Exposition of the Romans 1:1-6
Outline of Romans 1:1-6
V:1-4
- Greetings
- From Paul. He identifies who he is
- He is a servant (Doulos) of Christ Jesus (v.1)
- He is called to be an Apostle(v. 1)
- Set apart for the Gospel of God (v.2)
- Which was promised beforehand through God’s prophets in the Holy Scriptures(v.2)
- Concerning Jesus who was a descended from David according to the flesh(v.3)
- Declared to be the son of God in power according to the by the resurrection and the spirit of holiness.(v.4)
Observation Questions
- v.4, it's translated differently. ESV and NASB seems to agree with each other.
- NIV is slightly different. NIV takes about his appointment as Son because of his Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. This is missing in ESV and NASB
- Message translation (“his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master.”)
Notes on key words
- Servant
- slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos)
- The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
- sn Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s “slave” or “servant” is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For someone who was Jewish this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Joshua 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”
- Apostle
- The basic meaning of apostle (apostolos) is simply that of one sent on a mission. In its primary and most technical sense apostle is used in the New Testament only of the twelve, including Matthias, who replaced Judas (Acts 1:26), and of Paul, who was uniquely set apart as apostle to the Gentiles (Gal. 1:15–17; cf. 1 Cor. 15:7–9; 2 Cor. 11:5). The qualifications for that apostleship were having been chosen directly by Christ and having witnessed the resurrected Christ (Mark 3:13; Acts 1:22–24). Paul was the last to meet those qualifications (Rom. 1:1; etc.). It is not possible therefore, as some claim, for there to be apostles in the church today. Some have observed that the apostles were like delegates to a constitutional convention. When the convention is over, the position ceases. When the New Testament was completed, the office of apostle ceased. This specific type of apostle is not present in the church today. The qualifications of this type of apostle were: (1) to have been an witness of the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 9:1), (2) to have been explicitly chosen by the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:15), and (3) to have the ability to perform signs and wonders (Acts 2:43; 2 Corinthians 12:12). The role of the twelve apostles, laying the foundation of the church, would also argue for their uniqueness. Two thousand years later, we are not still working on the foundation. Beyond the unique twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, there were also apostles in a generic sense. Barnabas is referred to as an “apostle” in Acts 13:2 and 14:4. Andronicus and Junias are possibly identified as apostles in Romans 16:7. The same Greek word usually translated “apostle” is used to refer to Titus in 2 Corinthians 8:23 and Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. So, there definitely seems to be room for the term apostle being used to refer to someone besides the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Anyone who was “sent” could be called an apostle. This specific type of apostle is not present in the church today. The qualifications of this type of apostle were: (1) to have been a witness of the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 9:1), (2) to have been explicitly chosen by the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:15), and (3) to have the ability to perform signs and wonders (Acts 2:43; 2 Corinthians 12:12). The role of the twelve apostles, laying the foundation of the church, would also argue for their uniqueness. Two thousand years later, we are not still working on the foundation.
- Beyond the unique twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, there were also apostles in a generic sense. Barnabas is referred to as an “apostle” in Acts 13:2 and 14:4. Andronicus and Junias are possibly identified as apostles in Romans 16:7. The same Greek word usually translated “apostle” is used to refer to Titus in 2 Corinthians 8:23 and Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. So, there definitely seems to be room for the term apostle being used to refer to someone besides the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Anyone who was “sent” could be called an apostle.
- Gospel
- 5 tn The genitive in the phrase εὐαγγέλιον θεοῦ (euangelion qeou, “the gospel of God”) could be translated as (1) a subjective genitive (“the gospel which God brings”) or (2) an objective genitive (“the gospel about God”). Either is grammatically possible. This is possibly an instance of a plenary genitive (see ExSyn 119-21; M. Zerwick, Biblical Greek, §§36-39). If so, an interplay between the two concepts is intended: The gospel which God brings is in fact the gospel about himself. However, in view of God’s action in v. 2 concerning this gospel, a subjective genitive notion (“the gospel which God brings”) is slightly preferred.
- The good news is Jesus. And the good news about Jesus which we announce is that he died for our sins and was raised from death. In consequence he reigns as Lord and Savior at God’s right hand and has authority both to command repentance and faith, and to bestow forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit on all those who repent, believe and are baptized. And all this is according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. It is more than that. It is precisely what is meant by “proclaiming the kingdom of God.” For in fulfillment of Scripture God’s reign has broken into the life of men through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This reign or rule of God is exercised from the throne by Jesus, who bestows salvation and requires obedience. These are the blessing and the demand of the kingdom.
- Descended from the seed of David
- This is an idiom, referring to the fact that Jesus was born of David the promised Messiah. He had to be born of David, he did not come in a sense out of the blue, he had to be of a particular lineage to be the Messiah.
- Son of God()
- His sonship was proved by his resurrection from the dead. He is unique in history, the incomparable Christ. Unique person in history.
Exposition
Paul's letter begins with salutation. Just like our letter writing etiquette the hellenistic etiquette was to address the sender instead of to whom it was being sent. Paul identifies himself as servant of christ Jesus and an apostle who is set apart for the Gospel of God. The word used for servant is doulous could be translated as a bond slave. Here Paul is saying is that he has renounced all his rights. Interestingly, in the OT, Moses and Joshua and others are called as servants of Yahweh. Paul is equating in the same sense that he is slave of God and he has given up all his rights. We live in a day and age where it's all about us, to be called a salve of somebody is derogatory and sometimes thought as not being progressive but here Paul is taking a position of humility. Next he calls himself an Apostle. The word Apostle means somebody who is sent or a messenger. It is used in two different ways, one sense is the Apostles who were appointed by Jesus to proclaim his message. It was a position of authority. Paul also called himself an Apostle in the league of the twelve. We read in Acts 26:17 that he was commissioned by Jesus himself to take the message which we will see shortly to the Gentiles. He mentions that he is also “set apart for the Gospel”, interestingly the word in Greek in aphorismenos from Which we get the word Pharisee. Pharisees were people who were set apart for the sake of law. But Paul here is set apart for the sake of the message of Christ, which is Gospel. Law and Gospel as juxtapositioned here. It is one of the major themes of the Epistle to Romans. Paul who was initially set apart for the sake of law which in one sense binds us and does not give us the freedom is now set apart for the sake of Gospel which gives freedom. Here uses the word Gospel, which comes from the word Euangelion or the Good news. What is this good news that Paul was set apart for. As one author points out there are four aspects to it.
- Origins of this Gospel is from God
- This Good news that Jesus died for our sins is ultimately about God’s love. This is not something that was invented by the Apostles, this was revealed to them.
- This is Gospel is not human speculation nor is something nor one more religion added to the rest. Its God good news to the world
- Scope of this Gospel is for all nations
- v. 5 Paul mentions about obedience to all nations. The Gospel is relevant for all nations. This Gospel is not meant for a particular ethnic group or nationality, it is for all people. I bet heaven you will have people from all ethnic groups. If look at the history of the church, we have seen that there were time that church had become inward looking and the Gospel remained in the four walls of the church. This Gospel is meant for all peoples. That is one of the aspects that I love about the church. We have people from different nations and ethnic groups worshipping under the banner of Christ. Its scope is universal. I think we need to introspect ourselves and see if we have a mindset that thinks this is meant for certain people group. We need to be freed from the closed mindset of caste, creed, nationality and ethnicity. It is for everybody without exception or distinction.
- The attestation of this Gospel is Scripture
- This Gospel was already promised before hand in the scriptures through the prophets. This is not something novel. This was announced in Old Testament. Jesus identified himself as the Son of Man in Daniel 7 and suffering servant in Isaiah 53. We see that Paul reasoning from Scriptures that Jesus was the messiah and he must die.(Acts 17:2)
- We have this attention from both the OT and NT
- Substance of this Gospel is Jesus Christ.
- Gospel main thrust is Jesus Christ. It is regarding his Son. The whole of the Gospel is contained in Christ
- v.3 could possibly from an early formal statement of faith
- Paul mentions that Jesus was descended of David. This is absolutely important as the Messiah must come from David. Jesus had a history and a lineage that makes it even more important
- Through his resurrection he was authenticated as the Son of God.
