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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
Words these of an Apostle's bowels of affection, the showing forth this of fatherly concernment! And what is it which he says, and why does he call God to witness? He had to declare his feeling toward them. Since then he had not as yet ever seen them, he therefore called no man to witness, but Him Who entereth in the hearts. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Since Paul had not yet seen the Romans, yet wanted to say that he always remembers them, he calls as witness the One Who knows hearts. Notice the tender compassion of the apostle: he always remembers people whom he had not even seen. Where does he remember them? In his prayers, and moreover unceasingly. …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says for God is my witness, he shows his affection for them from the prayer he offers for them. And because the business of prayer is carried on in secret in God's presence: when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father in secret (Matt 6:6), he calls on God to testify that he prays for them. First, therefore, he calls on the witness; second he shows on what point he calls the witness. …
Bonaventure
A promissory oath is made in three ways, namely for promoting good, for preserving fidelity, and for entering into mutual peace. In the first way, inferiors swear to superiors; in the second way, equals to equals; in the third way, superiors to inferiors. By the first oath the Apostle swore, saying: "God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit." From this first oath a threefold benefit results: faith in the intellect, love in the affections, and peace in effect.
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