of God
Strong's: G2316
Word #: 10 of 13
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
ἐλθεῖν to come G2064
ἐλθεῖν to come
Strong's: G2064
Word #: 11 of 13
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
πρὸς unto G4314
πρὸς unto
Strong's: G4314
Word #: 12 of 13
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
ὑμᾶς you G5209
ὑμᾶς you
Strong's: G5209
Word #: 13 of 13
you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)

Analysis & Commentary

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

The content of Paul's persistent prayer (v. 9) is now specified: pantote epi tōn proseuchōn mou deomenos (πάντοτε ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου δεόμενος, 'always in my prayers making request'). Deomenos (making request/petition) indicates specific asking, not just general praise. Paul's request was ei pōs ēdē pote euodōthēsomai en tō thelēmati tou theou elthein pros humas (εἴ πως ἤδη ποτὲ εὐοδωθήσομαι ἐν τῷ θελήματι τοῦ θεοῦ ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, 'if somehow now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you').

The conditional ei pōs (if somehow) and adverbs ēdē pote (now at length/finally) show Paul's longing tempered by submission to providence. Euodōthēsomai (I might be prospered/have success) is passive—God grants success. The critical phrase en tō thelēmati tou theou (by the will of God) frames all Paul's plans. He desired to visit Rome but subordinated that desire to divine sovereignty. Paul did eventually reach Rome, but in chains as a prisoner (Acts 28), not as he envisioned. God's will often unfolds differently than we expect, yet He is faithful.

Historical Context

Paul wrote Romans from Corinth near the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2-3). He planned to visit Jerusalem with the collection for impoverished saints (Romans 15:25-27), then proceed to Rome and Spain. His journey to Rome was delayed and transformed—arrested in Jerusalem, imprisoned in Caesarea for two years, then shipwrecked en route to Rome for trial. Despite human plans, God's purposes prevailed, and Paul's Roman imprisonment resulted in letters to Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.

Questions for Reflection