Paul to the Romans (Romans 1:1-15)

Verse 1

Paul identifies himself as a slave to Jesus. One cannot be a slave to a dead master. The foundation of Paul's life was being a slave to a living Jesus. By implication if Jesus were living, then he is God.

Paul has been set aside for the gospel. So many times we get caught up in other causes such as social justice or environmental conservation that our time for the gospel is limited. Is it possible to be first set aside for the gospel then other causes? Is Paul special? Does Paul's separation indicate that some of us are not necessarily separated for the gospel? What does it mean to be set aside or the gospel anyway?

Verse 2

This gospel was promised beforehand. The implication is that Hebrew prophets and Hebrew Scripture had promised that good news was coming. A reading of these prophets should indicate good news coming to the Jewish people.

Verse 3

The gospel of God is about Jesus, a descendant of David. Paul believed that Jesus was both man and God.

Verse 4

It is the resurrection from the dead that declared Jesus God. He is our Lord and we are his slave.

Verse 5

Who are the "we"? Is it other apostles or other believers? They (or we) have received grace and apostleship to minister to the Gentiles so that they will by faith believe in Jesus.

Verse 6

The Romans (and by extension believers) are the called.

Verse 7

The believers in Rome are saints. May other believers enjoy the grace of God and the peace of God

Verse 8

Paul is often thankful for the believers. Are we thankful for other believers? The faith of the Romans was well know. Our prayer is that our faith would be well known too. But it is hard. However, it must have been hard being a believer in Rome also.

Verse 9

Paul is a man of prayer. He prays for other believers often.

Verse 10

Paul really wanted to go to Rome and meet these believers he had never met but had heard about.

Verse 11

Paul has a gift for them, but the gift is not a material gift, but a spiritual one. This gift will not fade because it is meant to establish them.

Verse 12

How wonderful it is to be mutually encouraged by other believers. We want to always be a blessing and receive from a blessing from others.

Verse 13

Paul wanted them to know that he really had wanted to come to them sooner, but he had been prevented presumably by God. We often plan to go here and there, but God has prevented us. It is because he is not finished with us where we are.

Verse 14

Paul cannot just go to Rome when he wanted. he had an obligation to the Greeks and barbarians and wise ones and foolish ones. He needed to fulfill that obligation first before he could go to Rome, where they were already believers.

Verse 15

How excited are we to preach the gospel among the brethren! Paul was excited and looked forward to preaching in Rome.