Romans 1:10 Meaning and Explanation
“Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul longs to visit a church he has never met, and he lays even that good desire under the will of God.
The Context of Romans 1:10
Paul is opening his letter to the believers in Rome, telling them how often he prays for them (verse 9). He has wanted for years to come to them in person (verse 13), and here we overhear the actual content of his prayer.
What Does Romans 1:10 Mean?
Paul lets us listen in on his praying. He has carried a long wish to reach Rome, and the phrase "now at length" lets us feel how many times that hope has been deferred. He asks for a "prosperous journey," a way opened at last to come to them. Yet notice the words he folds around his desire: "if by any means" and "by the will of God." Even a longing this good, this rooted in love for fellow believers, he holds with an open hand and submits to what God wills.
Here is a quiet picture of how to want things before God. Paul prays plainly for what is on his heart, and at the same time he trusts the timing and the way to his Father. He had learned this from his Lord, who in the garden prayed, "not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). God did bring Paul to Rome at last, though by a road he never imagined, in chains and after shipwreck. The will of God proved wider and surer than the journey Paul had planned.
Romans 1:10 in the Original Language
euodoo (εὐοδόω), 'prosperous journey' -- to be led along a good road, to have one's way made smooth.
How to Apply Romans 1:10 Today
Paul shows us a way to carry our own longings. We can pray for them plainly, naming exactly what we hope for, and still lay them under God's will and timing. When our path is delayed or redirected, we can trust, as Paul did, that the Father's way may be different and better than the one we drew for ourselves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 1:10
What does Romans 1:10 mean?
Paul longs to visit a church he has never met, and he lays even that good desire under the will of God.
What is the context of Romans 1:10?
Paul is opening his letter to the believers in Rome, telling them how often he prays for them (verse 9). He has wanted for years to come to them in person (verse 13), and here we overhear the actual content of his prayer.
How can I apply Romans 1:10 today?
Paul shows us a way to carry our own longings. We can pray for them plainly, naming exactly what we hope for, and still lay them under God's will and timing. When our path is delayed or redirected, we can trust, as Paul did, that the Father's way may be different and better than the one we drew for ourselves.