Romans 1:1-17

Summary

This passage serves as both an introduction and a thesis statement for the entire letter. Paul introduces himself, clarifies his mission, expresses his deep desire to visit Rome, and presents the core theme of the gospel—justification by faith.

Contents

Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, 2 which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name’s sake; 6 among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:8-15

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established; 12 that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13 Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (and was hindered so far), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.

Romans 1:16-17

16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. 17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”

Commentary

Introduction and Greeting (1:1-7)

The following are eight markers of this true and saving gospel message laid out by Paul in the introduction (see Gospel Indicators for more detail):

Thanksgiving and Desire to Visit Rome (1:8-15)

Paul expresses his deep gratitude to God for the faith of the Roman believers, which is being proclaimed throughout the world. He shares his constant prayers for them and his strong desire to visit Rome, hoping that by God's will he will be able to do so. Paul longs to strengthen them spiritually and to be mutually encouraged by their faith. He sees his calling as an obligation to preach to all people, especially the Gentiles. He is eager to fulfill this mission by bringing the gospel to Rome also, demonstrating his commitment to proclaiming Christ to all, regardless of their background.

Letter Thesis: The Gospel is the Power of God (1:16-17)

"For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ" — Paul is "eager to preach the Good News" (v. 15) and is unashamed — "because it is the power of God for salvation" — that is, the gospel itself is God's power to bring about salvation — "for everyone who believes" — the present active participle "believes" indicates those continually believing in Christ, the word brings about a lasting, saving faith — "for the Jew first, and also for the Greek" — the Jews were the first recipients of God’s promises (Romans 9:4-5), but the gospel is for everyone.

"For in it is revealed God’s righteousness" — that is, the gospel reveals the righteousness of God which is counted to those who believe through faith — "from faith to faith" — that is, the way of salvation by faith revealed in order to be believed — "As it is written, 'But the righteous shall live by faith' or 'But the righteous by faith shall live'" — the prophet is encouraging Israel to trust in God's promises for life rather than relying on their own strength.

ChatGPT: Q. Is the "power of God" in Romans 1:16-17 like dynamite? A. The phrase "power of God" in Romans 1:16-17 is derived from the Greek word δύναμις (dynamis). The modern word dynamite (from Greek δύναμις) was coined by Alfred Nobel in the 19th century. Dynamite implies destructive, sudden force, whereas dynamis in biblical Greek refers to a sustained, transformative power rather than an explosive one. The power of God in the Gospel does not obliterate or destroy but transforms lives.

"from faith to faith" — that is, either: 1) the righteousness of God for salvation is from faith from start to finish; or 2) righteousness comes by means of faith and is intended to produce faith in others; or 3) the faith of one leading to faith in another; or 4) from one level of faith to a greater level of faith; or 5) again emphasizing that salvation is by faith for Jew and gentile. I think the parallel statement in Romans 3:23 disambiguates the phrase: "the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." The righteousness of God which comes from (through) faith for faith (belief).

The power of the gospel message should cause boldness. It is not man's wisdom, but God's. It is not man's power, but God's power:

1 Corinthians 1:22-24 ESV — "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 — "When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

Salvation is a divine work, and the preaching of the gospel is God's ordinary means of calling the elect to salvation:

Romans 10:8-9, 13-15 — "'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;' that is, the word of faith which we preach: that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved... For, 'Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent?"

James 1:18 — "Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures."

1 Peter 1:23, 25 ESV — "since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God... And this word is the good news that was preached to you."

Isaiah 55:11 — "so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do."

The gospel is not just one aspect of the Christian message; it is of "first importance." Paul defines the gospel as the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins according to the Scriptures. Evangelism must center on this message:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."