Romans 1:8-17

Romans 1: 8-17 – Text will be King James for this online study. Class versions will be ESV/HCSB.

Rom 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 

Rom 1:9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 

Rom 1:10  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 

Rom 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 

Rom 1:12  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 

Rom 1:13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 

Rom 1:14  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 

Rom 1:15  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

Main Point: Paul longs to visit them for mutual benefit. He has planned on it. He is ready to preach to them.

2. Why is Paul thanking God?The faith of the Roman church precedes Paul’s visit. He does not need to go there to know it exists. This reveals the importance of a “tight” network of congregations. Everywhere Paul went and he spoke with someone who knew this congregation, he heard good things. He says “throughout the world”…a little hyperbole for “his world”, which was fairly extensive.

3. What is Paul praying for?This appears to be both an emotional and a pragmatic want. The latter to 1) share in their faith (give/take) - 2) Confirm their direction is solid (established/strengthened). This may indicate that perhaps Paul may have been hearing some things he feels need to be addressed or, perhaps he just knows that opposition is everywhere.

4. Explain Paul’s obligation (vs. 14). What lessons do we learn from this?Paul throws a net over his audience.He explains his position as one who owes a debt…to anyone, regardless of societal status! (This statement is categorically leaving out the Hebrews. Why?)Most specifically, Paul was addressing Greek/Roman thought. Everything outside of the Roman sphere (language etc) was considered barbarian. After all, Rome was the center of the civilized world. It was rich, and full of culture, knowledge, schools. Market places were full of people who did nothing more than “argue” philosophy etc. Paul tells them, this is for you. On the flip side, if you happened to be a poor servant with a “Barbarian” background, he is addressing you too! By stating this, Paul is demolishing any class predisposition that may have existed within the church….before he even starts to say anything!
5. Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel?Short answer, it is the power of God that results in salvation. The bigger question is why did Paul feel the need to say this? And why did he feel the need to point to the fact that it is by God?
6. Who is the gospel for?Everyone!

7. Explain verse 17. Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4. How does the quotation of Habakkuk go toward Paul’s point in verse 17?The Habakkuk context is God explaining to Habakkuk that he rejects arrogance and accepts the humble who exhibit faith. These are the acceptable children to God. The then-current context is the gospel what Paul is speaking of. IT is where the righteousness of God is found….a righteousness that affords salvation. Again, why would Paul open with this?

8. What is the righteousness of God?The Gospel….the offering of His Son.
9. What does it mean that the “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith?There may be many possible answers for this. I feel bound to the context. The context starts with 14) Paul wishes to preach the gospel to Rome: Gentiles, Greeks, Barbarians, wise, unwise. Each soul’s journey will look a little different than the next. The destination is the same, but each walk will look different….faith to faith.

Additional:

9) ceasing G89- Adverb from G88; uninterruptedly, that is, without omission

11) long -  G1971 - From G1909 and ποθέωpotheō (to yearn); to dote upon
      spiritual – G4152 - From G4151; non-carnal, that is, (humanly) ethereal
       gift – G5486 From G5483; a (divine) gratuity, that is, deliverance (from danger or passion); (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment, that is, (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty: - (free) gift.
established – G4741 From a presumed derivative of G2476 (like G4731); to set fast, that is, (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: - fix, (e-) stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen.

14) debtor – G3781 From G3784; an ower, that is, a person indebted;

16) salvation- G4991 Feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly abstract) noun; rescue or safety

17) righteousness – G1343 From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification