Romans 1.1-15

Minnetonka Monday Evening Bible Study The Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Romans 1:1-15

Romans 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 concerning his Son who was born from the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 who was appointed Son of God in power by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ, 7 to all the beloved who are in Rome, called saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:8-15 First, I offer thanks to my God through Jesus Christ concerning all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed in the whole world. 9 For God is my witness (the one whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son) as to how I make mention of you without ceasing, 10 at all times in my prayers, requesting if perhaps now at last by God‘s will to come to you. 11 For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; 12 that is, that I may be encouraged along with you through the faith of one another, both yours and mine. 13 And I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that I have often planned to come to you (and until now I have been prevented), in order that I may get some fruit also among you just as also among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 To both Greeks and to barbarians, to the wise and to the foolish I am obligated. 15 So, as for me, I am eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 8

Paul’s Threefold Self-Description •

His Master: ―a servant of Christ Jesus‖ – Compare OT ―servant of the LORD‖ [Abraham, Gen 26:24; Ps 105:6, 42; Moses, Num 12:7, 8; Deut 34:5; Josh 1:1, 2; Ps 105:26; Ex 14:31; David, 2 Sam 7:5, 8; Isa 37:35; Isaiah, Isa 20:3; Prophets, Amos 3:7; Zech 1:6]). – No distinction between ―servant of the LORD‖ and ―servant of Christ Jesus.‖ Implicit acknowledgment of Christ‘s deity.

•

His Gift: ―called as an apostle.‖ – Paul uses an expression that stresses the character of his apostolic call, his gift as Christ‘s authorized minister. – ―Apostle‖ (1:1) distinguished from ―apostleship‖ (1:5). – The word is also used in 1:6 [called of God], 7 [called saints]; 8:28 [called according to his purpose]. – The word expresses the thought of divine calling in contrast to human appointment. – See Galatians 1:1.

•

His Work: ―having been set apart for the gospel of God.‖ – ―Set apart‖ refers to his birth (Gal 1:15; cf. Jer 1:5). – God‘s initiative for his purpose of proclaiming the gospel.

Romans 1:2 . . .the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures. . . .

Romans 16:25-26 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for long ages, 26 but is now disclosed through the prophetic scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God. . . .

Romans 1:3, 4

Three Contrasting Matched Pairs . . . concerning his Son who was born from the seed of David according to the flesh, who was appointed Son of God in power by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord. . . .

Romans 1:3, 4 Son who was born from the seed of David according to the flesh

who was appointed Son of God in power by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness

Romans 1:3, 4 • Son who was born

• from the seed of David • according to the flesh

• who was appointed Son of God in power • by the resurrection from the dead • according to the Spirit of holiness

Two Phases of Christ‘s Redemptive Role Exaltation

Humiliation

Spirit of holiness? ―The only conclusion is that Christ is now by reason of the resurrection so endowed with and in control of the Holy Spirit that, without any confusion of the distinct Persons, Christ is identified with the Spirit and is called the Lord of the Spirit (2 Cor 3:18). Thus, when we come back to the expression, ―according to the Spirit of holiness‖ our inference is that it refers to the state of that pneumatic [spiritual] endowment in which Jesus entered through His resurrection‖

appointed Son of God OT Son of God Typology/Foreshadowing • 2 Samuel 7:14—―I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.‖ • Psalm 2:7—―You are my Son; today I have begotten you.‖ • Exodus 4:22-23— ―Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, ‗Let my son go that he may serve me.‘‖ • Luke 3:38—―. . . the son of Adam, the son of God.‖

Romans 1:5-7 . . . through whom we have received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ, to all the beloved who are in Rome, called saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Refers to the resurrected Christ. Romans

•Obedience which is faith. •Obedience from faith. •Faithful obedience. •Obedience of faithfulness.

1:5-7

. . . through whom we have received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ, to all the beloved who are in Rome, called saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:5 . . . through whom we have received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles. . .

Romans 16:25-26

Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for long ages, 26 but is now disclosed through the prophetic scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God has been made known for the obedience of faith unto all the Gentiles. . . .

Romans 1:8-15 Paul explains why he has not yet visited the Roman church, that he desires to do so, and why.

Romans 1:8-15 First, I offer thanks to my God through Jesus Christ concerning all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed in the whole world. 9 For God is my witness (the one whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son) as to how I make mention of you without ceasing, 10 at all times in my prayers, requesting if perhaps now at last by God‘s will to come to you. 11 For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; 12 that is, that I may be encouraged along with you through the faith of one another, both yours and mine. 13 And I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that I have often planned to come to you (and until now I have been prevented), in order that I may get some fruit also among you just as also among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 To both Greeks and to barbarians, to the wise and to the foolish I am obligated. 15 So, as for me, I am eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 8

Romans 1:8 First, I offer thanks to my God through Jesus Christ concerning all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed in the whole world.

Romans 16:19

For news of your obedience has reached all; therefore I rejoice over you.

Obedience of faith

Romans 1:11-12 For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged along with you through the faith of one another, both yours and mine.

What is the spiritual gift?

What is the spiritual gift? • Gift (charisma) used to denote God‘s gracious gift in Jesus Christ (5:15; 6:23). • Gift (charisma) used in plural for the gracious gifts bestowed by God upon Israel (11:29). • Gift (charisma) used to denote a spiritual gift or endowment bestowed upon believers by the Holy Spirit for service to God and to others (12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:14).

Paul bestow a spiritual gift? • 1 Corinthians 1:4-7—―I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift. . . . • Acts 19:6–―And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.‖ • By bestowing spiritual gifts to others the apostles: – Authenticated their ministry as truly Christ-authorized, as Christ‘s vicars upon the earth. – Strengthened the congregations by equipping them with gifts for the edification of the body.

Romans 1:13-15 And I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that I have often planned to come to you (and until now I have been prevented), in order that I may get some fruit also among you just as also among the rest of the Gentiles. To both Greeks and to barbarians, to the wise and to the foolish I am obligated. So, as for me, I am eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.