Romans 1

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

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

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

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

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

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

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.

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

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;

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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:

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.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

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.

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

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.

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:

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.

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;

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

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

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

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.

What does Romans 1:8 mean?

Explanation:

Romans 1:8 is a verse where the Apostle Paul expresses gratitude towards God for the believers in Rome, specifically acknowledging the widespread reputation of their faith.

Here, Paul is not only giving thanks but also recognizing the positive influence of Roman Christians.

The mention of Jesus Christ as the mediator through whom he gives thanks indicates the Christ-centered nature of Paul's theology and the importance of thanksgiving in his prayers.

On a deeper level, it illustrates the interconnectedness of the early Christian communities and their mutual awareness, even across great distances.

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Historical Context:

The Epistle to the Romans, commonly dated to around 57 A.D., is one of Paul’s most important theological contributions.

Written before he had visited Rome, Paul's letter addresses a mixed community of Jewish and Gentile believers.

His desire to visit and impart some spiritual gift (as stated later in Romans 1:11) underpins the letter's themes of unity, faith, and doctrine.

At this time, the church in Rome had already developed a reputation, even without any apostolic presence, which signifies the organic and expansive nature of early Christian missionary work.

Theological Insights:

From a theological standpoint, this verse captures the essence of Christian unity and fellowship.

The mention of faith being recognized "throughout the whole world" points to the universal nature of the Gospel and its spread beyond ethnic and geographic boundaries.

In terms of soteriology, Paul's use of "my God through Jesus Christ" reflects the Christian belief in Christ as the mediator between God and humanity.

Practical Applications:

Modern readers can draw several applications from this verse. The importance of thankfulness in prayer life as a foundational attitude is a key takeaway, reminding believers to give thanks for the faith of others and for the collective witness of the church.

Additionally, the mention of the Romans' faith being known worldwide encourages Christians to live in such a way that their faith may be a positive testimony to others.

Cross-References:

Ephesians 1:15-16: "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,"
Colossians 1:3-4: "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,"
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3: "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;"

Language Study:

The keyword "faith" (Greek: πίστις, pistis) in the original language often conveys trust, belief, or fidelity.

"Spoken of" (Greek: καταγγέλλεται, katangellomai) implies being proclaimed or reported widely.

The phrase "throughout the whole world" (Greek: ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ, en holo to kosmo) uses "world" not in a literal sense involving every place on Earth, but rather as a hyperbolic expression to denote the broad reach of the Romans' faith.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons:

The emphasis on faith in a religious community has parallels in several ancient religions, where the piety and devotion of a group could enhance its reputation.

In Greco-Roman society, for example, the virtuous conduct of individuals could bring honor to an entire city.

In Judaism, the faithfulness of Israel to God was also seen as a beacon to other nations (Isaiah 49:6).

Scientific Perspectives:

From a scientific perspective, the discussion of the widespread reputation of the Roman Christians' faith does not directly touch on empirical matters.

However, the rapid spread of Christianity and the social networks it formed can be analyzed through the lens of the sociology of religion and anthropological studies examining how religious ideas propagate within and across cultures.

Commentaries:

Biblical scholars and commentators have emphasized the genuine warm tone and pastoral concern that underlies Paul's thanksgiving.

Some suggest that Paul's commendation of the Romans' faith served to encourage and edify them, reinforcing their commitment to the Gospel. Others point out Paul's strategic praise as a means to build rapport before addressing complex theological issues later in the epistle.

Romans 1

Romans 1

What does Romans 1:8 mean?

Explanation:

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context:

Theological Insights:

Practical Applications:

Cross-References:

Language Study:

Cultural and Religious Comparisons:

Scientific Perspectives:

Commentaries:

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What does Romans 1:8 mean?

Explanation:

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context:

Theological Insights:

Practical Applications:

Cross-References:

Language Study:

Cultural and Religious Comparisons:

Scientific Perspectives:

Commentaries:

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