Romans Chapter 1

At a Glance

  • Romans 1 stands as the prologue to Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel.
  • Paul’s tone blends warmth and urgency as he commends the Romans for their faith and expresses a longing to visit them to impart spiritual gifts.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Romans is a later Pauline epistle, likely written from Corinth around the mid-50s CE.
  • - The universality of the gospel: Jew and Gentile alike are summoned to faith.

Chapter Overview

Romans 1 stands as the prologue to Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel. The chapter unfolds as a bold, rigorous case for the gospel’s power and universality. Paul introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, set apart for the gospel, and anchors the message in the Jesus who was declared Son of God in power through the resurrection. He declares that the gospel is the revelation of God’s righteousness from faith to faith and that it is for both Jews and Gentiles. This opening salvo lays out the logic of the letter: the gospel reveals God’s righteousness, calls for faith, and invites all nations into God’s saving story.

Paul’s tone blends warmth and urgency as he commends the Romans for their faith and expresses a longing to visit them to impart spiritual gifts. The apostle makes clear that the gospel is the power of God for salvation and that the righteous live by faith. He then advance into a sobering diagnosis of humanity’s condition—unrighteousness, suppression of truth, and the effects of humanity’s rebellion—setting up the necessity of the gospel’s transformative work.

Historical & Literary Context

Romans is a later Pauline epistle, likely written from Corinth around the mid-50s CE. It stands out as a carefully reasoned treatise rather than a mere collection of exhortations. Its genre blends doctrinal essay with pastoral concern, articulated in a manner that would guide a mixed readership of Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome. Paul’s method is theological argument anchored in Old Testament promises and Jewish-Christian continuity, yet it is deeply aimed at the universal scope of the gospel.

Key Themes

- The universality of the gospel: Jew and Gentile alike are summoned to faith.

- The righteousness of God: revealed through the gospel, not earned by works.

- The legitimacy of mission: believers are debtors to both Greeks and barbarians, called to proclaim the gospel to all.

- The inevitability of faith as response: the righteous will live by faith.

- The dynamic harmony of grace and human responsibility: God’s power meets human receptive response.

Modern Application

Romans 1 invites contemporary readers to examine the foundational claims of the faith with clarity: the gospel’s power is not a cultural artifact but a universal, transformative truth. It calls believers to humility about their own position before God and to confidence in the sufficiency of Christ for salvation. The themes encourage mission and evangelism across cultural boundaries and social divisions, recognizing that the gospel speaks to the deepest human longing for righteousness.

The passage also prompts ethical reflection: recognizing the consequences of rejecting truth, people face consequences that ripple through communities. The challenge is to balance confident proclamation with compassionate engagement, inviting others into the life-giving relationship with God through Christ.

Cross-References (3-5 related passages)

- Romans 1:16–17 (the gospel’s power and the righteousness from faith)

- Galatians 3–4 (the Jew-Gentile unity in the gospel)

- Colossians 1 (the supremacy of Christ in creation and redemption)

- Isaiah 53 (suffering servant motif that the gospel embodies)

Recommended Personas

- Paul: primary lens for evaluating the gospel’s logic and scope.

- Jesus: the center of the gospel; understanding him clarifies the message.

- Moses and Abraham: figures in the continuity of God’s promises to Israel and the nations.

- Luke: helps interpret the story-rich, narrative dimension of Paul’s argument.

Chapter Text

1

Paul, 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,)

3

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

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

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

6

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7

To 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.

8

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

9

For 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;

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

11

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

12

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

13

Now 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.

14

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

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

16

For 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.

17

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

18

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

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

20

For 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:

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Because 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.

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Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

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

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

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

26

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

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And 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.

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And 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;

29

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

30

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

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

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Who 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.

Discuss This Chapter with Biblical Personas

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