羅馬書15:23-33

15:23 但如今，在這裡再沒有可傳的地方，而且這好幾年，我切心想望到西班牙去的時候，可以到你們那裡，
15:24 盼望從你們那裡經過，得見你們，先與你們彼此交往，心裡稍微滿足，然後蒙你們送行。
15:25 但現在，我往耶路撒冷去供給聖徒。
15:26 因為馬其頓和亞該亞人樂意湊出捐項給耶路撒冷聖徒中的窮人。
15:27 這固然是他們樂意的，其實也算是所欠的債；因外邦人既然在他們屬靈的好處上有分，就當把養身之物供給他們。
15:28 等我辦完了這事，把這善果向他們交付明白，我就要路過你們那裡，往西班牙去。
15:29 我也曉得，去的時候必帶著基督豐盛的恩典而去。
15:30 弟兄們，我藉著我們主耶穌基督，又藉著聖靈的愛，勸你們與我一同竭力，為我祈求上帝，
15:31 叫我脫離在猶太不順從的人，也叫我為耶路撒冷所辦的捐項可蒙聖徒悅納，
15:32 並叫我順著上帝的旨意，歡歡喜喜地到你們那裡，與你們同得安息。
15:33 願賜平安的上帝常和你們眾人同在。阿們！

²³ But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, ²⁴ I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵ Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. ²⁶ For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. ²⁷ They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. ²⁸ So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
³⁰ I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. ³¹ Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, ³² so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. ³³ The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

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    保羅像羅馬教會表明自己過去，是要與他們分享「基督豐盛的恩典」，並且將來要去「西班牙」傳福音。保羅這樣的表達有點像使徒行傳1章8節所說：「但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力，並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地，和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。」

    在當時「西班牙」就是「地極」，因為在下去是大海了，就是大西洋。那時美洲尚未發現，所以西班牙就是極限了。

    然而想歸想，保羅最後並沒有到西班牙。這也告訴我們，凡事還是要靠上帝，不是人的意志，人是可以想，可以規劃，成就還是在上帝手中。人所盼望的沒有成就，也是上帝的美意，凡事謝恩！