Introduction
Paul begins the letter to the Romans by establishing his authority as an Apostle of Yeshua Messiah; not to boast, but to guide them in faith and obedience. He also encourages them, noting that their faith is well known and praised, setting the tone for a letter that balances correction with affirmation.
1:1 Paul, a servant of Yeshua Messiah, called by God to be an Apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God
1:2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures
1:3 concerning His Son, having come from the seed of David by way of flesh
1:4 Having been declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of Holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Yeshua Messiah, the Lord of us
1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship unto (ies; into the point of being entered) the obedience of faith among the Gentiles on behalf of His name
1:6 Among whom also includes you who are called [to belong] to Yeshua Messiah
1:7 To all those in Rome beloved of God and summoned to be set apart by Him: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Yeshua Messiah.
1:8 First Indeed, I thank my God through Yeshua Messiah for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed in all the world.
1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how I make mention of you without remission
1:10 always in my prayers, imploring if perhaps now at last I will make my prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you.
1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift according to your strengthening
1:12 this now is to be shared in encouragement together among you, through the faith among you and of me both
1:13 I do not want you to be ignorant now, brothers, and many times I have determined to come to you, and was hindered until now, that some fruit I might also have among you, as among the other gentiles
Paul often uses the phrase “Ou thelo de su agnoeo”– “I do not want you to be ignorant” in his other letters when
- introducing proper instruction
- correcting misunderstanding
- moving people beyond the infancy stage of faith
- In times of believers lacking understanding, not lacking in sincerity.
Torah and Scripture consistently defines fruit as lived outcome (Deut 30; Psalm 1; Jer 17)
- Transformed conduct
- Obedience
- Covenant faithfulness
- Visible righteousness
Among the other Gentiles– Rome was behind in the process because Paul had not come to see them yet
- Galatia was instructed about turning from idolatry, obedience from faith & suffering from discipleship (Acts 13-14)
- Philippi, Thessalonica & Berea in Macedonia instructed about endurance under persecution, imitation of apostolic teaching & rapid moral transformation (Acts 16-17)
- Corinth and Athens in Achaia; Corinth received extended instruction for 18 months, corrective letters, discipline & clarification of obedience vs Lawlessness (Acts 17-18)
- Ephesus in Asia Minor was taught for almost 3 years, publicly and house to house, causing them to abandon magic, idolatry, and pagan centered economics (Acts 19)
1:14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians (Foreigners: neither speaking Greek nor Latin) both to the wise and to the foolish
1:15 Thus I am eager and willing to preach the gospel to you also, who are in Rome
1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation unto everyone believing, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith unto faith as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
“Behold the proud not is upright his soul in him. But the righteous by his faith shall live.”
– Habakkuk 2:4
- “faith” in Hebrew- emunah meaning steadfast in trust, firmness; fidelity
- Quoted first in Galatians 3:11
It’s important that Paul opens with Scripture, because he is constantly being accused of undermining Torah or inventing a new religion (as he still is today)
Paul defines his purpose from the beginning- Torah and Prophets still define righteousness & faith has never meant Lawlessness
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness
1:19 What can be known about God is apparent, because God has revealed it to them.
1:20 Indeed His unseen [qualities] ever since the creation of the world by His work, have been clearly understood both in His eternal power and divine nature, for them to be without excuse.
1:21 Insomuch they knew God not as God, so they glorified and were thankful, but they became futile in their reasoning, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools
1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images in the likeness of mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
1:24 Therefore God delivered them up in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies between themselves,
1:25 who exchanged the truth about God for a falsehood and revered and served the created things rather than the Creator, who is blessed to the end of the ages! Amen (so let it be)
Paul explains that God’s wrath is revealed against those practicing ungodliness and unrighteousness. People suppress the truth about God despite what is clearly known from creation. As a result, they exchange the glory of the Creator for idols and pursue sinful desires.
Paul highlights the consequences of turning from God: God delivered them up to their passions and sinful ways, showing how idolatry and rebellion distort both life and judgment.
1:26 For this reason God delivered them up to dishonorable passions. Even indeed women exchanged natural use into that which is contrary to nature;
1:27 then likewise men also, having left the natural use of women, were inflamed in their desire toward on another. Males with males, oh the shame brought about, and they received retribution which was fitting of their error.
1:28 And as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God delivered them up to a depraved mind to do things which are unfit
1:29 Being filled with all manner of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice, full of spite, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, secretly slanderers
1:30 Back-biting, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
1:31 foolish, treacherous, heartless and without compassion.
1:32 Who have known the righteous decree of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only them practicing, but also approving of those practicing them.
Paul is showing that humanity naturally falls into a pattern of disobedience when God’s truth is rejected
- It starts internally by suppressing truth by arrogance and pride “Professing to be wise”
- Expressed externally through idolatry and sin
- Ultimately infects society by permitting and approving wrongdoing as social norms
Most of Paul’s audience were Roman, Gentile believers, who had previously been accustomed to idolatry, emperor worship, and Greek/Roman philosophy. He needed to paint a vivid picture of why mere faith isn’t enough without transformation, and why approval of such practices which are against God as just as sinful as engaging in them.
Leave a Reply