Meaning of Romans 1:1

The letter of Romans begins with Paul introducing himself. There are four major points to consider:

• Paul,

• a servant of Christ Jesus,

• called to be an apostle and

• set apart for the gospel of God

First, we must consider who is this man and why is it important for this letter. Paul was ethnically Jewish and from the tribe of Benjamin. He belonged to an extreme sect of Pharisees and trained under Gamileal, a well respected Pharisee. He was there as Stephen was stoned to death and far from feeling guilty, Paul then set out to visit other cities to further persecute followers of Jesus.

All of these details are significant because this letter reflects a complete reversal. He is now a servant of the one he persecuted, a messenger for the one he tried to silence, and a preacher of what he considered heresy. The writing of this letter signals a dramatic shift in the life of Paul. His commentary on Jewish law throughout the letter does not start from ignorance. There was no man better placed and well-trained to tackle the doctrines in this letter.

Second, Paul is a servant of Christ. Make no mistake that the word here is slave. Paul is a slave to God. His life was purchased for a price. He is not merely interested in the way of Christ. It’s not something he considers only on weekends, nor does he dedicate only an hour each day to quiet time. No, his entire life centres around serving the Lord Jesus Christ. He makes his every faculty available to servitude and considers himself a slave to God.

Third, Paul was called to be an apostle. He was in no way less of an apostle than the twelve. Although he saw a ‘vision’ of the risen Jesus, we mustn’t consider this as though it was a dream, hallucination, or some kind of transient illusion. He truly saw the risen Lord Jesus Christ. His ministry was accompanied by the signs of an apostle, validating his authenticity as an apostle.

Fourth, and finally, Paul had been set apart for the preaching of the gospel. This letter serves as a blueprint to the gospel. The first twelve chapters outline key doctrines of the gospel, and the final four chapters entreat the believer to respond with a godly conduct. It is for this reason, then, that the apostle is writing. He desires that the readers be sure of their salvation in the risen Lord Jesus by confirming their own calling in accordance to the truth.