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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rom_15:30-33
30Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; 32so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. 33Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Rom_15:30 "I urge you. . .to strive together with me" These are strong Greek terms. The first is also used in Rom_12:1. The second is used of Jesus' struggle in Gethsemane. Paul sensed a deep need for prayer for himself and his gospel ministry (cf. 2Co_1:11; Eph_6:18-20; Col_4:3; 1Th_5:25; 2Th_3:1). His experience in Jerusalem proved to be difficult (cf. Rom_15:31). He arrived in Rome, but not in the way he had envisioned. See Special Topic: Intercessory Prayer at Rom_9:3.
Rom_15:30-33 Paul's prayer expresses three desires.
1. that he might be delivered from his enemies in Judah (cf. Act_20:22-23)
2. that the gift from the Gentile churches would be received well by the church in Jerusalem (cf. Act_15:1 ff; Act_21:17 ff)
3. that he might then come visit Rome on his way to Spain
Rom_15:30 "to strive together with me" This term is used only here in the NT. It is a compound of sun (together with) and agônizomai (to contend, to fight, to strive earnestly, cf. 1Co_9:25; Col_1:29; Col_4:12; 1Ti_4:10; 1Ti_6:12). This strong infinitive calls on the Roman church to aggressively agonize with Paul in prayer about the reception of the Gentile offering by the mother church in Jerusalem.
Rom_15:31 "who are disobedient" This refers to the Jewish opposition or possibly the Judaizers, but not the church in general (cf. Rom_11:30-31).
Rom_15:32 Paul's prayer ends with two more requests: (1) he might come to them in joy and (2) he might have a time of rest with them (aorist middle [deponent] subjunctive of sunanapauomai, only here in the NT, but used in Isa_11:6. Paul quoted Isa_11:1; Isa_11:10 in Rom_15:12). Paul needs a time of quiet rest and recuperation among mature believers (cf. 2Co_4:7-12; 2Co_6:3-10; 2Co_11:23-33)! He did not get it, however. Arrest and trials and years in prison awaited him in Palestine.
This verse has many manuscript variants.
Rom_15:33 "the God of peace" This is a wonderful title for God (cf. Rom_16:20; 2Co_13:11; Php_4:9; 1Th_5:23; 2Th_3:16; Heb_13:20).
▣ "Amen" See Special Topic at Rom_1:25.
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