Romans 1:1-17

Romans 1:1-17

BIBLE STUDY

• Paul’s introduction, not usually the part of the letter that we focus on, but in this introduction are the keys to who Jesus is and why that matters.

• “Romans 1:1-7 constitutes the most extensive salutation and greeting of any of Paul’s letters. Because Paul had not yet been to Rome, he cannot rely on a personal relationship having already been established and needs to provide an introduction of himself and the gospel he proclaims. That these two are inseparable is made clear from the way in which they are introduced here.” Beverly Gaventa, Texts for Preaching, Year A, p 33)

• In identifying himself, he identifies Christ, and he identifies all who follow Christ.

• Paul is first and foremost, a “slave of Christ.” NRSV softens this to “servant of Christ.” What you use may be contextual, but slave of Christ involves a social lowering that servant does not. 

• Apostle: “authorized and commissioned representative”

• Apostle and Slave seem to create a paradox. A slave is low status, low relationship. A “commissioned representative” carries with it great weight and dignity.

• Set apart: or maybe “ordained”?

• God’s Good News

• It is from God

• It is Good.

• Wording confused in NRSV, cleared up by Common English. 

• NRSV makes clause out of vs 1-2 and has v. 1-7 all as one sentence.

• Common English leaves vs. 1 as one sentence. Then combines verses 2-3 into one sentence. Then has 4-7 as distinct sentences describing Jesus.

• v3: This is all the work of God.

• This is all part of God’s plan. 

• Prophets point to this. 

• David is at the root of it.

• Jesus was born as a human “according to the flesh.”

• v4: Jesus is the Son of God

• Is that at baptism? Is that through his ministry? Is that by people like Peter, or even the Centurion at the Cross?

• Identified as God’s Son through his resurrection

• The key to this whole thing is Resurrection.

• Without Resurrection, none of this makes sense.

• Without Resurrection, this is just some guy killed by the Romans.

• Identified as Son of God through Resurrection

• Unlike Mark, where it happens at Baptism

• Or Matthew and Luke, where it happens at conception

• Or John, where it happens in eternity.

• v5: Jesus gave us grace and an appointment to reach all Gentiles.

• God → Jesus Christ → Paul → Readers → All Gentiles

• “Obedience of faith” emphasizes “faith alone,”

• v6: You are called by Jesus

• v7: Yes, you in Rome!

• Paul is coming to Rome

• Not to fix or change but to share in the mutuality of faithfulness and companionship

• Paul wants to see the good news that is flourishing in Rome

• Paul recognizes that he doesn't know everything but has things he can learn

THOUGHTS and Questions

• When you introduce yourself, how do you start. Most of us wouldn’t start with “slave of Jesus Christ.” We may even know someone who does use that kind of language, but most in mainline churches would not. Why not? Is Jesus a part of our identity, or is Jesus just someone we enjoy learning about?

• Two Callings: First is Paul’s, then is ours. Paul is “set apart” for the Gospel. “Our appointment to be apostles” is shared by “You who are called by Jesus Christ.” Paul is called to be an apostle, and he is writing to a group of people who are also called to be apostles, sent out among the Gentiles.

• “This double calling of Paul and his audience both frames the introduction and sets the agenda for the whole letter.” (Elizabeth Shively, Working Preacher)

• Can we claim this as a time to be called to be an apostle.

• Eastertide as a time to renew our apostleship.

Thank you listeners and get in touch:

Thanks to our Psalms correspondent, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com,@pomopsalmist). Thank you to Scott Fletcher for our voice bumpers, Dick Dale and the Del Tones for our Theme music (“Miserlou”), Nicolai Heidlas (“Sunday Morning”,"Real Ride"and“Summertime”) and Bryan Odeen for our closing music.