Vine & FigsRead BibleBible StudiesCommentariesDictionaryReading PlansDevotional

The Gospel Is the Power of God

Passage: Romans 1:1-17

Paul introduces himself to Roman Christians he hopes to visit on the way to Spain (15:24). Rome had a large Jewish community, and Gentile believers were a growing part of the church.

Overview

Paul is not ashamed of the good news about Jesus, because it is God's power to save everyone who trusts him, Jew and Gentile alike. In the gospel God shows his righteousness, and it is received by faith.

Going deeper

Verses 16-17 are widely read as the theme of the letter. The gospel is about God's Son, descended from David and declared Son of God with power by the resurrection (1:3-4). 'From faith to faith' has been read several ways: from God's faithfulness to our faith, from first faith to growing faith, or simply 'by faith from start to finish'. Paul grounds it in Habakkuk 2:4.

Key verses (KJV)

From the commentaries

1. The antiquity of it. It was promised before (v. 2); it was no novel upstart doctrine, but of ancient standing in the promises and prophecies of the old Testament, which did all unanimously point at the gospel, the morning-beams that ushered in the sun of righteousness; this not by word of mouth only, but in the scriptures. 2. The subject-matter of it: it is concerning Christ, v. 3, 4. The prophets and apostles all bear witness to him; he is the true treasure hid in the field of the scriptures. Observe, When Paul mentions Christ, how he heaps up his names and titles, his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, as one that took a pleasure in speaking of him; ...

Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706-1721)

1. Paul—(See on Ac 13:9). a servant of Jesus Christ—The word here rendered "servant" means "bond-servant," or one subject to the will and wholly at the disposal of another. In this sense it is applied to the disciples of Christ at large (1Co 7:21-23), as in the Old Testament to all the people of God (Isa 66:14). But as, in addition to this, the prophets and kings of Israel were officially "the servants of the Lord" (Jos 1:1; Ps 18:1, title), the apostles call themselves, in the same official sense, "the servants of Christ" (as here, and Php 1:1; Jas 1:1; 2Pe 1:1; Jude 1), expressing such absolute subjection and devotion to the Lord Jesus as they would never have yielded to a mere creature. (

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871)

That St. Paul was the author of this epistle, and that it possesses every evidence of authenticity that any work of the kind can possess, or that even the most fastidious skepticism can require, has been most amply proved by Dr. W. Paley, Archdeacon of Carlisle, in his work entitled "Horae Paulinae; or, the Truth of the Scripture History of St. Paul evinced, by a comparison of the Epistles which bear his name with the Acts of the Apostles, and with one another." Of this apostle I have spoken at large in the notes on the preceding book, and especially in the observations at the close of the ninth chapter, to which I beg leave to refer the reader. ...

Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's Commentary (1810-1826)

1. Paul, etc. — With regard to the word Paul, as it is a subject of no such moment as ought to detain us, and as nothing can be said which has not been mentioned by other expounders, I should say nothing, were it not proper to satisfy some at small expense without being tedious to others; for the subject shall be despatched in a very few words. They who think that the Apostle attained this name as a trophy for having brought Sergius, the proconsul, to the faith of Christ, are confuted by the testimony of Luke, who shows that he was so called before that time. (Acts 13:7, 9.) Nor does it seem probable to me, that it was given him when he was converted to Christ; ...

John Calvin, John Calvin's Commentaries (16th century, Calvin Translation Society, 1840s-1850s)

Verse 1. Paul. The original name of the author of this epistle was Saul, Ac 7:58; 8:1; 9:1, etc. This was changed to Paul, See Barnes "Ac 13:9, and by this name he is generally known in the New Testament. The reason why he assumed this name is not certainly known. It was, however, in accordance with the custom of the times. See Barnes "Ac 13:9". The name Saul was Hebrew; the name Paul was Roman. In addressing an epistle to the Romans, he would naturally make use of the name to which they were accustomed, and which would excite no prejudice among them. The ancient custom was to begin an epistle with the name of the writer, as Cicero to Varro, etc. We record the name at the end. ...

Albert Barnes, Barnes' Notes on the New Testament (1834-1885)

Application

Next lesson ›