But we hence gather a profitable doctrine; for it ought to add no little encouragement to the
ministers of the gospel, when they hear that, in preaching the gospel, they render an acceptable and
a valuable service to God. What, indeed, is there to prevent them from regarding it an excellent
service, when they know that their labor is pleasing to God, and is approved by him? Moreover,
he calls it the gospel of the Son of God; for Christ is in it made known, who has been appointed by
the Father for this end, — that he, being glorified, should also glorify the Father.
That continually, etc. He still further sets forth the ardor of his love by his very constancy in
praying for them. It was, indeed, a strong evidence, when he poured forth no prayers to the Lord
without making mention of them. That the meaning may be clearer, I render παντοτε, “always;”
as though it was said, “In all my prayers,” or, “whenever I address God in prayer, I join a mention
of you.”^33 Now he speaks not of every kind of calling on God, but of those prayers to which the
saints, being at liberty, and laying aside all cares, apply their whole attention to the work; for he
might have often expressed suddenly this or that wish, when the Romans did not come into his
mind; but whenever he had previously intended, and, as it were, prepared himself to offer up prayers
to God, among others he remembered them. He then speaks peculiarly of those prayers, for which
the saints deliberately prepare themselves; as we find to have been the case with our Lord himself,
who, for this purpose, sought retirement. He at the same time intimates how frequently, or rather,
how unceasingly he was engaged in such prayers, since he says that he prayed continually.
10.Requesting, if by any means,etc. As it is not probable that we from the heart study his
benefit, whom we are not ready to assist by our labors, he now adds, after having said that he was
anxious for their welfare, that he showed by another proof his love to them, as before God, even
by requesting that he might be able to advance their interest. That you may, therefore, perceive the
full meaning, read the words as though the word also were inserted, requesting also, if by any
means, etc. By saying, A prosperous journey by the will of God he shows, not only that he looked
to the Lord’s favor for success in his journey, but that he deemed his journey prosperous, if it was
approved by the Lord. According to this model ought all our wishes to be formed.
11.For I greatly desire to see you He might, indeed, while absent, have confirmed their faith
by his doctrine; but as advice is better taken from one present, he had a desire to be with them. But
he explains what his object was, and shows that he wished to undertake the toil of a journey, not
for his own, but for their advantage. — Spiritual gifts^34 he calls those which he possessed, being
either those of doctrine, or of exhortation, or of prophesy which he knew had come to him through
God’s favor. He has here strikingly pointed out the use of gifts by the word, imparting: for different
(^33) The order of the words, as arranged by Calvin, is better than that of our version; he connects “always in my prayers,” or,
“in all my prayers,” with “requesting.” The simpler rendering would be as follows: —
- My witness indeed is God, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that I unceasingly make mention of
you, always requesting in my prayers, - That by some means now at length I may, through the will of God, have a free course to come to you.
“In the gospel,” may either mean “according to the gospel,” or, “in preaching the gospel.” Hodge prefers the first. The
particle clearly means “that” in this connection. That it is used in this sense in the New Testament there can be no doubt; see
Acts 26:8, 23; Hebrews 7:15
(^34) The words, μ μ , some spiritual gift, or benefit, seem to be of general import. Some, such as Chalmers and
Haldane, have supposed that a miraculous power is intended, which the Apostles alone conveyed, such as the power of speaking
with tongues: but most Commentators agree in the view here given. The phrase is not found in any other place: μ , in the
plural number, is used to designate miraculous powers. 1 Corinthians 12:9; and μ mean the same, 1 Corinthians 14:1.
But here, no doubt, the expression includes any gift or benefit, whether miraculous or ordinary, which the Apostle might have
been made the means of conveying. — Ed.