<p>10:16 <i>So that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence</i>- See on :15. This can be read as a desperate appeal for Corinthian loyalty to him, lest other areas be as it were deprived of the Gospel. We are left to decide whether this was really the case or if it is just part of an increasingly desperate appeal for their personal loyalty. For Paul had earlier turned away from unresponsive Jewish audiences in order to go preach further to the Gentiles, rather than remaining with those Jews until they accepted his message.&nbsp;And in Romans 15 he openly speaks of his ambition to preach in Rome and Spain, the &quot;lands beyond&quot; Corinth. He gives no condition to be fulfilled for that, but rather perceives it all as part of his calling.</p><p>Paul spoke of how both he and other brethren had their specific &ldquo;line&quot; or sphere in which they were intended to witness (2 Cor. 10:16 cp. Ps. 19:4 AVmg.; Am. 7:17). We each have ours, whether it be the people who live in our block of flats, an area of our own country or city; or another part of the world. Paul clearly had a purpose- to spread the Gospel in a semi-circle around the Roman empire (2 Cor. 10:15), beginning from Jerusalem, through Asia and Italy, then Spain (Rom. 15:19), North Africa and back to Jerusalem. Speaking of how he planned his journeys, he comments in 2 Cor. 1:17:<b> &ldquo;</b>When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yes yes, and no no?&rdquo;.&nbsp; Again we see a definite purpose, not the kind of human intention which vacillates between yes and no; for this is inimical to the person who has true purpose. The mission in our minds, the path ever before us, makes our decision making so much clearer than it is for those who dither over which flavour coffee to have tonight... Truly could Paul say at the end: &ldquo;But you have followed my teaching, my conduct, and my purpose in life; you have observed my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, my persecutions, and my sufferings&rdquo; (2 Tim. 3:10,11). And he is set up as a model for each of us (1 Tim. 1:16).</p>