Since there are already believers in Rome, and Paul has been called to preach to gentiles who have not yet even heard the gospel, he hasn’t been to Rome in person. He hopes to connect with believers in Rome on his way to Spain—where he is traveling to preach the gospel since there is no place left to preach in the Greek regions. He hopes to first enjoy their company for a while and then ask for their help. As of the moment he is writing Romans, he is going to Jerusalem in service to the saints there.

Paul then describes the work he is doing in Jerusalem. Macedonia and Achaia donated funds to be distributed to the poor among the saints in the city. As he describes the work, he reveals another spiritual truth. Gentile believers are indebted to Jewish believers in Paul’s time because the gospel came from the Jews. They have shared in the Jewish Christians’ spiritual things. Therefore, they also share their material things. This is true for every believer. We all share in the same spiritual things. Therefore, we are indebted to one another to share in our material things. This isn’t a command to give to all the poor in a region or city, though we should provide what we can in a way that helps people rather than hurts them further. It is not an encouragement toward socialism or communism. It is a recognition that there should never be a sincere Christian suffering because of his or her poverty. Distribution to poor saints (regenerate church members), including widows, is a biblically defined ministry of the church and is too often neglected in favor of ministries that are not explicit in Scripture.

Paul asks for prayer and blesses the Roman believers.

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