But I am going now, etc. Lest they should expect his immediate coming, and think themselves deceived, if he had not come according to their expectation, he declares to them what business he had then in hand, which prevented him from going soon to them, and that was, -- that he was going to Jerusalem to bear the alms which had been gathered in Macedonia and Achaia. Availing himself at the same time of this opportunity, he proceeds to commend that contribution; by which, as by a kind of intimation, he stirs them up to follow this example: for though he does not openly ask them, yet, by saying that Macedonia and Achaia had done what they ought to have done, he intimates, that it was also the duty of the Romans, as they were under the same obligation; and that he had this view, he openly confesses to the Corinthians, -- "I boast," he says, "of your promptitude to all the Churches, that they may be stirred up by your example." (2-Corinthians 9:2.) It was indeed a rare instance of kindness, that the Grecians, having heard that their brethren at Jerusalem were laboring under want, considered not the distance at which they were separated from them; but esteeming those sufficiently nigh, to whom they were united by the bond of faith, they relieved their necessities from their own abundance. The word communication, which is here employed, ought to be noticed; for it well expresses the feeling, by which it behooves us to succor the wants of our brethren, even because there is to be a common and mutual regard on account of the unity of the body. I have not rendered the pronoun tina, because it is often redundant in Greek, and seems to lessen the emphasis of this passage. [1] What we have rendered to minister, is in Greek a participle, ministering; but the former seems more fitted to convey the meaning of Paul: for he excuses himself, that by a lawful occupation he was prevented from going immediately to Rome.

Footnotes

1 - The words are, koinonian tina poiesasthai, "to make a certain contribution," or, "some contribution," or, as Doddridge has it, "a certain collection." There seems to be no necessity for leaving out the word tina. -- Ed.

But now I go - I am about to go now. The mention of this intended journey to Jerusalem is introduced in several other places, and is so mentioned that Dr. Paley has derived from it a very strong argument for the genuineness of this Epistle. This intended journey is mentioned in Acts 19:21, "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;" see also Acts 20:2-3. That he "went" to Jerusalem according to his purpose is recorded in his defense before Felix Acts 24:17, "Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings."
To minister to the saints - To supply their necessities by bearing the contribution which the churches have made for them.

Now I go unto Jerusalem - From this and the two following verses we learn that the object of his journey to Jerusalem was, to carry a contribution made among the Gentile Christians of Macedonia and Achaia for the relief of the poor Jewish Christians at Jerusalem. About this affair he had taken great pains, as appears from 1-Corinthians 16:1-4; 2-Corinthians 8, and 2-Corinthians 9:1-15. His design in this affair is very evident from 2-Corinthians 9:12, 2-Corinthians 9:13, where he says: The administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; whiles, by the experiment of this ministration, they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them and unto all men. The apostle was in hopes that this liberal contribution, sent by the Gentile Christians who had been converted by St. Paul's ministry, would engage the affections of the Jewish Christians, who had been much prejudiced against the reception of the Gentiles into the Church, without being previously obliged to submit to the yoke of the law. He wished to establish a coalition between the converted Jews and Gentiles, being sensible of its great importance to the spread of the Gospel; and his procuring this contribution was one laudable device to accomplish this good end. And this shows why he so earnestly requests the prayers of the Christians at Rome, that his service which he had for Jerusalem might be accepted of the saints. See Dr. Taylor.

But now I go unto Jerusalem to (p) minister unto the saints.
(p) Doing his duty for the saints, to carry to them that money which was gathered for their use.

But now I go unto Jerusalem,.... Whither he was bound in spirit, not knowing what should befall him there, from which he could not be dissuaded by his friends, and thither he did go:
to minister unto the saints; not to preach the Gospel, though doubtless he did that when he was there; but to distribute among the poor saints what had been raised for them by the Greek churches; who had entreated him to take upon him this service, even the fellowship of ministering to the saints; and though this might seem below his office as an apostle, and as what more became an inferior officer, a deacon in a church; yet the apostle's heart was so much in it, and he was so bent upon it, and so diligent to execute it, that he postponed his journey to Spain and visit to Rome for the sake of it, and assigns this as a reason why he could not come at present.

But now I go to Jerusalem to minister--"ministering"
to the saints--in the sense immediately to be explained.

Now I go unto Jerusalem, etc. See Acts 20:3, for account of the undertaking of this journey. Also Acts 24:17. He is going to Jerusalem to minister to the poor saints.
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia, etc. Concerning the contribution, see 1-Corinthians 16:1; 2-Corinthians 8:1, and 2-Corinthians 9:2.
Certain contribution. The Greek word is the same rendered fellowship in Acts 2:42.
Their debtors they are. It pleased these Gentile Christians to help those at Jerusalem, and, besides, they were under obligation to them, for the church at Jerusalem was the center from which the gospel had been spread abroad.