always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul uses a phrase that sounds like he's just asking for good travel luck, but he's actually expressing a deep longing to finally achieve God's will for him to visit. The wording "if by any means now at length" hints at his earnest, perhaps even anxious, hope that this long-delayed plan will finally come to fruition.
always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul begins by expressing his constant prayer for the Roman believers, a prayer that includes his earnest desire to finally visit them. He acknowledges that any successful journey would be entirely dependent on God's will, highlighting his deep longing to see them and impart spiritual gifts. This longing is evident in his persistent prayers, revealing his passionate commitment to their growth and his own desire for mutual encouragement.
Ever felt a longing so deep it feels like a constant ache? Paul's prayer for Rome is packed with a similar intensity.
A Lingering Hope
Paul's phrasing, using a cluster of words like 'always,' 'requesting,' and 'now at length,' isn't just descriptive; it's loaded with emotion. He's not just casually wishing to visit; this is a deep, persistent yearning that has been building over time. The Greek suggests a 'modest fear' alongside the hope, acknowledging that human plans are fragile.
More Than Just a Visit
This wasn't about a vacation or a casual meet-and-greet. Paul saw this visit as crucial for his ministry. He longed to share 'spiritual gifts'—not just knowledge, but the very power of God—to strengthen the Roman believers. This reveals that true spiritual desire isn't passive; it's active, persistent, and often involves praying through potential obstacles.
We make plans, we pray, but who's really in charge? Paul's prayer holds a beautiful tension between his desire and God's will.
The 'If' of Faith
The phrase 'if by any means' points to a humble recognition that his plans were entirely dependent on God's permission and guidance. It’s not a lack of faith, but an acknowledgment of divine sovereignty.
God's 'Prosperous Journey'
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Paul prays for a 'prosperous journey' (euodōthēsomai). While this can mean a physically safe trip, the word’s broader meaning points to success and a favorable outcome. For Paul, a truly 'prosperous journey' wasn't just about arrival, but about fulfilling God's purpose in that arrival. He understood that his success was contingent on God's will. Even if that journey looked different than he expected (like arriving as a prisoner, as he eventually did), it would still be God-ordained and therefore, in God's ultimate sense, prosperous.
Understand the original words
thelēma · Greek Noun
The divine purpose, plan, and sovereign decision of God for His creation. It encompasses His desire and decree for the world and individual lives.
Paul's intense desire to visit Rome, expressed in this verse, was continually thwarted by various circumstances—missionary work, opposition, and eventually his imprisonment and journey to Rome as a prisoner. This timeline highlights how his plans were consistently reshaped by God's providence, ultimately leading him to Rome in a way he hadn't initially envisioned but had prayed for.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Third Missionary Journey
Paul undertakes his extensive third missionary journey, ministering in Ephesus and other regions of Asia Minor and Greece.
c. AD 52-56
Paul's Imprisonment in Ephesus
Paul spends a significant period in Ephesus, facing opposition and ministry challenges, which likely extended his stay and delayed his plans to visit Rome.
c. AD 56-57— this verse
Paul's Journey Through Macedonia and Achaia
After leaving Ephesus, Paul travels through Macedonia and spends time in Corinth (Achaia), where he likely wrote the Epistle to the Romans.
c. AD 57
Paul's Appeal to Caesar
Following disturbances in Jerusalem, Paul is arrested and appeals to Caesar, leading to his eventual journey to Rome as a prisoner.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul arrives in Rome and is placed under house arrest, where he continues to minister and write letters, including potentially Romans if it was sent ahead.
This passage shows the Holy Spirit directing Paul's missionary journeys, highlighting the concept of God's will guiding his travels, much like Paul's prayer in Romans 1:10.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18Paul expresses a similar strong desire to visit the Thessalonians, mentioning hindrances and his repeated attempts to reach them, echoing the longing and 'now at length' sentiment in Romans 1:10.
Philippians 4:10-11Here, Paul discusses learning to be content in all circumstances, including needing to trust God's provision and timing, which parallels his submission to God's will regarding his journey to Rome in Romans 1:10.
3 John 1:2John prays for Gaius's prosperity and good health 'in all things,' mirroring Paul's desire for a 'prosperous' (literally, well-guided or successful) coming to Rome according to God's will.
James 4:13-15This passage directly contrasts human planning with God's sovereign will, emphasizing the need to say 'If the Lord wills,' which is the very heart of Paul's petition in Romans 1:10.
ellicottRomans 1:10: "Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you."
(10) If by any means now at length. —Note this accumulation of particles, denoting the earnestness of his desire. “All this time I have been longing to come to you, and now at last I hope that it may be put in my power.”
meyerRomans 1:10: "Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you."
Romans 1:10 . Πάντοτε … δεόμενος ] annexes to ὡς ἀδιαλ . the more precise definition: in that (so that) I always (each time) in my prayers request . ἐπί , which is to be referred to the idea of definition of time (Bernhardy p. 246), indicates the form of action which takes place. Comp 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ; Ephesians 1:16 ; Philemon 1:4 ; Winer, p. 352 [E. T. 470].…
Paul uses a phrase that sounds like he's just asking for good travel luck, but he's actually expressing a deep longing to finally achieve God's will for him to visit. The wording "if by any means now at length" hints at his earnest, perhaps even anxious, hope that this long-delayed plan will finally come to fruition.
Paul begins by expressing his constant prayer for the Roman believers, a prayer that includes his earnest desire to finally visit them. He acknowledges that any successful journey would be entirely dependent on God's will, highlighting his deep longing to see them and impart spiritual gifts. This longing is evident in his persistent prayers, revealing his passionate commitment to their growth and his own desire for mutual encouragement.
Paul begins by expressing his constant prayer for the Roman believers, a prayer that includes his earnest desire to finally visit them. He acknowledges that any successful journey would be entirely dependent on God's will, highlighting his deep longing to see them and impart spiritual gifts. This longing is evident in his persistent prayers, revealing his passionate commitment to their growth and his own desire for mutual encouragement.
"always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you." — Paul uses a phrase that sounds like he's just asking for good travel luck, but he's actually expressing a deep longing to finally achieve God's will for him to visit. The wording "if by any means now…
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Last reviewed October 2026