Therefore, when I have accomplished this and have sealed this fruit to them, I will go by way of you to Spain.
Truth to Learn
Christians should not just be starters, they should be finishers.
Behind the Words
The word translated “accomplished” is the Greek verb epiteleō, which is a compound word made up of epi, used as an intensifier, and teleō, meaning “to finish” or “to complete.” Hence, Paul is saying “when I have absolutely completed this … I shall go by way of you to Spain.”
The word translated “sealed” is a form of sphragidzō, which means “to seal as one would seal a letter with a signet ring.”
Meaning Explained
Paul now tells the Christians in Rome that he must complete his current task before coming through Rome on the way to Spain. After he delivers the gift from the churches in Greece to the Christians in Jerusalem, he will then move on to the next task God calls him to.
Not only was Paul a driven person (driven by his own desire to serve God and driven by the Spirit of God), but he was also so focused on what he had been called to do that he would not cease until he had completed each task to which God had called him. He would not consider undertaking his journey into Spain until he had made sure that the gift was delivered to the saints in Jerusalem.
Paul now makes a curious remark. He says, “and have sealed this fruit to them.” It is possible that this refers to his having sealed the container or pouch in which the money was carried, thus indicating that he delivered every bit of the contribution, not having removed any of it for any other purpose. Whatever the sealing refers to, it is clear that Paul believed that the gift was fruit. Perhaps he meant that it was the fruit of his own ministry to the Gentile churches. Or perhaps he was referring to the gift as a fruit of the Spirit, freely and joyously given by the churches in Macedonia and Achaia. I suspect, rather, that he was referring to it as the fruit produced from the generous actions of the Greek churches. He used this same metaphor earlier in Romans when he talked about their actions being either fruit unto God or fruit unto death.
So, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may belong to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, so that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. (Romans 7:4-5)
Once he had delivered this sealed fruit, however, Paul was clearly intending on traveling to Rome to share in the ministry of the church there before continuing on to Spain.
Application
Surely we can all take a lesson from Paul in performing whatever God has called us to do. Whatever He asks us to do, let us do it with undivided attention and determination until it is complete and He calls us to a different task.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved
