Romans 15:22-33
Welcome
Announcements
Announcements
Birthdays
Birthdays
Visitor Card
Visitor Card
Busy Bags
Busy Bags
Name Slides
Name Slides
Nursery
Nursery
Facility
Facility
Mothers Day Breakfast
Mothers Day Breakfast
Block Party
Block Party
Q & A
Q & A
Prayer
Prayer - Call to Musicians
Songs
Songs
Catechism
Catechism
Psalms
Psalms
Offering - Digital giving
Offering
NO - Jr. Church
Jr. Church
Message
Message
If he were to make all these journeys by ship, the first would be at least 800 miles, the second 1,500, and the third 700, making a minimum total of 3,000 miles, and many more if he were to travel some of the way by land rather than sea. When one reflects on the uncertainties and hazards of ancient travel, the almost nonchalant way in which Paul announces his intention to undertake these three voyages is quite extraordinary.
When we reconstruct the events of the two to three years immediately preceding the writing of Romans, the hindrances to his advancing further along the arc from Jerusalem to Illyricum are obvious. In my sketch of Paul’s career, I count several imprisonments (1 Cor. 15:32; 2 Cor. 1:8; Phlm 1; Phil 1:14); congregational problems in Colossae (Col 2:8–23), Laodicea (Col 2:1), Philippi (Phil 3:1–21), and Corinth (all of 1 and 2 Corinthians); postponed plans to deliver the Jerusalem offering because of congregational conflicts and threats from zealots (2 Cor. 8–9; Acts. 20:3); and extensive travels such as the abortive trip to Corinth (2 Cor. 2:1; 12:14; 13:1) and the anxious trip to Troas in search of Titus bearing news about his alienated congregation (2 Cor. 2:12–13; 7:5–16).