Romans 15:25

νυνὶ δὲ. The sentence is broken off, to allow of explanation of still further delay; this journey was much in his mind, both for the interest of it, and the danger; cf. Hort R. and E., p. 43.

διακονῶν τοῖς ἁγίοις. Cf. 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 8:20; 2 Corinthians 9:1 f. This service for the saints occupied a great part in S. Paul’s mind at this time: it symbolised in a most expressive form the union of Jew and Gentile in the one Church: we may indeed say that the same thought so eagerly cherished and indefatigably pursued appears in the mission to Jerusalem and in the Epistle to the Romans. The synchronism cannot have been accidental. Introd. p. xiv.; Hort, R. and E., p. 40 ff.; Rendall, Expositor, Series IV., vol. 8, p. 321 f.