Romans Chapter 1: verses 1-15

Introduction

The book of Romans is the sixth book among the books in the New Testament. This
epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel, and is worthy
not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with
it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the
more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.

Authorship

All critical schools agree on the Pauline authorship of the book of Romans. The
vocabulary, style, logic, and theological development are consistent with Paul’s other
epistles. Paul dictated this letter to a secretary named Tertius. The most accurate point that
the Apostle Paul wrote this book is, in the opening line of this letter the authorship is clearly
defined:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel
of God” (Romans 1:1).

Place and time

Paul wrote this letter to the Romans from Corinth near the end of his third missionary
journey. Several clues suggest that Paul wrote this epistle during the three months he stayed
in Corinth, possibly between A.D. 55 and 56.

Historical Background

Paul purposely writing this letter to the Christians in Rome. As servant and apostle of
Jesus, Paul's mission in life is to preach the gospel of Jesus to all people groups, both Jews
and Gentiles. This epistle described Paul’s eager to preach the gospel to his readers and
Gentiles who are in Rome. Christ Himself gave Paul the mission to preach about Christ. He
wants to give to them a spiritual gift and for them to mutually encourage each other's faith.
Part of his reason for wanting to come to them is that his mission in life is to carry the gospel
of Jesus to all people groups, many of whom are represented in Rome.
Structure

I. Paul: His Vocation, the Nature of the Gospel, and the Purpose for His Apostleship (1:1-5)

A. Paul’s Vocation (1:1)

B. The Nature of the Gospel of God (1:2-4)

1. It Was Promised in the Holy Scriptures.

2. It Concerns Jesus God’s Son.

3. It Concerns Jesus as a Descendent of David.

4. It Concerns Jesus as the Son-of-God-in-Power.

C. The Purpose of Paul’s Apostleship (1:5)

II. Paul’s greeting to the Roman Christians (1:6-7)

A. They were called to belong with Jesus Christ.

B. They Are Loved by God.

C. They Were Called To Be Saints.

D. They Have Grace and Peace from God.

Comparing the Bible verses

NIV NRSV Good News Bible

Salutation Salutation From Paul, a servant of

1. Paul, a servant of Christ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, Christ Jesus and an
Jesus, called to be an apostle called to be an apostle, set apostle chosen and called
and set apart for the gospel of apart for the gospel of God, by God to preach his
God- Good News.
2. the gospel he promised which he promised beforehand The Good News was
beforehand through his through his prophets in the promised long ago by
prophets in the Holy Scriptures holy scriptures, God through his prophets,
as written in the Holy
Scriptures.

3. regarding his Son, who as to the gospel concerning his Son, It is about his Son, our
his earthly life was a who was descended from Lord Jesus Christ: as to
descendant of David, David according to the flesh his humanity, he was
born a descendant of
David;
4. and who through the Spirit of and was declared to be Son of as to his divine holiness,
holiness was appointed the Son God with power according to he was shown with great
of God in power by his the spirit of holiness by power to be the Son of
resurrection from the dead: resurrection from the dead, God by being raised from
Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus Christ our Lord, death.

5. Through him we received through whom we have Through him God gave
grace and apostleship to call all received grace and apostleship me the privilege of being
the Gentiles to the obedience to bring about the obedience of an apostle for the sake of
that comes from faith for his faith among all the gentiles for Christ, in order to lead
name's sake. the sake of his name, people of all nations to
believe and obey.

6. And you also are among including you who are called This also includes you
those Gentiles who are called to to belong to Jesus Christ, who are in Rome, whom
belong to Jesus Christ. God has called to belong
to Jesus Christ.

7. To all in Rome who are loved To all God’s beloved in Rome, And so I write to all of
by God and called to be his who are called to be saints: you in Rome whom God
holy people: Grace and peace to Grace to you and peace from loves and has called to be
you from God our Father and God our Father and the Lord his own people: May God
from the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ give you -
 grace and peace.
Paul's Desire to Visit Rome Prayer of Thanksgiving Prayer of Thanksgiving

8. First, I thank my God First, I thank my God through First, I thank my God
through Jesus Christ for all of Jesus Christ for all of you, through Jesus Christ for
you, because your faith is being because your faith is all of you, because the
reported all over the world. proclaimed throughout the whole world is hearing
world. about your faith.
9. God, whom I serve in my For God, whom I serve with God is my witness that
spirit in preaching the gospel of my spirit by announcing the what I say is true — the
his Son, is my witness how gospel of his Son, is my God whom I serve with
constantly I remember you in witness that without ceasing I all my heart by preaching
my prayers at all times; remember you always in my the Good News about his
prayers, Son. God knows that I
remember you

10. and I pray that now at last asking that by God’s will I every time I pray. I ask
by God's will the way may be may somehow at last succeed that God in his good will
opened for me to come to you. in coming to you. may at last make it
possible for me to visit
you now.

11. I long to see you so that I For I long to see you so that I For I want very much to
may impart to you some may share with you some see you, in order to share
spiritual gift to make you spiritual gift so that you may a spiritual blessing with
strong- be strengthened— you to make you strong.

12. that is, that you and I may or rather so that we may be What I mean is that both
be mutually encouraged by each mutually encouraged by each you and I will be helped
other's faith. other’s faith, both yours and at the same time, you by
mine. my faith and I by yours.
 13. I do not want you to be I do not want you to be You must remember, my
unaware, brothers and sisters, unaware, brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters, that
that I planned many times to that I have often intended to many times I have
come to you (but have been come to you (but thus far have planned to visit you, but
prevented from doing so until been prevented), in order that I something has always
now) in order that I might have may reap some harvest among kept me from doing so. I
a harvest among you, just as I you, as I have among the rest want to win converts
have had among the other of the gentiles. among you also, as I have
Gentiles. among other Gentiles.
14. I am obligated both to I am obligated both to Greeks For I have an obligation
Greeks and non-Greeks, both to and to barbarians, both to the to all peoples, to the
the wise and the foolish. wise and to the foolish, civilized and to the
savage, to the educated
and to the ignorant.
15. That is why I am so eager to hence my eagerness to So then, I am eager to
preach the gospel also to you proclaim the gospel to you also preach the Good News to
who are in Rome. who are in Rome. you also who live in
Rome.

Meaning of the Text

Romans 1:1

In verse 1 Paul tells us three things about himself: 1) Servant 2) Apostle 3) Preach the Gospel

Romans 1:2

The Gospel is not something NEW (newly revealed). The Gospel was revealed even in the
Old Testament Scriptures.

Romans 1:3-4

The GOSPEL concerns God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. It is a CHRIST-CENTERED
GOSPEL. Any preaching that is not Christ-centered is not true gospel preaching. The true
gospel is a CHRIST-CENTERED GOSPEL, and God gives very strong warnings concerning
those who preach any other gospel.
Romans 1:5

To whom should the gospel be preached? Paul's answer: "ALL NATIONS". The term "grace"
refers to God’s undeserved favor and unmerited kindness. Paul realized how undeserving he
was and that he did not deserve to be an apostle. The gospel must be “Obeyed”. It is by
“Faith” that a person obeys the gospel.

Romans 1:6

What is God doing in the world today? "Among whom" = among the nations. God is calling
people unto the fellowship of Himself. God has called you to out of darkness and into His
marvelous light.

Romans 1:7

The recipients of Paul’s letter were the Roman believers: They were "beloved of God" greatly
loved by God. They were "called to be saints". A saint is "a holy one, a set apart one, a person
who is separated from sin and separated unto the service of Christ." Every believer is a saint,
but sometimes believers do not live very saintly.

Romans 1:8

1. Prayer Should Include Thanksgiving

Paul was thankful to God for the Christians who lived in Rome, and he was especially
thankful for their FAITH. These people were FAMOUS FOR FAITH.

2. Prayer Must Be "Through Jesus Christ"

We can come to God in no other way (John 14:6). He is our great MEDIATOR (1 Tim. 2:5)
and apart from Him prayer would be impossible. This is why we pray "in Jesus’ Name."

Romans 1:9

1. Prayer Should Be Constant: Paul prayed for the Romans "without ceasing". Paul’s
prayerful concern for the Roman believers was something that was always with him.

2. Prayer Should Be Genuine: God was Paul’s witness. God knew what kind of prayer life
Paul really had. Other people cannot witness your prayer life; only God can. Paul was not just
pretending to be a man of prayer. Paul knew that his prayer life was genuine and he knew
God knew.

3. Prayer Should Involve Intercession: Paul made personal mention of these Roman
believers. Paul reached many souls with his preaching and be also reached many souls with
his praying. For whom do we pray?

Romans 1:10

1. Prayer Should Be Specific: Paul made a specific prayer request. He prayed for a
"prosperous journey." There is no detail in life that is so trivial that we cannot make it a
matter of prayer. If God is concerned about feeding the sparrow and about clothing the lily,
then He certainly was concerned about Paul’s trip to Rome.

2. Prayer Should Be Submissive: Paul did not demand of God or order God or dictate to God
what he wanted. He simply made a request and wanted the request granted only if it was the
will of God.

Romans 1:11-13

Prayer Should Be Rightly Motivated: Did Paul have good reasons for requesting a
"prosperous journey" to Rome? Why did Paul want to go to Rome? 1) He wanted to do God’s
will. 2) He wanted to establish (strengthen, confirm) the Roman believers on the Rock,
Christ Jesus. 3) He wanted to comfort and encourage these believers.

 Paul’s reasons were good reasons. He was concerned for the glory of God and the
good of others.

Romans 1:14

Paul owed the gospel to every member of the human race. At one point in his life Paul felt an
obligation to persecute every Christian; but now Paul felt an obligation to preach to every
creature.

Romans 1:15

Paul is ready to preach the gospel.

Words study

1) SERVANT= slave, bond-servant, love-slave of Jesus Christ

2) Apostle =one who is sent on a mission

3) GOSPEL= good news, glad tidings

4) His humanity = He was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.

5) His deity = He became a man but He never ceased being God. The term "Son of God"
points to the full deity of Christ.

6) In His humanity = ("according to the flesh") He is the Son of David (Romans 1:3).

7) In His deity = He is the Son of God (Romans 1:4), and thus He is David’s Lord.

8) By the resurrection = the resurrection was the final proof that Jesus Christ was everything
He claimed to be.

9) "Preach the gospel" = evangelize, announce the good news, and proclaim the gospel.

Application

Paul do wants to greet his readers in Rome. His purpose to greet them is to preach the
Gospel of Jesus Christ (1:15). But, his purpose of preaching is not only for his readers who
are already know about Christ, but also for the Gentiles who are not yet knowing about
Christ. Base on this, we can see how much the eagerness of Paul strong for preaching the
Good News. Nowadays, we are all in the period of grace that we have never been face
troublesome things due to we are Christians. But, our eagerness of preaching Good News is
nothing compared to Paul’s. It’s like we are living for free in the age of grace, without paying
anything to God. Hence, we have to ask God for spiritual strength so that we can spread the
Gospel to everyone without shame. (1:16)

Conclusion

Paul concludes this section about why he wants to come to Rome to see his readers in
person. This is a desire he often expresses when writing to churches with which he had been
involved. (Romans 1:8–15) contains Paul's description to the Roman Christians of his
longing to travel to Rome to be with them. He prays continually that he may be allowed by
God to come. But, so far God has prevented it from happening (Romans 1:13–14). But,
finally, Paul greeted the Saints in Rome. He declared that the gospel of Jesus Christ was the
power of God unto salvation for everyone who believed, whether Jew or Greek (Gentiles).
Without the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the wrath of God rested upon those who were guilty
of sins. Even Gentiles were accountable for their sins because they had rejected witnesses of
the Creator manifest through His creations.