B. Introduction (1:8–15)
B. Introduction (1:8–15)
Having thus introduced himself and his theme, Paul explains his present purpose in writing. News that he has received about the high and renowned quality of their faith calls forth deep thanksgiving from Paul, and he assures them of their constant place in his prayers. The churches for which he had primary responsibility—those which he himself had founded—made heavy and continual demands on his time and attention, but he could remember before God other churches too, and not least the church of the capital. He tells them of his long-standing desire and prayer for the opportunity of visiting them; and now, after earlier hindrances, it appeared that his prayer was about to be answered. He hopes not only to impart a blessing to the Roman Christians, but to receive one for himself through his fellowship with them. And while he has no thought of asserting his apostolic authority in Rome, he looks forward to preaching the gospel there and making some converts in Rome as in the rest of the Gentile world. The preaching of the gospel is in his blood, and he cannot refrain from it; he is never off duty but must constantly be at it, discharging a little more of that obligation which he owes to the whole human family—an obligation which he will never fully discharge so long as he lives.
8. I thank my God through Jesus Christ. As it is through Christ that God’s grace is conveyed to human beings (verse 5), so it is through Christ that their gratitude is conveyed to God. The mediatorship of Christ is exercised both towards God and towards humanity. (See p. 223, n. 1.)
Your faith is proclaimed in all the world. Cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:8, ‘your faith in God has gone forth everywhere.’ In both passages Paul thinks more particularly of all the places where Christianity has been established (see also note on 10:18, p. 206).
9. Whom I serve with my spirit. NEB, ‘to whom I offer the humble service of my spirit’.
Without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers. (Cf. Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:3–4; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:3; Philem. 4.) That Paul should pray regularly for his own converts is what one might expect, but it is evident from this passage that his prayers went beyond his immediate circle of personal acquaintance and apostolic responsibility.
10. At last. (Cf. ‘often’, verse 13.) Of these earlier occasions when Paul had hoped or planned to visit Rome we have no direct information.
12. That we may be mutually encouraged. This would correct any impression given by verse 11 that he would be the benefactor and they the beneficiaries. He hopes to receive help as well as to give it during his purposed visit to Rome.
13. I want you to know, brethren. A favourite Pauline expression, literally ‘I do not want you to be ignorant’ (cf. 11:25; 1 Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 2 Cor. 1:8; 1 Thess. 4:13).
Thus far have been prevented. One obstacle could have been the imperial edict of AD 49 expelling Jews from Rome (cf. Acts 18:2; see p. 22).
14. Both to Greeks and to barbarians. To the Greeks, all non-Greeks were ‘barbarians’ (barbaroi, a word which probably imitated the unintelligible sound of foreign languages). Cf. Acts 28:2; 1 Corinthians 14:11.
15. In Rome. See textual note on p. 33.