Romans 1:1-7

PART ONE

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS, Romans 1:1-15

SALUTATION, Romans 1:1-7

Text

Romans 1:1-7. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be anapostle, separated unto the gospel of God, Romans 1:2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures, Romans 1:3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, Romans 1:4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake; Romans 1:6 among whom are ye also, called to be Jesus Christ'S: Romans 1:7 to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 1:1-7

Summaries, paraphrases, and commentaries are all fine; but they are no substitute for your own knowledge of the inspired book. What do you think of the salutation of this book? I refer to Romans 1:1-7 of the first chapter. Here are a few questions that are framed to stir up your sincere mind; answer them before you read farther.

1.

Why not refer to himself first as an apostle and then as a servant?

2.

Are not a servant and an apostle the same?

3.

When was Paul called to be an apostle?

4.

Are you an apostle in any sense of the term? Look up the meaning of the term before you answer in the negative (cf. Acts 14:14).

5.

Specify several features of the good news that was promised afore by the prophets in the holy scriptures. (We could give you references to look up, but this would not develop your initiative.)

6.

He was born of the seed of David. Of what special significance is that?

7.

What is the spirit of holiness here spoken of? Would it be accurate to say Holy Spirit?

8.

In what sense did the resurrection proclaim Jesus as the Son of God? Are we not all sons of God?

9.

Who is the We of verse five? Do not be too quick to answer, Paul and the other apostles. Who was with Paul when he wrote?

10.

What is there in the faith to obey? Can it be law? How then can it be faith? Is God's salvation dependent upon man's obedience?

11.

For His name's sakeWe often say, for Jesus-' sake. Is this the same? What is a name's sake? Do not look these answers up in a commentary (even if it is mine). Do your answering and writing and thinking BEFORE you read someone else's comment and conclusion. After all, they are only menfallible like yourself, sincere, intelligent, but not infallible. Think for yourself: you are no parrot!

12.

In what sense do we belong to Jesus? How much of us? Is this really true or just a fine phrase?

13.

You are a saint. All the Christians in Rome were saints. What does this word mean? Or perhaps we should say, what did it mean?

14.

If the saints in Rome received what Paul wished for them as in verse seven, what would it mean to them? Just what is the grace God and Christ were to give them?

Paraphrase

Romans 1:1-7. Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, and an apostle called expressly as the other apostles were, and separated by him to preach the good news from God,

Romans 1:2 Which he promised before, by his prophets in the holy scriptures, should be preached to the Gentiles,

Romans 1:3 Concerning the coming of his Son to save the world, who, as it was foretold, was born of a woman descended from David, the king of Israel, with respect to his flesh,

Romans 1:4 But was declared the Son of God, with great power of evidence, with respect to his holy spiritual nature, by his resurrection from the dead, after he had been crucified by the Jewish rulers for calling himself the Son of God, even Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 1:5 From whom, since his resurrection, I have received miraculous powers and apostleship, in order that through my preaching him as the Son of God, the obedience of faith may be given to him, among all the Gentiles, on account of his being the Son of God.

Romans 1:6 Among the number of which Gentiles are also ye the called disciples of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:7 Being thus commissioned, I write this letter to all who are in Rome; and more especially to those who are the beloved of God, on account of their faith, to the called seed of Abraham, to the saints by profession. May grace be multiplied to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Summary

Paul, a called apostle, is set apart to preach God's gospel, which he had before promised, through the prophets, in the holy Scriptures. The gospel respects his Son, who was born of the seed of David, as to his flesh, but determined, by power, to be God's Son, as to his spirit, by the resurrection of the dead. This Son is Jesus Christ our Lord. From him Paul received favor in becoming a Christian, and the office of an apostle, both these being received to induce men in all nations to believe and obey Christ. He writes this Letter to all the holy who are in Rome.

Comment

The apostle begins his epistle with a beautiful and solemn salutation in the form of one sentence containing 126 words (in the American Standard Version). Note this very helpful outline of the salutation. In this outline you can note the marvelous progression of connected thought.

1.

Paul. Romans 1:1 a

a.

A servant (slave) of Jesus Christ.

b.

Called to be an apostle (one sent).

c.

Separated unto the gospel.

2.

The Gospel. Romans 1:1 b - Romans 1:2 a

a.

Of God.

b.

Promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures.

c.

Concerning his son.

3.

His Son, Romans 1:2 b - Romans 1:5 a

a.

Born of the seed of David according to the (his) flesh.

b.

Declared to be the Son of God with power according to the (his) (pure) holy spirit (or his inward man), by the resurrection from the dead.

c.

We (Paul and others) have received from him grace and apostleship.

4.

Our grace and apostleship. Romans 1:5 b

For the obedience of the faith among all nations for his name's sake.

5.

All the nations. Romans 1:5 c - Romans 1:6

a.

Obedient to the faith.

b.

Romans among them.

c.

Belong to Jesus Christ.

6.

Greetings to those in Rome. Romans 1:7

a.

Beloved of God.

b.

Called saints.

c.

Grace and pence to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are a few comments on these verses. Our purpose will be to place a devotional, evangelistic emphasis upon these truths:

Paul. How very many expressions the apostle could have used to describe himself. What a man thinks of himself in the revealing light of God's presence is a true indication of his spiritual stature. The first relationship Paul felt he sustained to Christ was not that of an apostle, but rather a servant or slave. The term slave is used sometimes in an official capacity of one who represents another in an official sense. This is not the use made of the word here. Paul places himself along with all other servants of Christ. He is just another common slave of Christ, Paul feels that he has been bought and paid for by Christ Jesus. To use his own words, he is no longer his own; he has been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

How do we think of ourselves? What is my first answer to the question, Who am I? Do I think of myself first of all as a preacher, an elder, a deacon, a teacher? If I do, I am not thinking as I should. I am first of all, and most of all, a slave to King Jesus.
It might come as a shock to some to learn there are seventeen apostles in the New Testament! Yes, there are! Here they are; count them up: (1-12) The Twelve apostles; (13) Matthias; (14) Barnabas, Acts 14:14; (15) James, the Lord's brother, Galatians 1:19; (16) Christ, Hebrews 3:1; (17) Paul.

This use of the term apostle is easily explained in the meaning of the word. Apostle means one sent. In a very special sense, the Twelve were sent by Christ to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Paul was sent far hence to the Gentiles (Acts 26:17-18). Barnabas was sent by the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1-3). Evidently James was sent by the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). Christ was sent by God, our heavenly Father (John 3:16). Matthias was apparently sent by the church in Jerusalem.

Paul never forgot the heavenly vision by which he was called and sent forth (Acts 26:1 ff). Have not many of us forgotten the heavenly vision of our conversion in which we were called and sent into the world to bear fruit unto God?

Saul of Tarsus was not only a slave of Jesus Christ, and one who was called to be sent, but he was also sanctified, or separated.

Paul was separated unto something. It was not a negative separation, but he was separated unto something. Paul's separation was for a purposethat he might proclaim the good news.

The Gospel. Somehow, we do so miss the impact of this word. Our message needs to be of the good news. The joy of the angel's announcement at Bethlehem needs ever to grip our hearts. Oh, for the exuberance of the youngster who bursts through the doorway to shout out in short exclamations the joy of some childish good news. No, we need more, the unspeakable happiness of a released prisoner who has found pardon instead of condemnation. To Paul, the message he preached could vary according to the needs of his hearers or readers, But however varied, it was always a word that would finally produce happiness! Our message can only be good news to others when it is indeed this to us.

Has God spoken to your heart and mind? Paul knew his message was from God. Do you? Do I? We are not speaking of direct communication to us, as to the inspired spokesmen. But we do speak God's truth; we have God's message. (Romans 1:1-7)