John Calvin Commentary Romans 15:29

"And I know that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ." — Romans 15:29 (ASV)

And I know, that when I come, etc. These words can be explained in two ways. The first meaning is that he would find plentiful fruit from the gospel in Rome, for the blessing of the gospel is when it bears fruit through good works. But to confine this to alms, as some do, is something I do not approve of.

The second meaning is that, to make his coming to them more desirable, he says he hopes it would not be unfruitful but would make a great advancement for the gospel. This he calls fullness of blessing, which signifies a full blessing; by this expression, he means great success and increase.

But this blessing depended partly on his ministry and partly on their faith. Hence, he promises that his coming to them would not be in vain, as he would not withhold from them the grace given to him, but would bestow it with the same alacrity with which their minds were prepared to receive the gospel.

The former interpretation has been the most commonly accepted and also seems to me the best. That is, he hoped that at his coming he would find what he especially wished: namely, that the gospel flourished among them and prevailed with evident success, and that they were excelling in holiness and in all other virtues.

For the reason he gives for his desire is that he hoped for no ordinary joy in seeing them, since he expected to see them abounding in all the spiritual riches of the gospel.