The Meaning of Romans 15:28 Explained

Romans 15:28

KJV: When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

YLT: This, then, having finished, and having sealed to them this fruit, I will return through you, to Spain;

Darby: Having finished this therefore, and having sealed to them this fruit, I will set off by you into Spain.

ASV: When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by you unto Spain.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When therefore  I have performed  this,  and  have sealed  to them  this  fruit,  I will come  by  you  into  Spain. 

What does Romans 15:28 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul evidently anticipated the completion of this project eagerly. The money given was "fruit" in that it was the product of gospel seed-sowing. Paul as "apostle to the Gentiles" evidently wanted the gift to serve as a token of the Gentile churches" love and gratitude to the Jerusalem church. Or possibly he wanted it to serve as a token of the fruit that God had produced among the Gentiles because of the Jerusalem church. [1]

Context Summary

Romans 15:22-33 - Ambitious To Render Service
The Apostle felt that it was in the line of the divine will that he should visit Rome, Romans 1:10. Relying, as he did, on the efficacy of prayer, it is not surprising to find him urging his Roman friends to unite with him in asking, as in Romans 15:31-32, that his way may be made plain. The prayer was not answered quite as he expected. He little thought that he would come as a prisoner, bound to a soldier, and at the expense of the Roman Empire. Yet he came with joy, and found refreshment and rest with the beloved circle of disciples whom he enumerates in the following chapter. How little do the most of us know of this striving in prayer! But how near we get to absent friends when we pray like this! "Strive together with me."
The love of the Spirit is a very delightful phrase. It bears witness to the personality of the Holy Spirit, for love cannot be attributed to an influence. It also shows the confidence with which we may commit ourselves to His gracious indwelling and prompting. He is the Holy Spirit, but we need not shrink from Him as an awful guest. It also reminds us how deeply He may be grieved. There is no grief so poignant as that which is suffered by love. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 15

1  The strong must bear with the weak
2  We must not please ourselves;
3  for Christ did not so;
7  but receive one another, as Christ did us all;
8  both Jews and Gentiles;
15  Paul excuses his writing;
28  and promises to see them;
30  and requests their prayers

Greek Commentary for Romans 15:28

Have sealed [σπραγισαμενος]
First aorist middle participle (antecedent action, having sealed) of σπραγιζω — sphragizō old verb from σπραγις — sphragis a seal (Romans 4:11), to stamp with a seal for security (Matthew 27:66) or for confirmation (2 Corinthians 1:22) and here in a metaphorical sense. Paul was keenly sensitive that this collection should be actually conveyed to Jerusalem free from all suspicion (2 Corinthians 8:18-23). [source]
I will go on by you [απελευσομαι δι υμων]
Future middle of απερχομαι — aperchomai to go off or on. Note three prepositions here He repeats the point of Romans 15:24, his temporary stay in Rome with Spain as the objective. How little we know what is ahead of us and how grateful we should be for our ignorance on this point. [source]
Sealed - this fruit []
Secured to them the product of the contribution. See on John 3:33; see on Revelation 22:10. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 15:28

Galatians 3:3 Are ye made perfect [ἐπιτελεῖσθε]
The word is found in connection with ἀνάρχεσθαι tobegin, in 2 Corinthians 8:6; Philemon 1:6. The A.V. and Rev. render here in the passive voice. The active voice, always in N.T. with the object expressed, means to bring to completion. See Romans 15:28; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philemon 1:6; Hebrews 8:5. The passive only 1 Peter 5:9. It is true that the verb in the middle voice is not found in either N.T. or lxx; but it is not uncommon in Class. and answers better to the middle ἀναρξάμενοι havingbegun. It implies more than bringing to an end; rather to a consummation. Rend.: having begun in the spirit are ye coming to completion in the flesh? The last phrase has an ironical tinge, suggesting the absurdity of expecting perfection on the Jewish basis of legal righteousness. The present tense indicates that they have already begun upon this attempt. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 15:28 mean?

This therefore having finished and having sealed to them the fruit this I will set off through you into Spain
Τοῦτο οὖν ἐπιτελέσας καὶ σφραγισάμενος αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπὸν τοῦτον ἀπελεύσομαι δι’ ὑμῶν εἰς Σπανίαν

Τοῦτο  This 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἐπιτελέσας  having  finished 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐπιτελέω  
Sense: to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete.
σφραγισάμενος  having  sealed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: σφραγίζω  
Sense: to set a seal upon, mark with a seal, to seal.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
καρπὸν  fruit 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: καρπός  
Sense: fruit.
τοῦτον  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἀπελεύσομαι  I  will  set  off 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀπέρχομαι  
Sense: to go away, depart.
δι’  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
Σπανίαν  Spain 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Σπανία  
Sense: the whole peninsula south of the Pyrenees.