John Chrysostom

You see him painfully desiring to see them, and yet not enduring to see them contrary to what seemed good unto God, but having his longing mingled with the fear of God. For he loved them, and was eager to come to them. Yet he did not, because he loved them, desire to see them, contrary to what seemed good unto God. This is true love not as we love who err on both sides from the laws of love: for either we love no one, or if we ever do love, we love contrary to what seemeth good unto God, acting in both against the Divine law. …

Homily on Romans 2 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Now he adds why he remembers them. "To come," he says, "to you." Pay attention: as much as he loved them, as strongly as he desired to see them, he nevertheless did not wish to see them against the will of God. But we either love no one, or if we ever love someone, we do so against the will of God. That Paul unceasingly prayed to see them — this came from his strong love for them; and that he submitted to the beckoning of God — this was a sign of his great piety. …

Commentary on Romans ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then he mentions the matter concerning which he calls God to witness when he says, that without ceasing I make a commemoration of you, i.e., because in his prayers he always prayed for them on account of the general benefits that arose from their conversion: far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you (1 Sam 12:23). …

Commentary on Romans ↗