ὡς ἂν πορεύωμαι εἰς τὴν Σπανίαν : it is here the apodosis begins, which being broken in on by ἐλπίζω is never formally resumed, though the sense is taken up again in Romans 15:28 f. ὡς ἂν is temporal = simulatque: cf. 1 Corinthians 11:34; Philippians 2:23 : Buttmann, p. 232. The principle which Paul has just laid down as regulating his Apostolic work (Romans 15:20) forbids him to think of Rome as a proper sphere for it; great as is his interest in the capital of the world, he can only pay it a passing visit on the way to another field. ὑφʼ ὑμῶν προπεμφθῆναι ἐκεῖ : it has been said that Paul expected or claimed “ quasi pro jure suo ” to be escorted all the way to Spain (by sea) by members of the Roman Church; but this is not included in προπεμφθῆναι. Practical illustrations are seen in Acts 20:35; Acts 21:5 : similar anticipations in 1 Corinthians 16:6; 1 Corinthians 16:11. For πρῶτον see Matthew 7:5; Matthew 8:21. ἀπὸ μέρους indicates that no such stay would be equal to the Apostle's longing for fellowship with the Romans, but it would be at least a partial satisfaction of it.

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Old Testament