Yesterday we saw that Paul viewed himself as the apostle to the Gentiles and we got a glimpse into how he viewed his ministry working. Today we are going to look at his travel itinerary. Thrilling! I know.
Romans 15:19b–33
19b So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” 22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Paul primarily viewed his ministry as one to unreached areas. He wanted to preach the gospel where nobody else had yet preached the gospel. The gospel had already made it to Rome, we aren't quite sure how, but tomorrow we will see some possible suggestions. Rome was thought of as the center of the known world. The old adage, "All roads lead to Rome," indicates this fact in the ancient world. For Paul, the house churches in Rome indicate not only the advancement of the gospel but a very strategic location for his missionary journeys. As he says in verses 23-24 his plan is to go to Spain and preach the gospel there. Apparently that means there are no known house churches there as of yet.
His plan is to embark for Spain after delivering a gift to the church in Jerusalem. We can read of this in Acts 19-28. A famine had devastated the city of Jerusalem in AD 46-48. This left many in the church of Jerusalem impoverished. On Paul's missionary journeys to the cities in Macedonia and Achaia (modern day Greece and Turkey) he takes up a collection for the Christians in Jerusalem. He applauds these churches for being willing to do this because they shared in the spiritual blessing from the people of Israel—that is the Gentiles now being included in the people of God and finding salvation. Caring for the poor and impoverished was always a part of Paul's ministry (Gal. 2:10).
As we read about the ensuing events in Acts, we see Paul's concerns about resistance from unbelievers in Judea were not ill-founded. Despite the pleading of fellow believers to stay away and the prophecy of Agabus (Acts 21:1-16) that he would be put in chains, Paul continues on his journey to Jerusalem to deliver the gift and meet with the apostles there. Long story short, Paul does end up making it to Rome but in a different manner than he anticipates here. He ends up going to Rome as a prisoner. It is unclear if he ever made it to Spain or if he was executed in Rome during this imprisonment.
What we should see here is that the gospel of Jesus and the works of Paul and the early church are deeply rooted in real events in history. Paul was a real person with real hopes and plans. Some things happened like he thought they would, some didn't. This we can all relate to.
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Reflection
A line from Andy Stanley that I've always remembered is, "Begin with the end in mind." Reflect on your plans for 5, 10, 15 years down the road. Where do you hope to be? What do you hope to be doing? How do those plans relate to the kingdom of God and the gospel of Jesus? If they aren't related at all, consider reworking your dreams to be centered on the kingdom of God. Of course, even the best plans sometimes don't come to fruition and we must always be ready to surrender to the will of God when he changes our plans but I think it is good to plan and dream of the good things that God may do through you.