I am ready to preach - προθυμον; I have a ready mind. I was only prevented by the providence of God from visiting you long ago. His time is best: in the mean time I write, by his direction, to comfort and instruct you.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready,.... This explains what he was a debtor to one and another for, namely,

to preach the Gospel; expresses the readiness of his mind to that work, whatever difficulties lay in his way; and declares what a willing mind he had to preach it also to the Romans, as elsewhere:

to you that are at Rome also; the metropolis of the Roman empire, a very public place, the seat of Satan, and where was the heat of persecution.

To you also that are in Rome

To you refers to the christian Church, not to the population generally. In every verse, from Romans 1:6 to Romans 1:13, ὑμεῖς you refers to the Church.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at {u} Rome also.

(u) He means all those who dwell at Rome, though some of them were not Romans; see the end of the epistle.

1:15 Ready to preach... at Rome also. Where, in the great world center, were found all classes, Greeks and barbarians, wise and unwise.

15. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also-He feels himself under an all-subduing obligation to carry the gospel to all classes of mankind, as adapted to and ordained equally for all (1Co 9:16).

1:8-15 We must show love for our friends, not only by praying for them, but by praising God for them. As in our purposes, so in our desires, we must remember to say, If the Lord will, Jas 4:15. Our journeys are made prosperous or otherwise, according to the will of God. We should readily impart to others what God has trusted to us, rejoicing to make others joyful, especially taking pleasure in communing with those who believe the same things with us. If redeemed by the blood, and converted by the grace of the Lord Jesus, we are altogether his; and for his sake we are debtors to all men, to do all the good we can. Such services are our duty.