ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Romans 1

Rom. 1:1–17 The Gospel as the Revelation of God’s Righteous­ness. This first section includes Paul’s opening greeting (vv. 1–7), thanksgiving (vv. 8–15), and statement of the letter’s overall theme (vv. 16–17).

Rom. 1:1–7 This is the longest introduction of any of Paul’s letters. He has never been to Rome, so he summarizes the gospel for his Roman readers. Many of the things he mentions here are also in the final verses of his letter (16:25–27): (1) Paul’s apostolic authority; (2) how the gospel fulfills OT Scriptures; (3) how the gospel centers on Jesus Christ; (4) the obedience of faith; (5) Paul’s mission to the Gentiles; and (6) the glory of Jesus Christ and God the Father.

Rom. 1:1 Servant indicates that Paul is a “bondservant” of Christ (see note on 1 Cor. 7:21; and Preface). It also recalls the honored servants of God in the OT, such as Moses, Joshua, David, and the prophets. apostle. Paul’s authority is equal to that of the 11 original apostles chosen by Christ (Matt. 10:1–7; Acts 1:24–26; Gal. 1:1), who had seen him after his resurrection (Acts 1:22; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:7–9). They established and governed the whole church, under Christ’s authority. They had authority to speak and write the words of God, and what they wrote was equal in authority to the OT Scriptures (1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thess. 2:13). Paul was called to be an apostle when Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus road (Acts 9; 22; 26). Gospel means “good news.” This includes the call to saving faith and the message of how Jesus transforms all of life and all of history.

Rom. 1:2–3 Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecy that a descendant of David would rule forever. He is the Messiah (see 2 Sam. 7:12–16; Psalm 132; Isa. 11:1–5).

Rom. 1:4 As the eternal Son of God, Jesus has reigned forever with the Father and the Holy Spirit. “Son of God” was a Jewish title for the Messiah. Christ’s reign as Messiah began when he was raised from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness (through the Holy Spirit).

Rom. 1:5 Paul’s mission is to all humanity. His goal is to bring about the obedience of faith (see 16:26). Saving faith results in obedience.

Rom. 1:7 loved by God and called. God shows his love by calling his people to himself. All believers are God’s saints, his “holy ones.” Grace means God’s unmerited favor. Peace is not just the absence of conflict. It echoes the OT concept of blessing, in which the person and community are well and whole in all aspects of life.

Rom. 1:8 thank. Paul typically follows the greeting in his letters with a thanksgiving (compare 1 Cor. 1:1–9; Phil. 1:1–8). He is thankful because the kingdom of God is advancing throughout all the world. It is no longer confined to the Jews but has also spread to the Gentiles.

Rom. 1:13 Paul neither “planted” nor “watered” the church at Rome (see 1 Cor. 3:6), but he still rejoices in the harvest of their increased maturity and obedience.

Rom. 1:14 Paul was under an obligation to Jesus Christ, who appointed him to be the apostle to the Gentiles. Greeks. Those who spoke Greek and adopted Greek culture in the Greco-Roman world. barbarians. Those outside of Greek culture.

Rom. 1:15 preach the gospel to you also. The gospel is not just the initial call to saving faith. It is also the call to keep on walking by faith (6:4; 8:4; 2 Cor. 5:17).

Rom. 1:16 Jew first. The Jews have priority in salvation history because they are God’s chosen people. See chs. 9–11. Greek refers here to all Gentiles.

Rom. 1:17 The righteousness of God most likely means “righteousness from God.” It reflects a right standing before God that is given to people by God (see Phil. 3:9). The phrase likely has this meaning in Rom. 3:21–22 and 2 Cor. 5:21 as well (see notes on those verses). However, the expression probably also refers to God’s righteous moral character. This is seen in his holiness and justice. It is also seen in the way that his act of saving sinners through Christ’s death meets the just demand of his holy nature. From faith for faith probably means that right standing with God is by faith from start to finish. shall live by faith. People receive the gift of salvation by faith. It is also by faith that they live each day. See Hab. 2:4.

Rom. 1:18–3:20 God’s Righteousness in His Wrath against Sinners. God’s wrath is rightly revealed against all people, since all have sinned (3:23). Paul describes the sinfulness of the Gentiles (1:18–32), and the Jews (2:1–3:8), and of all people, Jew and Gentile alike (3:9–20).

Rom. 1:18 The wrath of God refers to his personal anger against sin. God’s anger is his holy response to rejection of his love and law.

Rom. 1:19–20 things that have been made. The entire natural world reveals God through its beauty, complexity, design, and usefulness. without excuse. God has given sufficient evidence of his existence and character.

Rom. 1:21 they knew God. All people know God exists. They also know a lot about him, even if they do not have a saving knowledge of him.

Rom. 1:22 Even brilliant people who do not honor God miss the whole purpose of life and are therefore fools (see Prov. 1:7).

Rom. 1:23 Idolatry is the most basic sin. In addition to the images housed in great temples, Roman families commonly kept images of “house gods” in their homes. People today still devote their lives to, and trust in, many things other than God.

Rom. 1:24 Three times Paul says God gave them up to sin (vv. 24, 26, 28). Each time the “giving up” is a reaction to idolatry. The idol worshiper refuses to recognize that God our Maker is the center of all existence. He worships the “creature” rather than the “Creator” (v. 25).

Rom. 1:25 exchanged the truth about God for a lie. All non-Christian religions are based on false ideas about God. They are not just “different paths” to God.

Rom. 1:26–27 Not only homosexual acts but also homosexual passions or desires are dishonorable before God. Just as idolatry is unnatural (contrary to what God intended), so too homosexuality is contrary to nature. God made men and women with physical bodies that have a “natural” way of interacting with each other. Men . . . with men includes all homosexual relationships, not just those generally considered abusive. Due penalty could refer to the sin of homosexuality itself. Or, the “and” in and receiving may indicate some additional negative consequences received in themselves, that is, some form of spiritual, emotional, or physical disorder.

Rom. 1:32 People do not generally sin in innocent ignorance. They know God’s righteous decree (at least in an instinctive way) that their evildoing deserves punishment.