What was Paul’s reason for longing to see them?...

Paul desired to impart to them some spiritual gift so they would be strengthened and established in the faith. Paul had never visited the church in Rome and was writing this letter to them from Corinth.

It took him three years after this letter to get there.

Perhaps Paul felt that he had exalted himself just a bit by stating that he was going to impart to them some spiritual gift.

So he immediately assumed their level by explaining, "that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."

Few men in history have been used by the God of Heaven to a degree equal to that of the Apostle Paul.

But Paul never forgot that man is the dust of the ground and that it is the Glory of the Lord that always is to be exalted.