Fruit Among You Romans 1:13

Paul the apostle told the church members in Rome, “I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established”, and he added to, “be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me”. In chapter one and verse thirteen of Romans, Paul shared how he desired to have “fruit among” the church members where we read:

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

The verse begins, “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, ...” Paul began with the word, “now” or “at this time and moment” “I would not have you” or “Paul did not intend, have in mind, resolve, determine, purpose, desire or wish that the church members be” “ignorant” which means “not to know, understand, be wrong, err or sin”, “brethren” or “fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection ”, “that oftentimes” which means “frequently” “I purposed” or “Paul proposed, determined and set forth” “to come” which means “to arise, show himself or find place or influence” “unto you” or “toward the church members”. Paul desired for the church members, who were brothers in the Lord, to “know” how many times he “desired” to visit them.

The verse continues, “(but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.”. Paul added the parenthetical words, “(but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “was let hitherto,” which means “was prevented, hindered, denied and refused”) “that I might have” or “so Paul could hold, own or possess” “some fruit” which refers to “certain works, acts or deeds” “among you” or “with the church members” “also” which means “even so and indeed”, “even as among” or “indeed and also with” “other Gentiles” which refers to “the remaining and rest of the multitudes, companies, troops, nations or tribes”. Paul was hindered from seeing the church members in Rome but desired to “hold and possess” “certain works, acts and deeds” from them.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how he wanted the church members to know about his resolve to “visit” them. He knew if he saw them in person, they would exhibit “certain acts, deeds or works” like others to whom he ministered. Jesus Christ desires for us to “bear fruit” in His Kingdom, and when others are prevented from seeing them like Paul, we are to exhibit good “works, acts and deeds” as Christians. Let this mind be in us – that we are to be “fruit bearers” to the glory of God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ.

Next time Paul tells the church members how he considered himself a, “debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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