At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is going to Jerusalem not just to deliver aid, but to foster unity between Jewish and Gentile believers. This financial "ministry" is a practical way to demonstrate the shared spiritual blessings they've received, bridging any divides with tangible love.
At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul explains that before he can visit the Roman church, he must first travel to Jerusalem. This urgent mission involves delivering a collection of financial aid gathered from Gentile believers in Macedonia and Achaia to the poorer Christian community in Jerusalem. He sees this act of sharing resources as crucial for fostering unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, demonstrating their shared participation in the gospel.
Paul is on the move, but not to Rome! What's so important about Jerusalem that it takes priority over visiting the believers he's writing to?
Paul's immediate plan is to travel to Jerusalem. This isn't a casual trip; it's a crucial mission.
Why Jerusalem First?
Paul uses the word 'ministering.' What deeper meaning does this word carry beyond simply giving money?
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The Greek word Paul uses here for 'ministering' (diakonia) points to a service rendered out of love and a sense of duty, often in a public or official capacity.
The Heart of Service
Understand the original words
Ierousalēm · Greek Noun
The city that serves as the theological and historical center of the Old Testament covenant and the birthplace of the New Testament church; it represents the fulfillment of God's promises.
diakonia · Greek Noun
Material or financial assistance provided to support those in need, signifying the bond of love and unity within the Christian community.
hagios · Greek Noun
Literally 'holy ones'; those who have been set apart by God through faith in Christ. It is the standard term for believers, emphasizing their status as consecrated to God.
Paul's journey to Jerusalem to deliver aid wasn't just a charitable act; it was a strategic move to bridge the divide between Jewish and Gentile Christians, proving that the Gospel united them in a profound, tangible way.
c. AD 49-50
Jerusalem Council
A crucial meeting where early Christian leaders decided that Gentile converts did not need to follow all Jewish laws. This decision laid groundwork for unifying Jewish and Gentile believers.
c. AD 53-55
Collection for Jerusalem Saints
Paul diligently organized a large financial contribution from Gentile churches in Macedonia and Achaia to aid poorer Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. This act aimed to foster unity and express mutual care between Jewish and Gentile believers.
c. AD 55-56— this verse
Paul's Journey to Jerusalem
Paul travels to Jerusalem to deliver the collected funds, as described in Romans 15:25. This journey was a significant undertaking, demonstrating the practical outworking of Christian fellowship across diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
c. AD 57
Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Paul is arrested by Jewish authorities, leading to his imprisonment and eventual trials.
c. AD 57-60
Paul's Imprisonment
Paul spends two years in prison in Caesarea, during which time he faces legal proceedings and appeals to Caesar.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Voyage to Rome
Paul is finally sent to Rome as a prisoner, a journey fraught with peril, including a shipwreck. This fulfills his long-held desire to visit the Roman church.
This passage directly supports Paul's stated intention to travel to Jerusalem, showing it was a planned part of his ministry after his time in Macedonia and Achaia.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4These verses detail the collection of funds for the Jerusalem saints, providing the specific 'aid' or 'ministration' Paul is referring to in Romans 15:25.
This extensive section elaborates on the generosity and purpose of the collection for the Jerusalem church, highlighting the unity and mutual support between Gentile and Jewish believers that Paul sought to foster.
Paul himself recounts this journey to Jerusalem years later while on trial, confirming the purpose was to bring alms (aid) to his nation and offerings.
Galatians 2:10This verse reveals the apostles' agreement that Paul should continue to remember the poor, a task he fulfills through the very collection mentioned in Romans 15:25.
jfbRomans 15:25: "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints."
25-27. But now I go to Jerusalem to minister—"ministering"to the saints—in the sense immediately to be explained.
clarkeRomans 15:25: "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints."
Now I go unto Jerusalem - From this and the two following verses we learn that the object of his journey to Jerusalem was, to carry a contribution made among the Gentile Christians of Macedonia and Achaia for the relief of the poor Jewish Christians at Jerusalem. About this affair he had taken great pains, as appears from 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 ; 2 Corinthians 8 , and 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 . His design in this affair is very…
Paul is going to Jerusalem not just to deliver aid, but to foster unity between Jewish and Gentile believers. This financial "ministry" is a practical way to demonstrate the shared spiritual blessings they've received, bridging any divides with tangible love.
Paul explains that before he can visit the Roman church, he must first travel to Jerusalem. This urgent mission involves delivering a collection of financial aid gathered from Gentile believers in Macedonia and Achaia to the poorer Christian community in Jerusalem. He sees this act of sharing resources as crucial for fostering unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, demonstrating their shared participation in the gospel.
Paul explains that before he can visit the Roman church, he must first travel to Jerusalem. This urgent mission involves delivering a collection of financial aid gathered from Gentile believers in Macedonia and Achaia to the poorer Christian community in Jerusalem. He sees this act of sharing resources as crucial for fostering unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, demonstrating their shared participation in the gospel.
"At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints." — Paul is going to Jerusalem not just to deliver aid, but to foster unity between Jewish and Gentile believers. This financial "ministry" is a practical way to demonstrate the shared spiritual blessing…
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Last reviewed October 2026