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Romans

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Romans 1

Commentary · verses 1-7

Verses 1-7: the opening sentence of this epistle.

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake; 6among whom are ye also, called to be Jesus Christ’s: 7to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Commentary · verse 7

Doctrine: Grace and apostleship are received from Christ. Paul wrote the Roman Christians concerning Jesus Christ our Lord.

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.

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

Commentary · verse 8

Paul first thanked God for them because their faith was spoken of throughout the world.

9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers 10making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you.

11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

9For 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;

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

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

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

Commentary · verses 9-12

Paul wanted a profitable exchange: Paul would impart spiritual gifts so that they would be established and Paul would also receive comfort.

13And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.

14I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

13Now 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.

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

Commentary · verses 13-14

Paul was establishing that there were believers of all types of people.

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

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

Commentary · verses 16-17

Verses 16-17: the premise or foundation of this letter.

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.

16For 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.

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Commentary · verse 17

The Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation for everyone. Why? Because within the Gospel is revealed a Righteousness of God from faith.

Doctrine: The foundation of Christianity is Salvation for everyone by a Righteousness of God through faith.

Doctrines on this passage

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; 19because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Commentary · verses 18-19

Paul gave the contrastive perspective of the foundation of Christianity: God's wrath is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of those who hinder the truth.

Commentary · verses 20-21

Verses 20-21: presented the crucial Doctrine that the rest of this letter is built on.

20For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Commentary · verse 20

Doctrine: God is invisible and the proof of God's existence is clearly seen through the physical things that God made. This was done so that everyone has the information to make the right choice. The God-given principle of causality proves the existence of a First Cause. God created our brains in a way that we innately embraces this truth, whether we're aware of it or not. Trying to ignore causality would be the same as trying to damage your brain and damage your faith. Verse 20 stated that everyone is without excuse if they don't have faith in the existence of God. However, this was only the first half of the reason why God's wrath is against non-believers...

21because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Commentary · verse 21

The word "glory" meant "intrinsic value" and resulted in a person "thinking well of" the subject they "glorified." The ultimate cause of people being non-believers is that these people choose not to think well of God, in fact, they don't even give God thanks! The cause for people not glorifying God: vain (unprofitable) in their reasonings (imaginations) and their senseless (foolish; without understanding) heart was darkened (effect of a bad thought process). God did His part, and the reason people do not believe is because they choose not to recognize the value within God. This happens even though they know a First Cause must exist, and working against causality results in their thought processes becoming worse.

The rest of Paul's letter was based on this critical cause: God does not think well of people (glorify) who choose not to think well of (glorify) God, and the result is God's wrath is against these people. What does God think of people who think well of Him?

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Commentary · verse 22

The ultimate proof of a bad thought process: pride - glorifying in themselves, boasting.

23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: 25for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Commentary · verses 23-25

People chose to consider the physical pre-eminent, instead of the spiritual. They attempted to become the source instead of worshipping God as the source. This is an example of attempting to reverse causality.

Doctrines on this passage

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: 27and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Commentary · verses 26-27

Because people chose to see themselves as the source, God "gave them up". This meant He gave them into the hands of another. Basically, God stopped trying to be the influence to these people and let them be influenced by their vile passions. Doing this would lead them to destruction in hopes they would realize their error and humble themselves.

28And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Commentary · verse 28

Verse 28 was the cause: they refused to have God because of their pride, so God gave them into the hands of another, He let them be influenced by a deceived mind which would result in the following effects...

29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Commentary · verse 29

The word "gossiper" was not in the Bible. The word was whisperer, which meant "secret slander/detraction." Notice, gossip has two requirements:

  1. it must be something said in secret: something said about someone, but not to that same someone.

  2. it must be slander/detracting.

If I say something negative about someone to their face, it is not gossip. If I say something positive about someone in secret, it is not gossip. If I say something negative and I am willing to say it to the person, then it is not gossip. This is the opposite of thinking well of another person.

30backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Commentary · verse 30

Notice, hateful to God was in this list and could also be interpreted as "hating God." Also, "disobedient to parents" was in this list. This was an example of not thinking well of parents, caused by not recognizing the value of the parents.

31without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:

31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Commentary · verse 31

Verses 29-31 were the effects of verse 28. However, Verse 32 showed one more qualifier on this list.

32who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Commentary · verse 32

Paul stated that these people knew that those who did these things were worthy of death, yet they not only did the same things, they encouraged others to do these same things.

Theme of Chapter 1: Everything in this first chapter focused on the fact that all people are without excuse when they do not recognize the value within God enough to respond to God's influence. If they choose not to respond to God's influence, God lets them follow a destructive influence. Paul gave a list of these destructive effects and stated that not only do these rebellious people knowingly do the vile actions, they encourage others to do these same actions.

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