Romans 1:13

“Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, etc..] The apostle calls them brethren, because many of them were Jews, his brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh, and all of them were his brethren in a spiritual relation; and this he does to express his affection to them, and engage their attention and credit to him, and particularly to this matter which he now acquaints them with, being unwilling they should be ignorant of it; that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you: it was not a sudden start of mind, or a desire that lately arose up in him, but a settled resolution and determination, and which he had often made: but was let hitherto; either by God, who had work for him to do in…”

“oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, but was let--hindered. hitherto--chiefly by his desire to go first to places where Christ was not known (Rom 15:20-24). that I might have some fruit--of my ministry among you also, even as among other Gentiles--The GENTILE origin of the Church at Rome is here so explicitly stated, that those who conclude, merely from the Jewish strain of the argument, that they must have been mostly Israelites, decide in opposition to the apostle himself. (But see on Introduction to this Epistle.)”

“That oftentimes I purposed - See Romans 1:10. How often he had purposed this we have no means of ascertaining. The fact, however, that he had done it, showed his strong desire to see them, and to witness the displays of the grace of God in the capital of the Roman world; compare Romans 15:23-24. One instance of his having purposed to go to Rome is recorded in Acts 19:21, “After these things were ended (namely, at Ephesus), Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia to go to Jerusalem; saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” This purpose expressed in this manner in the Epistle, and the Acts of the Apostles, has been shown by Dr. Paley (Horae…”

“Brethren - A frequent, holy, simple, sweet, and yet grand, appellation. The apostles but rarely address persons by their names; 'O ye Corinthians," "O Timotheus." St. Paul generally uses this appellation, " Brethren;" sometimes in exhortation, " My beloved," or, " My beloved brethren;" St. James, "Brethren," "My brethren," My beloved brethren;" St. Peter and Jude always, " Beloved;" St. John frequently, " Beloved;" once, " Brethren;" oftener than once, My little children." Though I have been hindered hitherto - Either by business, see Rom 15:22; or persecution, Th1 2:2; or the Spirit, Act 16:7. That I might have some fruit - Of my ministerial labours. Even as I have already had from the many…”

“1:13 brothers and sisters: This Greek word (adelphoi) describes people who are in a familial relationship. Paul and other New Testament writers use this word to indicate that Christians are so intimately tied to one another in Christ that they are family. The word refers to both male and female Christians. • I was prevented until now: Paul wrote this letter when he was in Corinth toward the end of his third missionary journey (see Acts 20:2-4; cp. Rom 16:21-23). The need to plant and nourish churches in the eastern Mediterranean had occupied Paul up to this point. Before he could visit the Roman Christians, he first needed to return to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money collected from the…”

“None, Rom 11:25; Co1 10:1, Co1 12:1; Co2 1:8; Th1 4:13 that oftentimes: Rom 15:23-28; Act 19:21; Co2 1:15, Co2 1:16 but: Rom 15:22; Act 16:6, Act 16:7; Th1 1:8, Th1 2:18; Th2 2:7 that I: Isa 27:6; Joh 4:36, Joh 12:24, Joh 15:16; Col 1:6; Phi 4:17 among: or, in even: Rom 15:18-20; Act 14:27, Act 15:12, Act 21:19; Co1 9:2; Co2 2:14, Co2 10:13-16; Th1 1:9, Th1 1:10, Th1 2:13, Th1 2:14; Ti2 4:17 Romans 1:14”