Praying (Agonizing) For Each Other

June 19th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Romans 15:28-33 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; 32 so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Not having a wife but being married to front-line evangelistic ministry, Paul had no plans to return home and relax. His plan was to travel 500 miles east to Jerusalem from Corinth (Achaia) and then travel back west to Rome (another 1500 miles), then make his way onto Spain (another 600 or so). Whether he made it to Spain is unknown, for after arriving in Jerusalem, he was arrested, imprisoned, sent to a Caesarean prison for two years, then he went to Rome under arrest, on a ship full of criminals, to be tried in the presence of the emperor himself.

So, in v. 29 when Paul told the Romans that he would come “in the fullness of the blessing of Christ,” he was not mistaken even though he arrived later in Rome in chains. Paul was victorious wherever he went whether he was in chains or in pains because he was faithful in his hardships. During his ministry, he suffered imprisonments, beatings, a stoning, and ridicule (2 Cor. 11:23-27)—all of which added to the “fullness of the blessing of Christ.” Like any minister worth his salt, Paul had a clear mission to proclaim Christ, even in the face of pain or death.

In v. 30 Paul appeals to his brothers, in the name of Christ and “by the love of the Spirit” for prayer. Praying in the name of Christ is to pray according to God’s will (1 John 5:14), and to pray “by the love of the Spirit” is pray by the love that the Spirit inspires, that is, the love that Christians have for one another—a love that has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). Paul wanted the Romans to “strive” (Gr. agōnizomai) together with him—to struggle, or fight, with him spiritually speaking (Eng. agonize). This term was used for athletic events in which contestants, like wrestlers or boxers, struggled against each other. Paul is merely asking for his Christian brothers to enter into his struggle through prayers on his behalf. Prayer is often like that, for when one prays for another, they enter into that arena of spiritual warfare.

Paul’s prayer request was that he be delivered from the battle he knew he would engage when he entered Judea. Like Christ, Paul’s life was in danger there, and in spite of prayers on his behalf, it was there that Paul was indeed falsely accused and arrested by the “disobedient,” a Greek term that means “obstinate.” In this context it refers to Jews who refused to believe the gospel. Paul knew they hated him and wanted to kill him (cf. Acts 9:20, 23, 30) which is why he asked for prayer. He wanted to be delivered from this in order to continue his ministry. He had no real fear of them, for he told the Ephesians, “I am on my way to Jerusalem, …knowing… that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:22-24). He simply wanted his ministry to benefit the “saints” – those whom God saves through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

Food For Thought
God’s people, who fight the never-ending spiritual battle, need prayer from others fighting the same battle. We should refresh one another with our company and be a blessing to each other through prayer, not a curse. May the God of peace prevail upon us to do just that.