Purpose of the Epistle: Establish a mutual faith
Theme: The righteousness of God is the most reported description of the theme. Paul is writing to a group of people called to be saints. They had not yet heard the gospel which he preached. Paul wanted to have a mutual faith with the Romans. The theme is the gospel of God concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 1:1-7
By way of introduction, this study which will one day encompass the whole book of Romans, and will take one sentence at a time. The Spirit of God did not consult modern day writing recommendations when composing these sentences, so, for example, this first sentence of Romans is seven verses long. This sentence contains 126 words! Sentences contain complete thoughts. All too often we study the Bible in a verse-by-verse fashion and pass over the punctuation marks. In so doing we get things out of context and take verses piecemeal. I won't get so deep as to diagram the sentences even if I could remember how.
Since we follow Paul (many are hearing this for the first time), Romans provides the foundation for the Christian. It represents the teaching regarding salvation. If conflict exists between any other part of the Bible and Paul's writings, then we must follow Paul and uphold Paul's teaching.
Also, before we get started with the study of the sentences let me point out the means of its coming to us. You'll notice in:
I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. - Romans 16:22
that Paul did not write the letter himself, but a man named Tertius wrote it. Yet, it is from Paul. I conclude that Paul spoke the words (given by inspiration), and Tertius wrote them.
Paul - The letter is from Paul. Paul is identified as:
a servant of Jesus Christ
called to be an apostle, and
separated unto the gospel of God.
Paul is the same Saul that consented to Stephen's death. Paul is Saul that made havoc of the church. The result of which was that many were scattered abroad and those scattered went every where preaching the word. Even before Paul was saved God used him to spread the preaching of the word.
Paul joins other men who had two names, Abram, Jacob, and Simon. Abram is changed to Abraham during a discussion between God and Abram. Jacob is changed to Israel after he wrestles with the Angel of the LORD. His name changes from Saul to Paul in:
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, - Acts 13:9
From this point on, with the exception of Paul’s testimonies regarding the way to Damascus, he is known as Paul. This ensures that all the epistles were written after this time.
When Jesus confronts Saul on the way to Damascus, he says, “Saul, Saul ...” I am sure that Saul would have responded had he said his name only once. There is a purpose in repeating his name. Saul opposed himself (as he says to Timothy in II Timothy 2:25), he is divided (which means the same thing), and/or he is a double-minded man (knowing good and evil). The Lord Jesus Christ speaks to the Saul which opposes Saul. Paul tells Timothy to meekly instruct those that oppose themselves. The Lord Jesus Christ teaches Saul who opposes himself. After that confrontation Saul is still called Saul. Something happens to Saul just before John’s departure from Pamphylia headed back to Jerusalem
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. - I Corinthians 13:11
I think the name change is when Saul put away childish things like the law, and became a man, Paul. Galatians 4 associates child with law. Law is a childish thing. Faith, hope and charity are not childish things and are not associated with the law. The name change of Abram to Abraham occurred at a significant event (when Abraham believed God). Saul's name changes at a significant event probably when he put away childish things and believed God (one master).
a servant of Jesus Christ - Before his salvation, Paul was a child of and servant of the god who is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), but God used that service for good. A servant is usually associated with law. Jesus told the 12 that he would not call them servants (John 15:15), but friends.
This title, servant of Jesus Christ, is curious considering:
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. - Galatians 4:7
Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all that believe. In Titus, he is the servant of God in which there is only grace with no mention of law. So the term servant in these two cases is not associated with the law, nor with not knowing what the master does.
However,
For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. - 1 Corinthians 7:22
Apparently, Paul was called being free (not bonded, ie. a slave), therefore, he would be a servant.
called to be an apostle - The Lord clearly communicated to Paul his calling. Paul was not forced. Paul had to decide what he would do. It does not say that he was coerced, blackmailed, or forced to be an apostle.
In these days we have "inventories" to help us determine our gifts. People walk around in a muddle wondering what God has called them to do. People treat this business of a calling like it was a maze setup by God for us little "mice" to figure out. Folks act like they will stand at the judgment seat and give an account of their quest and the success of their quest to learn what their calling was. People often do nothing while they wait on God to define the "bulls eye" of His will for them. In Paul's case it wasn't until years after his salvation that he carried the name of Jesus Christ before kings. What did Paul do in the mean time? Did he sit and twiddle his thumbs waiting to be called into the game from the bench?
The Lord Jesus Christ does not make things that difficult. He tells us: For ye (plural) see your calling, brethren:... (I Corinthians 1:26). They (1 Corinthians addressees) may have been looking around for the hidden thimble when it was in plain sight all the time. You (plural) SEE your calling (singular).
The term apostle does not evoke understanding without the Bible's definition of the word. Taking the word apart as in a-post-le, then we can get a better understanding. Besides a post of the tabernacle there is also:
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. - II Chronicles 30:6
This kind of post is a person carrying letters from an authority, in this case King Hezekiah. In the verse following, the posts were laughed to scorn and were mocked - not unlike the apostles. So, by taking the word apostle apart, we surmise that an apostle is a post carrying a message from God.
Going back to its first occurrence we find in Matthew 10:2 the names of the twelve apostles. We find in the context of the verse what these twelve did:
Jesus sent them forth - consistent with a post
the first twelve He commended to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel - the posts went to a specific “address.”
They were to go neither to Samaritans nor Gentiles
Jesus gave them a message to preach: The kingdom of heaven is at hand - a message never before preached. - the message was given to the posts.
Heal the sick
Cleanse the lepers
Raise the dead
Cast out devils - message confirmed to Israel with signs and wonders.
So an apostle was sent by Jesus Himself to preach a specific message not preached before, which was confirmed by signs and wonders. Paul fits this definition as he was sent by Jesus Himself to preach a message received directly from him that was not given to anybody else (Galatians 1:12), which was confirmed by signs and wonders (I Corinthians 14:18). Today, if anybody comes preaching a different gospel, then that one is to be accursed, so there cannot be any new apostles, since Paul died, up to this very day. Also, there is no new message to preach today that requires signs and wonders for confirmation, and thus the signs and wonders vanished after the new message was delivered. The sign gifts are now no more, as well.
There is another aspect of Paul's apostleship that is little recognized. We are advised to follow Paul. Paul's writings have authority above that of other writings, even in the NT. God allows Paul room to exercise some discretionary prerogative. Have a look at 1 Corinthians 7:6,10,12,25,40. In some places Paul knows what God wants and in others he was not sure, and thus he speaks by permission and not of commandment.
separated unto the gospel of God - The next time you drive by a graveyard stop and take a walk through it. Every one of the people represented by each one of those head stones is separated from something. They no longer have a problem with alcohol, drugs, or pornography. They are separated from evil things. A bunch of fundamentalists are separated from alcohol, dancing, tobacco, drugs, etc., but if they are not separated unto something then they are just about as dead as each one of those people in the graveyard. A person should be separated unto something; the grace of God, for example. You see this principle in:
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. - Ephesians 4:28
You should separate from but make sure that it is replaced. Paul was separated from the zealous persecution of the church, and that zeal was maintained but replaced with the gospel.
This separation has to do with Paul’s purpose (see 2 Tim 3:10). Paul’s purpose in life was associated with the gospel of God. Ours should be, too. Since we follow Paul, then we should be separated unto the gospel of God, as well.
the gospel of God - Gospel literally means “God spell.” Paul's ministry related to the words of God about God.
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) - The true God promised the gospel of God in the scriptures of the Old Testament. Please notice it was not yet in effect when it was promised by the prophets. (Reread the last sentence, then stop and think about that for 10 minutes.) Now we only see it by the 20-20 hindsight given us by the Spirit of God through the lens of Paul. Remember the princes of this world did not understand because if they did then they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. I dare say that the Holy Ghost did not understand that he was causing people to speak the words of God regarding the gospel of God.
About as close as you'll get to finding the gospel defined in I Corinthians 15 is Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. The gospel preached by Paul was kept secret since the world began. So we must conclude that the OT scriptures corroborate Paul’s doctrine. You can study the OT in order to find the hidden gospel of God.
Please note that we can check out what God promised in the holy scriptures. We can see every promise completely today. This little parenthetical comment testifies not only what it says but also that the holy scriptures have been preserved complete and without error. Otherwise Paul could not have known what God promised by his prophets, and likewise we could not know for sure what God said. Furthermore, if the inspired scriptures are not preserved inerrant and infallibly then we could not know what Paul knew.
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, - A portion of the gospel of God deals with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Without our Lord Jesus Christ there is no gospel, and any "gospel" not dealing with Him is false.
which was made of the seed of David according the flesh - When Paul says "according to the flesh" he means the physical body of Jesus Christ. It refers to the body that hungered, thirsted, tired, wept, suffered, bled, and died. Jesus was not David's seed, since in Jeremiah 22, the LORD cursed David's throne. Jeremiah 22 validates the virgin birth. Rather, he was made of the seed of David. Mary is the seed of David. The king's seed went no further. Jesus' flesh came from Mary, and Mary descended from David. Jesus Christ is made of a woman (Galatians 4:4), and that woman was David's seed. Physically, Jesus was connected with David, but spiritually He is (and was) the Son of God.
...declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: - Since Jesus is the Son of God, and declared to be so by His resurrection from the dead, then His resurrection also proves His virgin birth. Also, the resurrection also proves that Jesus was not the son of Joseph. I'm sure that the Jews tried to find the body of Jesus Christ. They were never able to turn up even a shred of evidence that His body was still dead. If they were, then we would still be in our sins. All the Jews have is an unsubstantiated claim that Jesus' body was moved. They would have paid a dear sum to one of the more than five hundred eye witnesses to turn "state's evidence." Nobody ever did. Only changed lives are in the wake of His resurrection.
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: -
:..we have received...” (see Romans 16:21,22 and include Paul for who we includes. This “we” received (past tense) grace and apostleship (not all were apsotles).
This Jesus:
was of the seed of David according to the flesh
is declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection
by whom we received grace
made Paul and the group with him, apostles (notice that little plural we) for obedience to the faith among all the nations for his name
called us who are in the nations
By him we have received grace for obedience to the faith among all nations.
For obedience to the faith - Paul and company received grace (working together with God) and apostleship for the purpose that obedience to the faith would occur among all nations. Saved Romans are counted in the number of those called by Jesus. "The faith" must be the faith and taught and preached by Paul.
People get stuck on this term obedience to the faith. Some (Campbellite water dogs) would say that salvation occurs through baptism. Baptists say that baptism is not essential for salvation, but is essential for obedience. There is one baptism according to Ephesians 2, and that one is the one baptism that is associated with the one body (I Corinthians 12:13).
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? - Romans 10:16
Not all the Jews obeyed the gospel. The very next phrase in Romans 10:17 is "So then faith..." To obey the gospel is to believe it. The source of that faith is hearing the word of God.
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: - Romans 16:26
Here it is again. Only this time the word “to the” is changed to “of.” We must act on faith. The mystery kept secret was made manifest through Paul and by the scriptures of the prophets for the purpose of the obedience of faith. You see we are obedient when we do the things written in the Bible. When we believe the things written in the Bible we do so because we believe what is written in the Bible to be true. Also, if the words of God were not communicated then there could be no obedience whatsoever. The obedience that saves, the obedience that pleases God is faith - not baptism, not circumcision, not whipping yourself with a whip, not crawling up stairs day in and day out on your bare knees, not giving up drinking coffee for Lent, not eating only fish on Fridays, not in keeping a list of do's and don'ts. The Bible demonstrates for us to believe God. The just live by faith. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The central theme of Paul's ministry targeted obedience of faith NOT obedience of works. God counts a person righteous when he believes him.
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints - The Spirit addresses the letter to all without exception that be in Rome are beloved of God and were called to be saints. Focusing here on “all that be in Rome, we cannot say that every or any person that was in Rome (then or now) was saved. This epistle is written to people that are called to be saints. I Corinthians is written to two kinds of people, saved and not saved. All that be in Rome are beloved of God and are called to be saints (saved). In fact, it may be written to people that were citizens of the Roman empire (in Rome). Paul had not yet established a church in the city of Rome. For example, Corinthians is written to the church AT Corinth.
beloved of God - The strong implication of this statement is that all of mankind is beloved of God. God so loves the world. The proof is that he gave his only begotten Son.
called to be saints - Each person in Rome is called to be a saint. That does not mean that they had answered that call. The status of “all that be in Rome” was that they were all called, but at the time they received this letter not all (or maybe any) had answered the call. We see clearly that Romans is intended to be the letter of an evangelist. According to 1 Corinthians 1:2:
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
even people sanctified in Christ Jesus are called to be saints, and that saints have called upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Notice the reversing of Jesus Christ to Christ Jesus. Without adding the whole study on Christ Jesus, the evidence says that Christ Jesus is Paul's term for the public ministry before going to the cross. This means that believing in only the public ministry only sanctifies but does not mean the person is a saint.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. - We finally made it to the end of the sentence. The Spirit breathes these words through Paul. The Spirit extends this greeting to those the letter is addressed. Speaking for God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ the Spirit sends grace and peace. It gives the impression that Paul was in direct contact with the Godhead who willed him to extend this greeting.
All of Paul’s letters with geographic names start with grace to you and peace. The letters to Timothy and Titus wish grace, mercy and peace. They all end with something like grace be with you. They are intended to minister grace. There is a ministration of condemnation and death, and a ministration of the spirit and righteousness. Ministering grace is that latter, while condemnation and death is by the law. There can be no mixing of these two ministrations.
Summary of Sentence 1
The sentence basically says from who the letter comes and to whom the letter is addressed - Paul to all that be in Rome, but there are many qualifications and understandings necessary to comprehend to whom it is written and who wrote it. It also tells us by whose authority Paul writes, and why it should be accepted.